Reading T Shirts
By Belinda
Our friends and house guests had left for a day of sight seeing, saying that they would be home late, but in time for supper. I had a much needed "catch up day!"
I love people, but I need solitude and thinking time like a tire needs air, so I politely declined their kind invitation to join them and they politely understood that I would go a little loopy if I went along.
Over a cup of coffee I scanned the advertising flyers from the local newspaper and left the house armed with a list and a coupon. I didn't have many things to get; my shopping would be strategic. Paul had called to say he'd be home in the late afternoon, and after three weeks with him away, I wanted to be home when he arrived.
After popping into Canadian Tire and getting one or two things on sale, my next stop was Sobey's, the grocery store. I had only two items on my list there--beef tenderloin (half price,) and Kraft Peanut butter--two for $5.00.
It was Saturday, and there were some good sale items so the store was busy. I headed for the express check out with my three items. There were a lot of people with the same idea as the long line of basket toting shoppers stretched way back into the store. I wondered if it would have been quicker to go through a regular check out, but reminded myself of the Law of the Supermarket; the "other line" always seems quicker.
I stood behind a short middle aged man in faded blue jeans and white T shirt and because I was too far from the magazine rack to read the latest headlines about how to lose 10 pounds in one week while eating cake and cookies, I looked at him. I noticed his longish hair, curling at the edges, dark, but graying. He stood, rocking on his heels, muscular arms folded. The T shirt had writing on it--familiar words. I resisted the urge to tap him on the shoulder and say, "Hey, I like your T shirt."
This is what it said:
Our friends and house guests had left for a day of sight seeing, saying that they would be home late, but in time for supper. I had a much needed "catch up day!"
I love people, but I need solitude and thinking time like a tire needs air, so I politely declined their kind invitation to join them and they politely understood that I would go a little loopy if I went along.
Over a cup of coffee I scanned the advertising flyers from the local newspaper and left the house armed with a list and a coupon. I didn't have many things to get; my shopping would be strategic. Paul had called to say he'd be home in the late afternoon, and after three weeks with him away, I wanted to be home when he arrived.
After popping into Canadian Tire and getting one or two things on sale, my next stop was Sobey's, the grocery store. I had only two items on my list there--beef tenderloin (half price,) and Kraft Peanut butter--two for $5.00.
It was Saturday, and there were some good sale items so the store was busy. I headed for the express check out with my three items. There were a lot of people with the same idea as the long line of basket toting shoppers stretched way back into the store. I wondered if it would have been quicker to go through a regular check out, but reminded myself of the Law of the Supermarket; the "other line" always seems quicker.
I stood behind a short middle aged man in faded blue jeans and white T shirt and because I was too far from the magazine rack to read the latest headlines about how to lose 10 pounds in one week while eating cake and cookies, I looked at him. I noticed his longish hair, curling at the edges, dark, but graying. He stood, rocking on his heels, muscular arms folded. The T shirt had writing on it--familiar words. I resisted the urge to tap him on the shoulder and say, "Hey, I like your T shirt."
This is what it said:
...Through His strength
for His glory...
1 Peter 4:11
I stood in line and meditated on the T shirt and felt God's presence. Having been busy with work during the day and friends during the evening and weekend, and Paul away, my time with God has been short. But it felt like God came down and put himself right in front of me in the grocery line up where I had a few moments of enforced stillness.
And then, as if to add a little humour to the moment, I noticed the T shirt of the next man ahead of the first one. It had writing too. It was meant to be advertising a business, but it meant something different to me in spiritual terms. It said:
New Name New Look
New Branches New Products
Same Guarantee
And the website? http://www.noble.ca/. Well, what else would you expect from the King? :)
Comments
Thanks for sharing your grocery store devotions with us. I'm happy!
And Susan--I am so happy that you found what you needed through that guy's website. How great is that?
love
Jan