Small Mercies

My purse got stolen Wednesday morning.

And if that sounds like a familiar sentence at this blog, that would be because it's the second time it's happened to me in eight months. 

The lesson in this would be that if you have something that is valuable to you, DO NOT ASK ME TO HOLD IT IN MY PURSE FOR YOU.

This time, I was making a quick dash-in to a building--I was going to be inside for under three minutes and reasoned that I could just lock my purse in my car.  But in the blink of an eye somebody actually broke my car window and grabbed the purse.  In broad daylight.  In a full parking lot.  Right next to a building.  On a busy street.

From now on, I will never ever be leaving my purse in my car.  I will also, at my friend Queen B's suggestion, consider investing in a Knight Rider-type vehicle that can beat the bat-snot out of the next person who tries to take my purse. 

Oh, I joke now, in sort of a laugh-or-go-crazy kind of way.  But Wednesday morning, my outlook was a little different. 

As soon as I discovered the broken window and missing purse, I called my husband (who instantly began canceling credit cards/checking accounts) and then the police.  I filed an incident report with the business who owns the parking lot. 

And I tried really, really hard to hold it together.  It's just a purse--I know that.  But the truth is that this little incident was the final straw in what has been an unusually difficult couple of weeks.

I choked up a little when I talked policeman, and  I fought back a hefty sob when my husband showed up to help me with all the broken glass.  But I mostly kept my cool.  While  Hubs and I were both making frantic phone calls to the insurance company, credit card companies and bank, a woman from a car several rows away approached me.

"Excuse me," she said gently.  "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation.  You looked like you could use some flowers."

And then she handed me this:

And the floodgates, how they opened. 

I burst into tears, grabbing this sweet stranger's hand, wailing something about "thank you" and "God bless you" and "restoring my faith in humanity".  Undaunted by my blubbering, she offered Corrie and me some cold bottles of water from an ice chest in her van, and she even offered to go get Corrie some lunch.

I don't know who she was.  I don't know why she had flowers and cold bottled water in her mini-van.  I only know she was paying attention to what was going on around her, and she had the courage to step out in kindness.  And I cannot even express how profoundly that simple gesture ministered to me, in an otherwise crummy week.  It was a little bit of Jesus, right there in a broken-glass-filled parking spot.

So I've learned many lessons about purses and cars, but I've been reminded of something even more important:  a little kindness goes a very, very long way.

Find somebody who needs you today. 

Comments

[Natalie Witcher]

mmm, that's sweet. My 4 month old needs me..gotta go!

[Pink Paper Peppermints]

Shannon to me this is a perfect in-the-flesh example of spiritual warfare.

The devil wants you discouraged (i.e. purse stealing) but God will always encourage you (i.e. flowers and cold water).

It makes me smile. And also think of that scripture in Romans 5, "where sin abounds, grace does much more abound."

God is so good. And what a wonderful reminder to be available to the Lord so He can use us to encourage someone else.

And one more thing. Your blog is frequently my flowers and cold water.

Just thought you'd like to know that.

Melissa~

[Heather @ Desperately Seeking Sanity]

and now my flood gates have opened....

[Tara]

((((hugs))) Gotta love those love letters from God.

[Blue Hare Mom]

Shannon, I'm so sorry you had to go through this again. Anything I think of typing comes up cliche :o/

Thanks for your example of grace under pressure and your inspirational words of wisdom.

Susan

[momhuebert]

Beautiful. I'm so sorry you had to go through this AGAIN. But how wonderful there was someone there to encourage you. It makes me want to be that kind of person myself.

[Nancy]

God love you, dear. Just God love you. Thanks for sharing the powerful inspiration. I'm out to find a cooler, ice, some bottled water to put in my car!!

[Heather]

That is beautiful -- I actually teared up. I really hope everything works out with your purse.

AWW! That is SO wonderful! It made me get all teary (not that that's new in my excessively wildly-fluctuating hormonal state these days). What a sweet smile from God to you; bless that soul for her obedience to the Holy Spirit's prompting.

And may I just say that I am OUTRAGED on your behalf??? Breaking a car window to snatch your purse!!?? In our lovely little state, even?? It's just beyond belief. Almost.

(((((HUGS))))) to you, My Friend. I'll be saying an extra prayer that things only go uphill from here on out.

[LifeatTheCircus]

Isn't it awesome the way our loving Father knows just what we need and cares for us so much that he sends flowers to you in the midst of a crisis. What a loving Father we have!!
I am sorry to read you are going through such a difficult time right now.

[Anna]

Wow. That is beautiful!

[JanMary, N Ireland]

Lovely for that to happen. God looks after us through others when we need it :)

[Tyler]

Beautiful. Touching. Who says miracles don't happen today?!

[Susanne]

I'm so glad you shared this. How beautiful.

And I'm so sorry about the purse and car.

[suburbancorrespondent]

Sweet! And now you get to go purse-shopping!

[Christy]

I can't believe that happened again. Wow.

Isn't it wonderful when people rise to the occasion though?

[Kim]

So sorry about your purse! Ya know I do that so much, you have made me rethink leaving it in the car! God bless that lady that were Christ's hands and feet!

[momrn2]

Agonizing for you at the loss of your purse and the cruelty of sin... but rejoicing with you that God chose to reveal Himself in such a personal way!

Thanks for the challenge to open my own eyes a bit more to the things around me and the opportunity to show forth kindness.

[Staci at Writing and Living]

Oh, I'm so sorry! I'm glad that woman was there to bless you.

[pam]

What a true blessing that woman was at just the right moment.

May we all be a little more like that and think of our own time as the way the Lord chose to use Esther . . . for such a time as this. We all have the opportunity to be used by God -- if we keep our eyes on Him.

[Ronnica]

Wow, that's awesome. It's a great reminder that we too need to be on the look out for ways we can bless others. Thanks!

[Julia]

you made ME cry with this one! and I dont cry easily!

[Melanie @ Notebook Learning]

How very sweet of her!

You should right that up and send it in to HeroicStories.com

What a wonderful woman, and how awful for you to go through all this AGAIN. Hugs.

[Chris]

I'm a member of the same club. Mine was grabbed in a Sam's Club parking lot.

The worst part is the violation you feel over the whole thing. I don't think I'm over it yet, and it happened 10 months ago.

Hang in there!

[Stephanie]

((((Hugs to you)))) Isn't that just like Jesus to see you in your need?