While only one day of the summer is the longest day of the year, today certainly seemed longer.

One of “those days” where the recurring unacceptable behavior is at peak levels.

Maybe Mama was right.  The barometric pressure is related to the wildness of children.  I often heard her mutter under her breath, “Must be a storm coming.”

Yep, it was that kind of day. The kind that started way too early for the late nights I’d been spending, burning the candle at both ends.

And here we are at the grocery store.  Now every sane Mama knows that you don’t take your kids to the grocery store when you feel as though “Storm’s comin!” But empty cupboards and shallow pantries don’t feed a family of nine. So in the store we were.    Just three kiddos in tow this time.

There are things to be thankful for.

I love my babies. Truly I do. From the depths of my soul.    But… I don’t always love their actions.  I know you get it.  Sometimes the giggles turn into laughter and the laughter turns into silliness and then, all the sudden someone is crying. Recognize the cycle?

Halfway through the shopping trip however, something unusual occurred.

Enter “Random Man.”  An older gentleman who decides to strike up a conversation with the worn-out mother of previously mentioned children.

Says to me: You’re an awfully brave woman shopping with three kids.

To which I replied: Oh, this is only half the children.  I have seven.

His turn: They are very well-behaved.

What?!

Are you sure we are talking about my kids?

Perhaps there are other children in this aisle that are modeling the complete shopping mode every mother can only dream of.

Nope. He smiled at my kiddos and they returned his smile.

Many times  it is so difficult to see the good in our children. It is as if we are carrying around a magnifying glass  and are inspecting every detail, up close and personal.  That bedhead hair .  The shirt stain from the ketchup at lunch.  Sand on the knees from castle play.

But if we drop the magnifying glass, step back and take a look at the whole child, we find a spirit of helpfulness. Or a ready mind.  Or a positive attitude.

Which is what “Random Man” could see.

And suddenly the day didn’t seem quite as long. The store didn’t seem nearly as crowded. And my children, well, they were well-behaved.

Suddenly, “Random Man” became “Random Angel.”

And I’m thinking I should have handed him a t-shirt.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Proverbs 25:11

By Rachel,

Just A Mom With A Heart for God

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