Being Open To God

How many of us are truly open to the opportunities that God gives us each day to touch someone else? I know I am not always aware of these opportunities because I am always in a hurry to get somewhere, to do something, but today I was wide awake!

I had left the doctors office and was on my way to WalMart to pick up my medication. I had my oldest grand daughter with me because she isn't feeling to well today. When we rounded the corner the line was from the pharmacy all the way back to the aisle.

I could have left, but really didn't want to go back outside once I got home. We got in line and the woman in front of us was focused on reading a medication on the shelf, but when she put it down she was talking to herself and it was obvious by the way she was dressed and the things she was saying, she was a bit unbalanced.

She would remove things from the shelf, put them back, straighten it all out and then complain to no one about the items cost or packaging, etc. She would wildly spin around and then calm down and face forward, I kept the oldest as close to me as I could.

When the woman finally got to the front of the line, she just walked up in front of someone else that was being helped, but calmed down and went to the next window that was open. The lady behind me and others were making snide comments. I said nothing except, some people cannot help their behavior.

When I got my prescription, the clerk had to go get the woman's and in about 10 seconds she was wound tighter than jack-in-the box. Where did she go? Hey, I don't have all day? Get your ass back here, that was enough for me. I politely said, 'excuse me I would appreciate it if you didn't use those words around the little one.' She apologized, then started up again but without the cursing.

When it came time to pay her co-pay, she began to argue it should be paid by Medicaid, but the clerk explained to her it was with the exception of a fifty-two cent co-payment. Now, I have been around the block and it was obvious she needed this medication because when the clerk took it out of the bag, the woman grabbed it out of her hands.

Her hair was unkept, her purse strap was taped with duct & electrical tape, her shoes were falling apart, to her, fifty-two cents may as well have been $52 or $520. She wanted to take the medication up front to pay for it but the clerk said it was a narcotic so had to be paid for back there.

I asked how much my prescription was and I had enough money to pay for it, so during the time this woman was frantically begging for her medication and explaining she didn't have a co-pay, I handed the clerk $1 and said let me pay for it. She tried to give me her eighteen cents and the clerk tried to give me back my change, I told her to keep it all, she needed it more than I did.

How sad that someone can't afford to pay fifty-two cents for medication. This could be anyone of us. I has been me, it has been my children, it can be anyone and I believe God watches us during these interactions with others to see what we will do.

Matthew 25:35-36 tells us: 'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Isn't this what Jesus would have done? Perhaps He would have healed her, but I know on judgement day I want God to look at me and say: 'Well done my good and faithful servant.'


We will see more opportunities to help others, be watchful, open your eyes look around and reach out to those in need.