Bathroom, please…

We were traveling back to the Gulf Coast from Memphis. My needs were simple: a decent enough bathroom at the closest gas station. Well, the first stop was a waste of time as the cashier claimed there was no public restroom.

We stood in line at the second stop... and waited, and waited... All the while, the cashier was busy ringing up customers, paying no attention to the line forming outside the bathroom. Eventually, someone figured out that the bathroom was out of order...

I was furious! Did the cashier not care? For heaven's sakes, we'd been standing there a good 15 minutes; I mean, come on! Was a simple, "Ma'am, the bathroom's out of order", too much to ask?

There are so many things we could/ should have said to that young lady. Perhaps it was best that we didn't!

So, today, when that cashier comes to mind, I ask God to bless her. I ask Him to forgive all the times I have been oblivious to the needs of others. I ask Him to give me the sense and humility to ask for help, not to assume that people know what I need. And when I make a request known to God, I pray for the strength to trust Him in the waiting.

Then, I praise God for the kindness and outpouring of love for my friend who lost her husband recently. I thank Him for all the ways He will support and comfort my friend and her family in the days ahead.

I thank Him when a daughter asks for prayers on her mother's behalf; I praise Him when friends respond immediately with prayers for healing and a good report from the doctor.

And I ask Him to forgive us, and heal us, and give us the strength to be kinder and more compassionate to one another... for His love's sake!

The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:

Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;

let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky!

But Ahaz answered,

"I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"

Then Isaiah said:

Listen, O house of David!

Is it not enough for you to weary people,

must you also weary my God?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:

the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,

and shall name him Emmanuel.

(Is 7:10-14)