Dear Reader:

Yesterday was a busy day… lots of errands and preparations for picking up and organizing items for distribution. And suddenly , smack dab in the middle of it all… I got the most magnificent God Wink… more accurately a $23.56 God Wink.

Today I am picking Ben up to see his orthopedic doctor to examine his second shoulder which is now causing problems… Ben and shoulders don’t seem to be getting along lately.

So yesterday I ran by a Family Dollar store near me to pick up a twelve can case of Pepsis and cheese crackers for Ben. I also was out of a few household items and as usual by the time I had gotten everything… the line was backing up pretty heavy.

I was struggling to balance the Pepsis along with the other items… and trying to find the side on the carton you can push in to hold the carton easier. A father and little boy were in front of me… the little boy wanting to add candy to their list … the father saw me struggling with the carton and immediately found the location to punch in the ” grip” indentations.

His cute little son came over and said he would hold some of my items since the baskets were taken . I thanked him and complimented the father on raising such a courteous ” young man.”

When I finally made it to the check-out counter… I was able to prop the heavy carton on the counter behind the father while I gathered my other items together.

It appeared to be taking awhile for the father to check out… but then they left and I waited for my selections to be itemized before putting my card in… suddenly the clerk handed me my receipt.. confused I told him that must the customer in front of me-his receipt… I was still waiting to put my card in.

” No need lady” that man in front of you with the little boy paid for your items”. The cashier then grinned! I had never been so flabbergasted… a perfect stranger!

Still in shock… I turned to the lady behind me and asked if she saw that/she smiled and nodded. I found myself tearing up and suddenly she started clapping and it went down the line of everyone waiting to check out! Each person whispering to the person behind them explaining what happened!

Suddenly I knew I had to get to my ” benefactor” before he left the parking lot… God, bless Him… He gave me the strength to actually “run” towards the driver about to pull out. I must have looked like a crazy woman waving my bag high in the air… but he stopped and rolled down the window grinning. Inside the car was his wife holding a small child in her lap with the little boy in the back who was waving merrily too!

I profusely thanked my ” hero” and told him he had just made my day and restored my faith in humanity. His wife made a prayer gesture and they took off…

As I finally got back in my car… and turned on the AC… I realized I had not gotten his name… I watched and then took a snap shot as he passed me by in the family burgundy car… in my mind he will always be ” Mr. Burgundy” … my Family Dollar guardian angel… my God Wink!

The biggest smile fixated on my face and remained there the rest of the day! God Winks do that, you know.

Later as I ate lunch a ” Love Note” from artist/ author Kelly Rae Roberts popped up on her website… I loved it… the theme appeared to compliment my day as it continued to unfold. ( Here is a brief paraphrased excerpt from Kelly’s ” Love Letter.” )

Don’t we all want to live in a world where we can simply live the unfolding of our personal stories … so the collection of stories by life’s end have all been allowed to be made through our personal choices-through mistakes, small and large victories, grief, heartache, compassion, widening of our hearts and the deepening of our understandings, happiness and joy, tenderness over rigidity, and acceptance over biases.

It is already hard enough to be a human, right? Never forget… the universe delights in you… You are held and seen with unbelievable tenderness by our Creator… Your story matters… our stories matter… and we are all exquisitely beautiful! Start being the person whom you can love whole/heartedly … because God already does.

So until tomorrow… Yesterday God reminded me that when we need hope the most God can manifest it… anywhere… even in a Family Dollar store!

Today is my favorite day -Winnie the Pooh 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗