Sticker Lady Part II

 

Here it is, just for you Madonna!!! Part II to the sticker lady story from several months back...

I wrote about the lady at Walmart who gives Lucy stickers. I wrote about how I had been too busy to even find out her name, how I didn't know her story, didn't take the time to do anything more than smile and say, "Lucy, tell the lady thanks for the sticker!"

Well, I don't have a ton of news....but I did find out her name... it is VIRGINIA!

That's it, that's all I know so far! I know...this is not making for a very exciting blog post is it?

Hang in there my sisters...

Here is how I found out her name.

I went back to Walmart again and again and the sticker lady was nowhere to be seen! She was gone...not there, not smiling, not holding the big roll of stickers!

And you know what...I sortof missed her!

Now, of course I missed her because I had made this big promise to myself to get to know her and now she wasn't around, but I also missed her because, well, you know the saying, "You don't know what you have until it's gone!"

So, trip after trip after trip...no sticker lady!

I actually started to get a little flustered! I was even getting a bit bitter! Seriously at one point, it actually crossed my mind to walk over to the manager and say something like, "Excuse me sir, but I am quite sure I keep this Walmart in business with my tri- to quad-weekly $75-$199 trips! The least you could do is REPLACE the sticker lady!!!" 

But then reality set in, or Lucy dropped something, or my hand got dirty from the old carts they still have there, and instead I thought, "Oh well, no sticker lady...onto the Goldfish aisle!"

And then the moment happened...I pulled Lucy from the jeep, walked up the monstrous parking lot with her, plunked her down in the cart, straightened her bib, pulled out my list, pulled my shirt over my muffin top, straightened my hair and looked up to see....A STICKER MAN!!!! 

A STICKER MAN!!!

And well, he had this HUGE smile on his face! A STICKER MAN!!!!

He not only gave Lucy a sticker but he asked about her. He wondered why she couldn't talk. He stroked her little hand and tried to get her to laugh. He wanted to know how to say "You are welcome" in sign language so he could better serve his non-hearing customers, and you know what...he just simply MADE MY DAY!

His name is Tom! He loves his job at Walmart and while he has not fully replaced Virginia (I asked him her name), he seems to be the one who greets us most frequently now.

And every single time...HE SMILES!
And every single time...HE WELCOMES MY LITTLE LUCY.
And every single time...HE GENTLY PATS HER HAND.
And every single time...HE ASKS ME HOW TO SAY "YOU ARE WELCOME" in SIGN.
And every single time...HE MOVES FROM ME AND MY CHILD TO THE NEXT MOTHER-CHILD DUO WITH A STICKER AND A SMILE!

And every single time...I AM CONVICTED!

You see my sisters, I have a wonderful job at a BEAUTIFUL college. I work in the newest building on campus, with the best and brightest students. I have a tremendous husband who supports me, challenges me, and lifts me up in my walk with the Lord. I have four beautiful children in my home who are happy and healthy and full of energy.

And yet, my sisters, there are days...there are weeks that go by and I don't give a smile to everyone I encounter. There are moments when I don't even give a smile to my children or welcome my husband home! Times when I am too busy to slow down and enjoy what God has brought to my door!

Oh my dear sisters...might the Lord forgive me! Might he continue to remind me of the amazing blessings He has given me! Might he force me to lie down in green pastures, to stop for a moment and welcome my family, my friends, my neighbors.

Might He continue to convict me as I enter Walmart. 

My dear sisters...don't let another day go by without welcoming someone with a smile!

"Kind words are like honey--sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."

Proverbs 16:24

and one of my father's favorites:

"Those who refresh others, will themselves be refreshed!"

Proverbs 11:25