Should I Say Something -or- Clam Up? … Good morning, Hump Day readers. I hope you find yourselves still filled with Christmas joy and love and hope for a new year. I am changing my devotion because (again) God put something in my way that needs to be shared. Have you ever been in a situation where you want to step up and say something but you’re not sure so you just clam-up? Here’s my story from the other day while I was in inline at the pharmacy in a large grocery store. But, before I share the story, read these words from Paul’s letter to the Galatians (6:1 -GW)

Brothers and sisters, if a person gets trapped by wrongdoing,
those of you who are spiritual should help that person
turn away from doing wrong. Do it in a gentle way.

I wish I could tell you this Scripture was on my mind that day, but not so-at least not right away. I was inline to pick up an Rx and although they opened at 10am, I could only see two people working; on top of that, they had appointments until noon for Covid boosters and Covid vaccines for youngsters. I was also aware of the sign “please have patience, we are very short-staffed” which we all know is just about everywhere right now.

The elderly couple in front of me were so kind, but she couldn’t stand long. She turned to me and told me to take her place, her meds were not urgent, they’d come back later. The lady in front of them kindly said, “I don’t have ice cream, I can wait.” Everyone was patient, except one rude loud-mouthed woman. She was screaming at the pharmacist (whom I know well) and everyone around her. Posted are signs asking people to please wear a mask. She was the only one without one! Then she yelled at the young boy because he started to cry when she yelled. “Kid, where’s your mother, , probably one of those that let their kids run wild.” The mother was sitting in a corner chair trying to keep a crying baby quiet. The gal in front of me looked at me with unspoken words but her eyes were spoke loudly saying, “what is the matter with this woman?”

I couldn’t take it any longer. I stepped out as she came toward me, fist in the air with the words “and what in the hell do you want?” Reminding myself that I am a chaplain, I deeply inhaled, spoke to myself, ‘Holy Spirit give me words’ and I said to her very evenly but kindly, “Ma’am, you are abusive and this needs to stop right now. Perhaps you have forgotten that over eight hundred thousand people in this country are dead, and we just can’t replace them immediately, especially those with pharmacy skills. You have just hurt a little boy with your yelling, degraded a good pharmacist and his staff, and turned this day into your own angry pity-party and you need to stop it right now.” She did stop it and stood with her hands on her hip and good thing her stare had no bullets in it or I would not be writing this story.

Sadly, she started shouting again, and firmly, I told her to stop it, but she started degrading all of us because we were wearing our masks, as the store asked us to. I thought I was going to blow up, but the Holy Spirit is more powerful, so I said, “where is your mask—do you not care about other people, if not yourself?” She turned on her heal, told us all to go ‘you-know-where’ and stomped out.

Then I heard the pharmacist say, “Cyndy, is that you?” What could I say? He yelled out a big thank-you, everyone clapped—I was embarrassed, but I also understood their thankfulness in every clap. I couldn’t stay long as I had an appointment, so I came back later and the one tech who was late because of a sick child had arrived. I waved at them all and they shouted, “you were our angel today” – I told them no way would they want me to be their angel.

Then someone tapped me on the shoulder, I turned around and the store manager was there. He gave me a gift card for the store and thanked me for stopping what may have turned out to be a very ugly incident. I asked him to give it to someone in need but he gently reminded me I had filled a need that day for many people and I deserved it. Again, I felt a bit embarrassed at this gesture, but it would have been rude to not take their appreciation.

All the way home I spoke with God, “should I have just left, should I have shut-up?” So, I wrestled with it until I turned on the radio and heard the news of 4 people in a Walgreens in another state who got in a fight, guns came out and 5 people were shot, 3 of them died. I almost drove off the road; I shuddered to think that could have happened in my grocery store pharmacy. I also realized God answered my questions through that awful news.

Here we are, just done with celebrating the greatest gift of love none of us deserve, and we walk into this kind of situation. My friend asked me if I would do that again, I didn’t hesitate, I said indeed I would. Because that day, had I not, I would have lost the opportunity to help people—maybe even the vulgar woman. That’s why I love that verse from Galatians. We all encounter many angry people today; sometimes we have to think quickly. We have a choice in what we say and how we say it. I learned that a prayer helps before I open my mouth!

I love the verse from Psalm 91:4— “He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge…” That day I knew that God had definitely surrounded me and all those people with guardian angels, but never did I think I would have a part in that! The Lord often confounds me with the “adventures” He places in my life, but I don’t ever want to pass up the opportunity to be “God’s love” to those in need. When we see such hatred and injustice, we cry out, “God, do something!” and God replies, “I did – I created you.” AMEN.