Through Different Eyes
Joan Wright
This morning my grandson and I were off to get stickers for his birthday invitations. As we were leaving, my husband reminded me that we needed a loaf of bread. Figuring that the grocery store would be the most boring for an almost five year old, I opted to go there first. As we pulled into the parking lot Jacob murmured from the backseat, “I don’t think I have ever been to this Safeway. I smiled as I walked around the car to get him from his car seat in the back.
Once inside I asked if he wanted to ride in the basket or walk. “We don’t need a basket “he replied. We headed to the back of the store where the bread was kept. As we passed the Deli I asked him if he would like to choose some kind of meat to go on the bread for lunch. He looked into the glass counter and moved along slowly taking in everything. “Actually, I like the cooked things better.”
“Let’s get the bread first since there are so many people waiting.” He was very reasonable and followed me to the breads. “Can I pick out the bread?”
“Of course,” I replied just like any other doting grandmother.
He checked out every loaf of bread on the shelves before he decided on the one he wanted. We went back to the Deli and looked into the glass enclosure once again. It was quite early and there weren’t many choices yet in the cooked food section. I asked how about we have a different kind of lunch today. We will choose new foods and try them out. He loved the idea, and settled on a chicken strip, a potato wedge and a pot sticker. The clerk carefully wrapped them up gazing into his twinkly brown eyes. “How would you like a couple of fortune cookies to try with your lunch?” He gave her his best smile and carefully put the cookies into our bag, as he thanked her.
I said maybe would should get some fruit to which he replied,”I only like watermelon.” Feeling very generous I said “Lets go see if they have some.” I had no idea how much watermelon would cost in February.
As we proceeded to the opposite side of the store he gently ran his fingers across each display we passed. I asked him why he had to touch everything in the store and he replied, “ They all feel different, Grandma, try it.” So I followed along behind him feeling how different the soda cans felt from the cracker boxes and what a wonderful tactile experience it was to feel the patterns and changes in the neatly stacked merchandise.
Eventually we reached the produce department. Then his eyes widened even more. “Look at the apples, he said. They have every color of the rainbow. Can we buy some apples?” He competently pulled the plastic bag off the roll and began filling it with apples. He then discovered the twisties. He was enchanted with how you could close up the bag very tightly. Then he proceeded to weigh the apples. I could tell he had done this before. He was able to tell me almost how many pounds the apples weighed. He then proceeded to the oranges and asked if we could buy just one; so another bag, another twisty and another trip to the scale. Then we found the watermelon. It was quite expensive, but we bought it anyway.
By now my hands were full, so I did get a basket so we could make it to the checkout stand without dropping anything. As we approached the cash registers, we found a line with no one waiting. He helped me put the groceries onto the conveyor belt and remarked at how lucky we were to have no line to wait in. Then he turned to me as we were handed our bags and said, “This is the best day of my life so far.”
Through eyes blurred from tears I saw his immense smile. As I helped him in to the car, I asked, “What is so special about this day?” He replied, “I got to choose everything, I got free fortune cookies, and there was no line.” I laughed to myself as I walked around the car to get inside. He had opened his fortune cookie and handed me his fortune to read. YOU APPRECIATE GOOD ART AND MUSIC. He smiled and said,” These cookies are always right, must be magic.”
My simple errand turned into a miraculous experience and all because I could see a super market from a different perspective, through the eyes of a very special child.
Have a great day, I pray that you can see Gods love in everything you do no matter how ordinary.
All for Him
- Joan
Children’s Ministry Happenings
Fall Kick Off
Sept. 10th
Room Assignments
Nursery 3-24 months Building 800
Toddlers 2 and early 3’s Building 700
Preschool 3, 4, and 5’s Room 303
Kindergarten and 1st grade Room 401 (music room)
2nd-5th Grade Multipurpose Room
Rooms open up 10 minutes before each gathering
Fall Retreat
October 6th-8th
Alliance Redwoods
Things to look for
Kidventure
A time for k-5th graders to hang with there small group leaders outside of church to just hang and have fun
KidZone
Where kids bring their parents into their world for a shared family experience!
Questions? Call John Wright at 673-2101
September 2006.