Have you ever been blessed while waiting in a Wal-Mart checkout-out line? Usually I’m really cranky if I have to wait more than five minutes to make it to the cash register. Once, not long ago, I waited 20 whole minutes….and got a blessing out of it. I struck up a conversation with the lady in front of me. We were, after all, trying to pass the time pleasantly while waiting in line. Either that or misery loves company…..at any rate, Tammy shared that her teen was redecorating her room and was “done” with her zebra stuff. Let me leave Wal-Mart for a minute and step into my classroom.

As a teacher, I get a really good idea of what my students love or collect as I see them in class and hear their chatter. I knew one of my girls LOVES the zebra pattern on anything. Now back to the check-out line.

I asked Tammy, my new best friend, if she would be willing to sell me the zebra stuff. I was determined to get it for my student, you see. I learned that Tammy is a gracious, generous lady who wanted to “pay it forward.” As we talked more, we both agreed that every time we have needed something, someone has been sent to provide it for us. You might call this karma or the hand of God, but either way, I know miracles can and do happen. Tammy shares that belief. We swapped phone numbers and agreed to meet another day so I could pick up the zebra room décor—lamp, flowers, wall hangings, everything. The day came, and I was thrilled to see her again. She is truly a wonderful person. She even brought a couple of pairs of shoes that were not needed by her teen. Wouldn’t you know that my daughter could wear one pair and her friend could wear the other!

We don’t usually equate Wal-Mart with awesome new friends, but it can happen. Don’t you just love those wonderful, wacky Wal-Mart women?