What A Pickle!!

I was in the grocery store last week, when I witnessed something that I had never seen before. Let me start this story at the beginning. I went into my local grocery store that was packed out. After rounding through the produce section this little blur of a person whizzed by my cart. I proceeded to the meat counter where 2 buggies collided to keep from hitting this little boy who is running wild through out the store. Now, this is one of my greatest pet peeves...parents who let children run wild in restaurants or stores. They had rather let them go and take a chance of knocking someone down rather than discipline them. Most would tell me, "You say that because you don't have any children.". While this is true, umm..hello I was a child once. Believe me my mom wouldn't let me run through out the store. She would have spanked me right there in front of God and everyone. Only back then nothing would have been said, because the parents were the grown ups of the house and the decision makers not the children. Okay, getting back to my story. This little boy was a terror, and almost knocked an elderly lady down with a cane. Thank the Lord there was a nice man near by to catch her before she hit the floor. The manager went to the mother and told her to get her son under control. This was her 2nd warning. Then I heard a loud crash. I couldn't see the mess, but I could smell it. PICKLES!!! I rounded the corner a few minutes later and there was the mess...pickle jars broken everywhere. There also stood an angry manager and mother with a now still little boy. The manager was telling her that she would pay for every jar of pickles her son broke. Then she said no because you didn't pay for items you break in a grocery store. Where is that rule posted?? What a great example she was being to her dear little son. I can't quote what she said because it was a string of swear words a mile long. Now the out of control child was getting understood by me. Why expect anything better out of him if this is the way the mother acts. There will come a time when you pay for your child's actions and the lack of your actions. As a pastor and wife, we have heard parents wondering why little Johnny (who is now 19 or 20)is in jail? He wasn't raised that way. Why this is true, you never set out to raise a jail bird. The lack of raising...setting good examples, owning up to mistakes, making children pay the consequences for their mistakes are often to blame. Okay, back to the story. The manager proceeded to tell her that he had asked her 3 times to control her child and she ignored him. 47 jars of pickles were broken @ $3.39 a jar. That is $159.33 for pickles. The situation got so out of hand that the police were called. She would be paying for the pickles and going to jail. At some point she hit the manager. What an up standing testimony she is to her son who looked to be 4 or 5 years old. Now I don't have don't have to worry anymore about children who are rude or unruly...they are mostly a carbon copy of what they see in their parents. Children watch your every movement and every word that you utter. Their behavior mirrors what they see as well as what they are taught. I wanted to applaud the manager for his actions. You can't let children do as they please and feel you don't have to pay when they mess up. That day she paid with money, but will that be all that it will cost her?? How about when he is 16 and she hasn't seen him for 3 days? She will be paying with her very own health. Worrying and stress are slow killers. Children are a reflection of their parents. My first impression of that mother was she doesn't care about other people. She wouldn't be one to lend a helping hand or make a good friend. Are these facts true?? I don't know. That is just my impression from the lack of discipline I saw and her reaction to his behavior. People judge you by your actions and those of your children. Children reflect the personality of their parents. What can people tell about you through your child? I hope that through the way that I act and react people see my parents as loving caring people. I try hard to act and to REACT in a way that is pleasing to God. Reactions are just as important as actions. I have often found myself having to count to ten before I respond to someone...hey, I am human. I hope that lady in the grocery store can later reflect on not just her lack of action, but her reaction. What a bad example to swear and then hit a person who is telling you that you have to pay for your own mistake.

Presents

Just the word presents makes me think of our niece Kate. That is what she associates Mark and I with...Mark, Tracey and presents. I don't mind. I love buying her things. She loves everything you get her. She is especially fond of a sucker. She was asked if she wanted all this stuff for Christmas, and said she didn't need anything they mentioned. They asked if she wanted a sucker for Christmas, and she said that she could use a sucker. How precious is that? I love getting presents. I mean who doesn't? Getting a present means that someone was thinking of you, and it is nice to be thought of. I also love getting Christmas cards. I really love seeing which card someone chose to send me and Mark. I love getting "happy mail". Sending cards and letters is such a lost art anymore. I went to around 13 showers of some kind one year, and only received 2 thank you notes...they were from sisters (their mom would have killed them if they hadn't sent a note). My little niece, Courtney, who is 9 leaves me a thank you note when I leave her a gift at Mark's parents. I am not sure how I got on this soap box on this blog, oh well. It goes without saying that sometimes you need to follow up with a note of thanks. I will get off the box now.

In keeping with "mitzvah" for the December challenge, I am sending off a package today. The church where we are a member is collecting items to help families and ministries in our area. I am sending a gift card to help. Merry Christmas to whoever receives it.

I like the challenge this month that they have set, but sometimes it seems a little "braggie". If that is a word. I certainly don't do things for acknowledgement. How shallow and conceited is that? I do love to help people. I am not sure why God didn't make me rich...I would give most of it away...or would I? Evidently, money must would change me and God knows that. I think I would be generous, but maybe if I were rich I would be greedy and snobby. I sure would like the chance to find out. LOL. Wouldn't we all like that chance? I hate to see people go without. I am talking about more than their needs. I am also talking about their wants. It breaks my heart to see a mother and father struggling to provide for their child's needs such as food, clothing and shelter, and can't provide for a little bit of their "wants". That is what I like to do, is help fulfill the "wants" in a child's life. All children want things they see. About 2 weeks ago, I was at Dollar General. The lady in front of me had a child who wanted a candy bar. You could tell that she was a struggling parent. Only the necessities where on the counter. After paying for her groceries and personal items, she didn't have the money to buy the candy bar. Disappointment filled the child's face as she went to put it back. I just couldn't let her be disappointed...I bought her the candy. Her mom was most appreciative and thanked me numerous times with tears in her eyes. All I could say was, "Merry Christmas". A candy bar...how insignificant to most children whose parents probably could have bought the whole rack of candy without blinking an eye. In today's world most everyday is Christmas for a child. They get things all year long. Christmas has become the time of year that they get lots of everything they want at one time. I remember an episode of "Little House". Laura and Mary got an orange and their very own tin cup to drink out of...they were thrilled. Could you imagine giving a child their own cup and an orange today? Probably wouldn't get a good response. Americans are so blessed, but we do have poverty her in America. I just challenge everyone who reads this blog to maybe help meet a little "want" in some one's life this Christmas season. Some people's wants are not that elaborate. It could be a baby doll, race car or a new dress. Not all children want a Wii or a PS3. Some who have nothing or close to nothing want the simple things. Most children in that situation want what fills other kids toys boxes that aren't even being played with anymore. Just a small challenge to meet a "want" this year.