Our Stories
God Loves Canned Green Beans!
By Char Forslund | posted 09/27/2007
"Usually no one will hurt you for wanting to do good. But even if they should, you are to be envied, for God will reward you for it. Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him and do it in a gentle and respectful way." (I Peter 3: 13-15, The Living Bible)
Cruising into the grocery store that day, I had one thing on my mind-go there-get that-move, move--more errands await-just keep moving...be home before the grandkids.
She appeared first in the produce. My peripheral vision recorded and acknowledged her-one among many and of no account to me personally. As I carted up and down the aisles adding cereal, pasta, spaghetti sauce and "ad infinatum" on the weekly list-she was there too. It seemed that everywhere I rushed in my hurry scurry to get the shopping done-to move the stuff from the shelves to my cart and progress, she appeared. Again and again I became aware-of her, there. As I imperceptibly slowed, unaware of my own actions, she slowed also.
When I reached the canned veggies aisle I was looking for a particular item...a kind of canned green beans only produced by one brand. The beans, cut julienne style, have diced onion and tomato added. Our grandson, Dillon, loves them and I was on a search. As I looked up and down and around, there she was again-now only two feet away. I stopped and turned to face her.
As our eyes met and held I asked, "Do I know you?" She responded with a slow shake of the head. And so I asked, "Are you OK?" and again she responded with a slow shake of the head. Concerned and perplexed I waited, until she said, "You look like someone I can talk to." Hesitantly I asked, "Do you really need to talk to someone that bad?" And her firm nod silently screamed "Yes!" "Let's go sit down at the Deli".
Hurry, scurry subsided as a vivid memory moved in. Several years before I had come face to face with another young woman and her infant in dire need. Then I was totally without any real help available to give her. I vowed that day to carry in my wallet a small card with the name and phone number of a shelter, a church, and an agency contact for women in need. Later I added a ten dollar bill with the card in a zipper pocket of my wallet. The young woman in front of me across the deli table seemed first to be in need of sustenance. I used the ten dollars to buy a deli sandwich and drink for her and coffee for me. My mind quieted as I invited God to join us.
Her story unfolded. A story of verbal, emotional and physical abuse cascaded out, keeping company with the tears. At the end, touching her hand gently, I asked, "Could I pray with you?" She eagerly agreed. And then we called the police. While she was speaking with them, I called a church that I knew would step in and step up. Once she was entrusted to their care I returned to the shopping aisles, still under God and under Grace... behind in my schedule, but far ahead in the race.
When Dillon burst into the house that afternoon, the first words out of his mouth were, "G-Ma, did you find my beans?" I was able to say, "Yes, Dillon. I did!"...and I found so much more! Who would have known that God loves canned green beans?
Love and Joy!
To respond to this message, email Char at charforslund@comcast.net.
Char
|
"Usually no one will hurt you for wanting to do good. But even if they should, you are to be envied, for God will reward you for it. Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him and do it in a gentle and respectful way." (I Peter 3: 13-15, The Living Bible)
Cruising into the grocery store that day, I had one thing on my mind-go there-get that-move, move--more errands await-just keep moving...be home before the grandkids. She appeared first in the produce. My peripheral vision recorded and acknowledged her-one among many and of no account to me personally. As I carted up and down the aisles adding cereal, pasta, spaghetti sauce and "ad infinatum" on the weekly list-she was there too. It seemed that everywhere I rushed in my hurry scurry to get the shopping done-to move the stuff from the shelves to my cart and progress, she appeared. Again and again I became aware-of her, there. As I imperceptibly slowed, unaware of my own actions, she slowed also. When I reached the canned veggies aisle I was looking for a particular item...a kind of canned green beans only produced by one brand. The beans, cut julienne style, have diced onion and tomato added. Our grandson, Dillon, loves them and I was on a search. As I looked up and down and around, there she was again-now only two feet away. I stopped and turned to face her. As our eyes met and held I asked, "Do I know you?" She responded with a slow shake of the head. And so I asked, "Are you OK?" and again she responded with a slow shake of the head. Concerned and perplexed I waited, until she said, "You look like someone I can talk to." Hesitantly I asked, "Do you really need to talk to someone that bad?" And her firm nod silently screamed "Yes!" "Let's go sit down at the Deli". Hurry, scurry subsided as a vivid memory moved in. Several years before I had come face to face with another young woman and her infant in dire need. Then I was totally without any real help available to give her. I vowed that day to carry in my wallet a small card with the name and phone number of a shelter, a church, and an agency contact for women in need. Later I added a ten dollar bill with the card in a zipper pocket of my wallet. The young woman in front of me across the deli table seemed first to be in need of sustenance. I used the ten dollars to buy a deli sandwich and drink for her and coffee for me. My mind quieted as I invited God to join us. Her story unfolded. A story of verbal, emotional and physical abuse cascaded out, keeping company with the tears. At the end, touching her hand gently, I asked, "Could I pray with you?" She eagerly agreed. And then we called the police. While she was speaking with them, I called a church that I knew would step in and step up. Once she was entrusted to their care I returned to the shopping aisles, still under God and under Grace... behind in my schedule, but far ahead in the race. When Dillon burst into the house that afternoon, the first words out of his mouth were, "G-Ma, did you find my beans?" I was able to say, "Yes, Dillon. I did!"...and I found so much more! Who would have known that God loves canned green beans?
Love and Joy! To respond to this message, email Char at charforslund@comcast.net. |
