Do Unto Others...

So ... I thought I'd share some thoughts about my day with you.

Yeah. I know you're excited. Try and hold your pants on tight, 'kay?

After having waited for close to two ... as in 2 ... hours at the doctor's office for a strep culture, I thought I'd run some errands. You know ... a "while I'm out" kind of thing. So, I popped into AC Moore to pick up various items of a "construction-theme" for a leadership banquet our church is having this weekend (yeah, it's for our building campaign).

Anyhooo -- as I was getting out of my car to walk towards the store, I hear a child screaming at the top of his lungs. At first, I thought it was screaming, "helpme! helpme! helpme!" And, after a panicked moment of trying to digest what was happening, I realized the child was merely screaming, "mommy! mommy! mommy!" in a hysterical, I'm-gonna-die way. You know what I mean, right? After all, we've all been there. Yes ... YOU too!

So, I walked into the store, while I "sort of" rub the back of my neck (like you would if you heard nails dragging down the blackboard). Oh, okay ... I rubbed the back of my neck pretty hard ... as in, "please don't come into this store." There. I said it. Out loud. Happy?

And as I searched the sticker and paper aisle, I heard this young mother come into.the.store.with.screaming.child.in.tow... (and, in case you were dying to know, AC Moore does NOT have a plethora of construction stuff -- princess stuff? Oh yeah. But construction stuff? Nada) .

There was another woman in the aisle I was in. I know this because I had leaned my head down into my hand to rub my forehead in an "I'm sick, and sure wish that screaming child was somewhere else" kind of way. I looked to the other woman out of the side of my hand, and she just shook her head in dissaproval.

And then I heard it. Another mother. In the aisle behind me. She said ... "My children would never do that. I would not allow them to behave that way anywhere. It was simply not accepted."

Oh. Yes. She. Did.

At that moment, my heart softened for that pour mother with the screaming banchee child. How many times had I said, "My child will NEVER do that" only to have it happen to me?

Like the time my husband's baby cousin spit up mercilessly all over me (and anyone else for that matter) with his acid reflux, and I turned to my SIL (Sunshine) with a knowing look in my eye, and said (with attitude, of course) "My child will never do that."

Only to have my child have acid reflux and projectile vomit. Nice.

Or how about the time my sister complained with a heavy heart to me that her second oldest had a tendancy to throw the vilest of temper tantrums and fits of rage that would last for hours. HOURS. And she was at her wits end. And, no sooner were we done on the phone, when I turned to my husband and said, "Our child will not act like that! EVER!"

Only to have my child throw temper tantrums if you so much as LOOK at him the wrong way. Groovy.

And then a thought crossed my mind ... "How would I feel if that were me?" Well, that would never be... Ehhh -- never mind. I can't even pull that one off, because it has been me. So, I did what any other self respecting mother who loves Jesus with all her heart and wants to spread the love around would do.

I put my items down, and walked out of the store.

To find the mother with the crying child.

And offer her my help.

She was practically in tears trying to calm her son down (who seemed to be about 4 years old). I offered to help her out, or to go in and buy her whatever she needed so she could sit with her son for a bit. She said something like, "waiting, my sister, shhh, don't know why, thanks, no, shhh, my sister, don't need anything, shhh..."

I just smiled politely and said that if she needed anything, I'd be happy to help her, because I have been where she's at, and fully understand. I think she said something like she didn't need anything now, but thanks, so I went in and finished my shopping. When I came out, she was gone.

It was a lesson I needed right now. A person in crisis. A store full of judgemental people. Where was I going to fall? Was I going to judge? Turn my pious nose up at her? Or was I going to do unto her like I would want done unto me? I really feel for her ... a young mother (oh, okay, so I'm old -- whatever) alone in store with a screaming, arm-throwing, foot-dragging, carry-me-because-I'm-going-limp, temper-tantrum-throwing child.

There wasn't really much I was able to do for her, but I hope I was a little bit of sunshine in her life today.

How have you been a little bit of sunshine in someone's life this week?