I had worked at the grocery store for a while, I had somehow impressed the manager and so he added training new people to my list of things to do. On this particular day I had seen him coming for me before he even got across the store, he had with him a new employee and I knew the words that were about to come out of his mouth.

“I need you to train her,” was the only thing he said before he turned to take care of another customer.

The girl and I smiled at each other in awkward silence. My line was filling up so I made the suggestion that she bag while I rang up customers. She could watch and learn for a little while and then we’d trade places. She agreed and began to bag as I scanned.

The first twenty minutes or so she was spot on with watching me and bagging but I noticed she was slowing down a bit. I didn’t want to say anything, it was her first day and maybe she was just nervous. I however couldn’t slow down because customers wouldn’t have it.

The more time went on (about five to ten minutes) the slower she got; I would glance over at her quickly but continued to scan. Finally I noticed her moving towards me, which made me uncomfortable; I’m a big fan of personal space. It wasn’t really noticeable I suppose, she’d only take a small step towards me at a time. I had never had this happen before, I had trained lots of people and they just seemed to take off with it. I wasn’t sure what to do, plus I realized that this girl was someone I had gone to school with and she didn’t particularly like me.

Which made it even more uncomfortable when she pushed up against me and laid her head on my shoulder; I froze. She had stopped bagging entirely at this point. I managed a startled, “What are you doing?”

She pulled her head off my shoulder and whispered, “I don’t feel good. I’m really dizzy.”

That took some of the awkwardness away and I told her to go to the office and sit down for a bit. I glanced up at her as she nodded and I noticed her color wasn’t particularly great. It wasn’t until she was turned fully away from me that she dropped like a ton of brick towards me. Still to this day, I’m not sure how I managed to catch her under her arms but I did. I was struggling to hold her up when I realized she was white as a ghost and his lips were turning blue.

I don’t handle medical emergencies very well so it’s no shock that I panicked. I was afraid to lay her down, so I kept this girl dangling in my arms. I glanced up and noticed one of my managers was on the register behind me. I kept remembering people telling me on numerous occasions to never panic in times like these; I didn’t listen.  

When I shouted my mangers name it came out more alarming than I meant it to but it sprung him into action. He shot away from his register to my side. Only I think I scared him too much, when he went to grab her around the waist to help me, he actually grabbed me and her. He lifted us both in the air for a split second before he said, “Will have to put her down, she’s out.”

I thought, put HER down!

He sat us back down and helped me get her to the ground, all the while my customer watched on. Someone—somewhere called 911 and the EMS arrived. She started coming around when they put her on the gurney.

NOT EVEN a week later I was working the self check out station when someone asked for a pack of cigarettes. I had to go to the office to get them. When I opened the door there was a different cashier standing there, almost in a daze. I was startled at first because no one just stands in the doorway. As I took her in I realized something was wrong.

I was only able to get out, ‘are you’ before she too dropped like a ton of bricks backwards away from me. In my shock I reached out and grabbed her arm, thinking I could do something about it. I couldn’t. I ended up landing on top of her as she catapulted us into the office. A manager was sitting there working on something when we came crashing in.

She screamed, “Oh my—what’s wrong?”

Exasperated I yelled, “Just call 911!”

The cashier was already coming to when I yelled. I scrambled to get off of her because wouldn’t that be weird to wake up with someone sitting on top of you.

I sat there in the floor beside her as the EMS checked her out, simply amazed at my luck. Not one but two cashiers fainted on me in a week. Swell. 

Luke 24

24 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

8 And they remembered his words,

9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told
these things unto the apostles.

11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are
sad?

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be
fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

​53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

When I taught Children’s Church, way back in the day, I made it a point to make time for the kids to pray. They prayed for themselves, their friends, their family, and anything that was bothering them or worrying them. I did this for a few reasons, to teach them how to pray, why we pray, and to show them that it really does help.

On this particular morning I asked the class if they had anything they wanted to pray about. One of my girls hand shot straight up, she waved it around urgently.

“What would you like to pray about?” I asked.

“I want to pray for my friend Dora,” she told me, “She needs help and I want God to protect her.”

Can do. I wasn’t sure who her friend was but if she needed help and protection then that’s what we will pray for. I planned to ask details later on the little girl, maybe she knew her from school.

So I began my prayer, asking God to be with her, help her, keep her safe, and provide whatever she needed to get through her trails.

I remember hearing the little girl at the table saying, “Yes, yes,” every time I asked for guidance and protection for her friend. She was really intent on getting the message to God about her friend.  

Soon the prayer was over and it was snack time. Our room was connected to the nursery and during snack time we would share our snack with the nursery. That day my sister and her friend had the nursery. I opened to the door to deliver the snacks only to find my sister and her friend, lying on the floor, tears streaming from their eyes as they tried their best to control their laughter. They covered their mouths to stifle their laughs so they wouldn’t disturbed the congregation right outside their door.

“What’s so funny?” I asked confused.

After my sister finally got herself under control, she explained that Dora was indeed the little girl’s friend but she was also best friends with millions of little girls around the world- because she was a cartoon.

Y’all, I prayed for Dora the Explorer.

​Eh—The heart of a child.

I was working in the pharmacy when one of our elderly customers, whom we had known for some time now, came in to introduce us to his new wife. It was a surprise to us because we hadn’t realized he was dating.

He deserved happiness though; he had lost a lot in his life and had been through some painful stuff. We all rushed down to meet the blushing bride, she was sweet and a little shy at first. She actually turned out to be very good for him in the long run. There were lots of questions after the initial hello. Where did you meet? How long have you been dating? When did you get married?

Turns out they had met just a few weeks ago and gotten married the previous week, they were just getting back into town. He was so excited to tell us all about the wedding and it was obvious he was in love. He beamed with pride over his new bride. Finally my pharmacist friend asked, where did you go on your honeymoon?

With a little more exuberance than necessary he shouted, “Straight to bed!”
​
Did you know that when sweet tea passes through your nostrils, it burns just like any other beverage?