The “crazy Costco lady”
It was a typical Saturday Costco monthly grocery haul, except for this…
Hubby and I were pushing our usual two carts through Costco, with kids somewhat evenly divided between them, as well as food items stacking up. We are pretty well versed and accustomed to hearing all kinds of comments come from people as we navigate and push two carts, five children and lots of food, through a usually very busy store. But this took me by surprise…
As we were making our way through the “up traffic” to the check out line, a lady sticks her hand out as we were passing on by, to get our attention and as she began to speak I was pensively waiting for the comments to roll in…you know, the ones about the amount of children we have, the amount of food we had to buy, etc etc…but to my literal surprise, she began to say…” wow, how many do you have?” I responded “there’s 5 of them…” (waiting for the interjection of “you’re crazy” or “I feel sorry for you…”) but then she responded saying “that is absolutely amazing. You are so blessed and highly favored. You know the Bible says blessed is the woman whose quiver is full…Keep having those babies sweetie, you are doing great Kingdom work…”
I literally felt tears well up in my eyes…I’d never had a complete stranger say anything like that before. I thanked her for allowing the Holy Spirit to use her like that, because it’s so uncommon to hear things like what she said, in today’s world. To make it even sweeter, the older lady across the way (who was serving samples) chimed in, (yelling over people so that I could hear) “yes honey- the Lord said to multiply, not divide…you are blessed and your family is beautiful!”
Speechless, humbled and encouraged- it’s how I felt after that encounter…and it doesn’t stop there you guys- because as we were checking out (and let me tell you- when we check out of Costco after our large shopping haul for the month, it’s quite a scene to see. This is when we buy as much bulk as needed, because it’s for the month- so five kids and two adults; it’s usually quite a bit of food that draws many “looks”)…but as we were checking out, the same lady found me and said “I just felt like I needed to remind you- the Lord will always provide for you. You are faithful in raising up the next generation and He has blessed you with these 5 beautiful babies…He will not leave their mouths hungry. Continue to trust Him and live for Him; He will take care of your family…always remember this “crazy Costco lady” said He will provide for you…”
Y’all! How could this lady even be real?!?!! I was just astonished by how God used her…absolutely blown away.
Let’s all be more like “the crazy Costco lady”…let’s go out on a limb to encourage a perfect stranger with Scripture. Let’s view children as blessing and a heritage from the Lord. Let’s live in light of the Kingdom ahead and posture our heart to echo HIS.
Here for His Kingdom, not our own.
“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Matthew 6: 26-34
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”
Psalm 127:3-5