They will know us by our love

Last night, I worked the nursery at church (what else is new?) There were 3 people on the schedule, none of them named Mrs Count. I was the only person that showed up. No worries. I put on my game face, asked could I have a teen so I could open the nursery, and got to work. A 12 year old and me and 11 babies under 2. We were so over our quota, but we were handling it quite nicely because she was awesome! Even when a lovely 14 month old peed all down the side of my shirt (parents, don't buy cheap diapers!) we still had the room quiet and under control. About 30 minutes into service, another teen came down and helped. Then somebody who works the nursery, but this wasn't her week, came to drop of her child,and said she'd stay when she saw the staff I had. The kids were great (all 14 of them) but, as usual, I was disheartened about how people can commit to a ministry, but never bother to show up for it. I always try to recruit some of the parents to sign up, but everybody is too busy. 

 

Last night after church I stopped by the grocery store. MrC has been out of town all week so I wanted to surprise him with his favorite meal tonight when he comes back. I left out the grocery store sometime after 10pm and hopped in my car to go to the gas station. As I started driving, I noticed something was wrong with my car. I get to the gas station and as I get out I hear:

 

OldManBill: You have a flat tire ma'am

Me: Yeahhhhh, thanks

OldManBill: You have a spare?

Me: I don't know. I'm gonna call my husband

OldManBill: Let me know if you need any help

 

Me: Babe, I have a flat tire

MrC: How did that happen?

Me: *silence* I came out of Safeway and it was flat

MrC: Well call AAA. You still in the Safeway parking lot?

Me: No. If somebody was trying to kill me, I'm not gonna stay in the dimly lit parking lot. I'm at the gas station. Where they have people, cars, cameras, and an old man that's trying to help me.

MrC: Call AAA. That's what we pay them for

Me: mmhmmmmm

 

OldManBill: I see you have a spare. Let's change this tire

10 minutes later, tire changed.

 

Me: Here let me pay you

OldManBill: Absolutely not

Me: Please! I'm so grateful, you didn't have to help me, but you did anyway

OldManBill: Ma'am, it's my Christian duty to help people. You have a good night and be safe.

 

And then I cried like a baby.

 

⁸ Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; ⁹ not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:7-9 (New King James Version)