We went to Walmart the other day to get gag gifts—of all things. But several minutes into the trip, I started feeling weak and dizzy. I looked frantically for a place to sit—anywhere—but COVID had wiped out all of the chairs.
So, I finally hobbled to the front of the store and found a seat where an associate had previously been peddling eyewear. I know it probably isn’t right, but I sat down as if we were playing a game of musical chairs. With my walker in front of me, I hoped no one would contest the place I’d illegally commandeered.
Anyway, I sat looking to the left when suddenly someone said something directly to my right. I looked over...shocked. A man sat RIGHT next to me—not 6 feet away. I had no idea where he had found his chair, but I wasn’t about to judge him when I’d done the same.
“You use this thing?” he asked, softly kicking my walker.
Who was this guy? “Yes,” I said, trying to be extra polite. “I use this thing.”
“Well then, what’s wrong with you? You’re not THAT old.”
“I’m 37.” What’s wrong with me? This man was so blunt. Part of me loved it
“ I have stage four cancer,” I said. It kind of felt nice to get it out. A lot of people look at me like they wonder, but they never ask.
The man leaned forward, as if he were giving me some great gift, and said, “The reason I’m here is to tell you that prayer works.”
“THAT’S the reason you’re here?”
“That’s the reason I’m here!” I could tell he smiled under his mask.
Shortly after that, Mike came up to the register, checked out, and we left.
It’s so strange though because when I looked back, the chairs were gone and so was the man!
“Who was that?” Mike asked.
“I have no idea. But if I didn’t know better, I’d almost think he was an angel. That was one of the weirdest things I’ve had happen in weeks. And that’s saying something!
“What did he say to you?”
“That prayer works.”
We went out to the car, loaded the gag gifts into the back, and drove home. But the whole way I kept thinking about the man...and his message.
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