do you ever need a reminder

do you ever have one of those days that God uses to remind you of a few things? things like patience, driving etiquette, patience, gratefulness, or patience?

i had one of those days today. actually it was only a span of about 1.5 - 2 hours, but it was lesson enough to last me for a good while!

i was that "idiot driver" that went straight from the left-turn-only lane. i couldn't tell where i was supposed to go, it was an intersection of multiple streets and off-ramps and on-ramps and toll roads. oh - it IS very confusing! (turning left (E) onto louis henna from I 35 frontage road for you locals) it wasn't just a turn only lane, NO, even that wouldn't have been AS bad - this was a L turn only lane AND the lane to the right of me could go LEFT also!! yes - that could have been a BAD wreck if the guy in the silver pickup next to me wasn't paying attn for idiot drivers!! (thank you God for being w/ us, and thank you to everyone who looks out for what other people might do unexpectedly)

"Whew - off of the road and safely into the Target parking lot." the first spot in the row was open, so of course i went to pull into it. it was one where at the end there are . . . here is a picture of the situation.

Seems easy enough? no, not today - or i wouldn't write about it. i just COULD NOT seem to miss that curb. it seriously took me 2 or 3 times (maybe 4) to back up and reposition at it to pull back in before i got it straight enough to miss that darn curb. the whole time, people are lining up behind me. (thank you God, that none of them honked at me angrily as this would surely have NOT helped the situaiton any!)

"OK - out of the car. it has to get better." i was there to buy a pair of soft leather shoes for nathan. there were only two boy styles. two - dos, deux, due, zwei! that is it! should have been easy . . . but they were both cute. (the dog ones were lighter blue - baby blue)

so, i just picked them both up and began to ask random people which they would've picked. well, i asked two sets of people, one said dogs, the other said cars. i felt like such a ditz, so silly, to not just decide and go on with it. but i set them in the basket and decided to ask someone else - a tie-braker, if you will. shop - shop - shop . . . "ooo, i found a soft baby blanket, much like nathan's ABSOLUTE favorite." so i picked it up, but there was a dirty mark on it. "it is the last one, what do i do? oh, here is another soft one, and it is cheaper. but maybe they will give me a discount on the one with the mark. it will probably wash out, and if not, he won't care anyway." i picked them both up to get the price after a possible discount, and if it became cheaper than the other i would get it. shop - shop - shop . . . on to the check out.

"ooo, found a short line, must be my day!" waiting on one person in front of me, as many more people get in line behind me. "oh NO! i forgot to put one of the pairs of shoes back!" i quickly began asking the lady in line in front of me and the cashier which ones they liked. "ok, cars it is! richard will like those i am sure." i appologized to the cashier for giving her the other shoes to have to put back later. "oh, the blankets . . . " so i proceeded to show her the mark and ask about a discount. and after the appropriate 'managerial consultation', "10% off " was the verdict. "mmm . . . not enough" the other was still cheaper, so i picked it and appologized again about now giving her a blanket to put back also. all the while the line behind me got longer and longer. (thank you God, that they were all very cordial, and understanding with me.)

this is where the story comes to a close. i had been:

1-the "irradic, not paying attention (i was, but it would not seem like it to other drivers), idiot driver" in the turn only lane

2- the "doesn't know how to drive" driver , holding up the line in the parking lot

3-the "can't make up her mind, is that the biggest problem you have" undecisive shoe shopper

4- the "looking to pinch every penny, doesn't she know i have to get somewhere", "why do i always get in the slow lane" & "why did you bring it to the register for me to have to put back, do you think i don't have better things to do" slow, demanding one in line to check out

through it ALL - not ONE person honked at me, showed me obscene gestures, scoffed at me, rolled their eyes at me, huffed in exasperation with me - or in ANY way showed me that i had been a test of their patience. NOT ONE.

sometimes the Lord tests OUR patience, to grow it in us. sometimes He uses you to test others and shows you THEIR understanding patient response to show you. sometimes He shows you His face, in those around you to remind you to ". . . be watchful and thankful" Colossians 4:2. today, i was the "bad driver" to remind me to be careful of, aware of, and understanding of the "bad driver" on another day.