You Get What You Pray For

After a very long day that Monday, I lay in bed with a nasty head cold, praying for a Christmas Miracle that I would be able to breathe through my nose again when I awoke.  That did not happen.  I woke and got my son up and out the door just in time to catch the bus.  I picked up a breakfast sandwich and had to wait.  I was 4 minutes late to the office.  I expected my boss to come in around Noon.  She phoned to say that she would be back closer to 2 p.m.  My head is swimming from the pressure and other nasty cold-related symptoms.  When she arrives, I tell her I am going to the store for orange juice and medicine and then heading off to bed.  I agree to drop off the mail in the outside box.  I won’t even have to get out of the car.  But, I decide to go in and see if – just maybe – my anticipated check has arrived in the mail.  Eureka, it has!  Finally, I had a good turn.  I cash the check and go to the store.  I picked up everything I think I need.  I am in the checkout line.  I reach into my purse.  I can’t find my cash.  The $280.00 that I have had in my possession for less than half an hour is missing without a trace.  I looked everywhere.  Up and down the aisles.  Under displays.  On the shelves.  I KNOW it was in my purse.  It was not there.  I asked a fellow shopper to keep an eye out.  She really hoped that I would find it, she said.  I went to my car.  I looked through all my mail from the post office.  I looked in the cracks.  I looked under the seats.  I dumped the entire contents of my purse.  While I sorted through it, I said, “Okay God.  What are you trying to teach me? I’m listening!”  I didn’t find it.  I looked under the car.  I looked all over the parking lot.  The lady who wished me well came up to me as she was headed for her car.  She held out her hand and asked if the bill she was holding would help with my groceries.  The sun was in my eyes.  I looked closer, and the bill was a hundred.  I resisted.  I couldn’t take that much money from her!  She insisted, said “Merry Christmas!” and walked away.  There was no discussion.  I went back inside in tears.  Some of the cashiers were tearing up because I was, being so moved by what happened outside. Three of them had gone together and paid for my groceries, which totaled 77 dollars.  I tried to give them the hundred the lady outside had given me.  They told me to keep it, because I was going to need it.  While one of the managers loaded my groceries in the car, I looked through the store and through my car one last time.  There, inside folds of a letter, inside an envelope, was my bank envelope full of cash.  I went back into the store.  Everyone had seen me crying.  There were several people in the checkout lines.  I was asked if I had found the money.  I smiled, and held up the envelope.  There was applause.  Sighs of relief could be heard from everyone there.  I was still in tears.  So were some of the other ladies.  I insisted on paying for my groceries, and giving the lady, who was gone, her money back.  They let me pay them back for my things, but no one knew the lady or if they did they weren’t letting on.  I was never upset about the money.  I wasn’t panicked.  I wasn’t crying because I lost money.  It wasn’t gone long enough for me to panic.  I was just overwhelmed by the immediate outpouring of goodwill.  In times where things are falling apart, it gives me peace in my heart to have been the target of God’s Christmas Miracle.  I wasn’t even going to get out of the car at the post office, but because I did, I got to see God work.  Merry Christmas Everyone.  If you get the chance, be a Christmas Miracle.  You will never feel the same again.