Supermarket sweep

“Fret not thyself…” (Ps. 37:1)

Grocery shopping. For years we had a system that worked. Rhema would jump into the front of the shopping cart – never, ever the back – and buckle herself in. She would stay in the cart the whole time I shopped, perodically giving me a good kick in the legs as I pushed. I marveled at how content she was in the carriage. I didn’t mind that my eight year old needed to ride in the front seat – it was comforting and predictable for her. It allowed me to focus on the shopping and not worry about her. Of course as she’s grown older, it’s become increasingly harder for her to fit in the carriage.

And I’ve had a sense of impending doom.

Once we made a quick stop at Trader Joes and I refused to get a carriage. I insisted she hold my hand and walk with me. She was so disturbed by this that she kept trying to climb into other shoppers’ carts.

Several months ago I realized our shopping days were surely numbered. We were at Target – Hope and I inspecting holiday socks and Rhema sitting in the carriage. Suddenly Rhema scrambled out of the carriage and took off. She’d never done that before and I was dumbfounded for a moment. Hope started yelling and then we started running. She had a good lead on us and we chased her up and down aisles, between shoppers and through racks of clothes. We laugh about it now, imaging the scene. But at the time I was very afraid that she’d run out the automatic doors and into the street. We caught her. But we were not able to get her to return to the carriage, and we left the store without making a purchase.

So for months I’ve wondered how we’d handle shopping trips with Rhema.

This past weekend Brandon took her to the grocery store while Hope and I went to the craft store. He prevented her from squeezing herself into the carriage. She walked beside him, and he instructed her to get items off the shelf and put them in the cart. She loved it! She loved helping, loved having a purpose. Not once did she bolt or flop or climb into someone else’s cart or try to eat all the cheese in the store!

Sometimes I feel like there is soooo much to worry about when it comes to my girl and the future. Often I pray, “Lord, I have no idea what we’re going to do about…” And then an unexpected, amazing successful moment comes and wraps me up in a bear hug. And the thing I thought would be huge and difficult just isn’t.

I’m so thankful when that happens.

Dear restless heart, be still; don’t fret and worry so;
God has a thousand ways His love and help to show;
Just trust, and trust, and trust, until His will you know.

Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God’s own smile,
His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;
Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile.

Dear restless heart, be brave; don’t moan and sorrow so,
He hath a meaning kind in chilly winds that blow;
Just hope, and hope, and hope, until you braver grow.

Dear restless heart, repose upon His breast this hour,
His grace is strength and life, His love is bloom and flower;
Just rest, and rest, and rest, within His tender power.

Dear restless heart, be still! Don’t struggle to be free;
God’s life is in your life, from Him you may not flee;
Just pray, and pray, and pray, till you have faith to see.

~Edith Willis Linn