For Want of a Banana, a Purse Was Lost

Every morning I deliver my bank deposit to our 'head' office across town. Most mornings I also get a few errands done before the craziness of the business day begins. Today was an 'Walmart' day. I needed to start some Thanksgiving-feast shopping.

On the way back from Walmart, I delivered my deposit and got my company-gossip fix. The bookkeeper had just finished telling me that a patron at the company-owned car wash had been robbed at gunpoint. She also happened to mention that she'd run out of the house without her morning coffee. Of course I immediately felt sympathetic and offered her a packet of my instant Starbucks from my handbag.

When I went to the car to get it I couldn't find my purse anywhere. My mind immediately jumped to the possibility that it had been stolen from the car, but after looking for it in the office and the car trunk, I realized I needed to rush back to Walmart to see if I could find it there.

I told my friend what had happened and sped off, praying all the way. If I lost my purse it was my fault for being negligent, but 'Lord, would you please help me get my purse back!'

Arriving at Walmart I checked my shopping basket, which was still sitting where I'd left it. My recollection of the chain of events was fuzzy. I paid for the groceries, so I knew I had the purse at the check-out counter. However, when I got to the car, I was ravenously hungry and tore into the closest bag for a snack. Nothing else was clearly in focus until my blood sugar raised a little bit.

Having determined the purse was no longer in the  basket, I rushed inside to Customer Service. I asked an employee if I was in the right line for 'Lost and Found'. He asked me if I'd lost a purse and I said, 'Yes'. He said a customer found it and brought it inside. My spirits soared and I began to feel hopeful. The woman behind the counter took my name and went into the back room, returning a few minutes later with MY purse. 'It was just like this when it was brought in,' she said.

 I pawed through it. 'Cash? Check. Credit cards? Check. Cell phones? Check. Keys? Check!!'

 Praise God, everything was there and intact!

My low blood sugar had clouded my judgement as well as my thinking processes, but our faithful and loving Father was in control - as He always is! I had little cash, but replacing the credit cards, ID, cell phones, etc. would have been a major hassle. 'Thank you, Lord, for once again giving me what I didn't merit or deserve!'

On my way out of the store, I stopped to pick up a freshly-brewed coffee for my friend - who is also a believer - and when I delivered it and recounted my adventure, she could rejoice in more than a caffiene rush.

Sometimes it's GOOD news!