I always have to wait at the checkout counter at Walmart; they rarely have enough lanes open, and sometimes the wait is made longer by the actions of the shoppers in front of me. One day I was behind a woman with a very large order. After hunting through a huge purse for her checkbook, writing a check in slow motion, and completely rearranging her purse to put away her checkbook, the woman resumed searching through her purse and pulled out a small plastic bag with two batteries in it.
She then asked the young man “Do you sell batteries?” and handed him the bag.

He looked at them and said, “Yes, you need AAAs.” He went to a kiosk a few aisles away and came back with two packs of AAAs, one RayOVac and one Duracell. Her batteries were a funny green color and were an off brand that clearly had come with the remote control for a television set; they were not even alkaline.

She asked the clerk, “Are you sure these are the right ones?”

He very politely answered, “Yes, ma’am; they’re standard AAAs.”

By this time there was a large line behind me, and I was getting worried, since some might have been carrying concealed weapons. Fortunately, everyone was very polite and patient.

Once again she asked, “Are you sure? They’re the wrong color.”

He patiently reassured her that they would work and gave another clear and helpful explanation about battery sizes and brands. I also tried to help by saying that my television remote originally had batteries similar to hers, but that the replacements had worked fine. She paused a long time, while thinking about the situation. Finally, she left without saying a word and without buying the batteries. Somewhere in Ocala there’s a woman who can only watch one channel.

I’ve thought about this incident a lot in the year and a half since it occurred. I still feel good about how helpful the clerk was and how patient and understanding the people waiting in line were (even I). I am still bothered by the fact that the lady was unable to accept the offered help. The Old Testament tells us that Israel was the same way. God had provided them with good leaders, starting with Moses and Aaron, but to them they were the wrong kind; they wanted a king like other nations. We sometimes, however, do the same thing. We will ask for God’s help, but then be upset by the form in which it comes. Admittedly, it is sometimes hard to recognize God’s help when it comes, but we should be open to all types of help that He gives us and accept it gratefully.

Read 1 Samuel 12:9-12, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Jim

Today’s Reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%2012:9-12