I had to look twice. I couldn't believe what
I saw the first time and truthfully, the second
look didn't help.
In a world full of "jazzies" and "mobile chairs"
of all types, I saw the most amazing thing.
A regular, old fashioned wheel chair. I mean old.
No special padding, no special wheels, just a
hospital type that I don't think I'd want to spend
much time in.
That's not the biggest surprise. It was being
pushed by a little angel of a child. The young girl
almost had to walk on her toes to reach the
handles. But once she got rolling she was fine.
I will tell you that I wanted to offer my help. I mean
I thought it proper to take the time to say, "May I
help you get around the store?"
I would have enjoyed every minute of it.
But something told me to stay out of it.
"Perhaps there is someone else in the store
who would be back to take over," I thought to
myself.
There wasn't. I pretty much followed them
through the entire store and that little child
did a great job.
I can't for the life of me guess the ages of little
children. They either seem little or big to me.
This little child was growing up fast.
There was no list that I could see so they shopped
as they saw things they needed. The woman
held a small market basket on her lap so they
weren't buying for the week.
Every so often I would hear the woman say,
"Help me to remember."
They would be in a section they felt they needed
to be but she couldn't remember what it was.
I know that feeling. If I am going to the store I have
a number limit in my memory bank.
Three. That's it. If I need more than three I must
make a list. I've tried and I spent an extra half hour
walking up and down until I remember the fourth
thing. Often it was wrong.
"Help me to remember," she said and the amazing
thing was, the child remembered.
"Grandma, it was pepper. We need pepper, remember?"
"Ah, that's right!"
I was slowing down on purpose just so I could help if
they needed me. They didn't.
At the other end of the store I heard, "Well, is that all?"
"That's it!" the child said.
I got in line behind them.
Just before they paid for everything I finally spoke to
the woman.
"She's quite a helper. I couldn't believe how she
remembered all those things."
The woman leaned over toward me and motioned for
me to come closer.
"Look, I have a list," she said as she opened her
hand to reveal a piece of paper. "I don't want her to know.
I want her to get smarter than I was at her age. So,
I do this every time we go shopping."
She smiled and then began to laugh as she sat back in
her chair.
"Grandma," the child asked. "What are you laughing at?"
She paused for a moment and looking back at me she said,
"I don't remember!" she laughed even louder.
They rolled out the door and a small car pulled up. I followed
out the door and overheard them speaking.
"So, how did grandma do?" the woman asked.
"Well, mommy. I had to remember everything," the child said.
I got in my car and watched as they pulled away. I sat there
remembering my two boys at that age. Things I'd thought I had
forgotten came rushing in and I began to laugh, too.
Life has a way of doing that. Sometimes you forget little things
and later see them has huge, significant moments in your life. Keep
an eye on the world around you. God is speaking to you through
every smile, every bloom, every falling leaf and everyone you meet.
When I got home I realized I had actually forgotten something I needed.
You Raise Me Up Daniel O'Donnell
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