The couple pushed their shopping cart full of goods to the
front of the store and began to look for a cashier that appeared the least
busy. They began to lay out their items on the belt in groups. Inevitably,
others began to get in line behind them. The young lady reaches into her diaper
bag and pulls out a booklet of coupons. Each group of items represented a
different coupon in her booklet. It was clear that those who had followed her
into the line were not pleased when they discovered that the young lady was
getting WIC for what appeared to be multiple children. Their looks of disgust
could only have been more obvious had they expressed with their lips what they
were thinking. One might argue that they were simply in a hurry and suddenly
realized the couple’s groceries were going to take some time. However, the
looks communicated a certain disdain.
As the
cashier began checking out the goods, she stated that the couple had gotten the
wrong juice. The husband told the cashier that the coupon simply noted that he
was to get a certain amount of juice and did not specify a brand. The cashier
told him it was to be a certain name brand. He told her that he got the generic
because it was cheaper and thought that would be fine. Instead, the cashier
called in customer service to exchange the juice. As they waited for him to
return, the air was getting thicker around them as the tension grew.
After
the customer service representative returned with the correct juice, the
cashier noted that the couple had also gotten the wrong bread. The wife
explained that she looked at the bread for about ten minutes trying to make
sure she got the right loaf. The cashier called customer service once again to
exchange the bread. As they waited the husband pulled out his Iphone and began
checking his messages. Suddenly, he hears whispers about the fact that he both
has an Iphone and is standing in line getting WIC. He tries to ignore the folks
as the tension grows and grows. Finally, he looks at them and apologizes that
it is taking so long.
Finally,
the bread is exchanged and the couple is ready to head out the door. They walk
out of the store and get into a new car. It is quite a site, a man with an
Iphone loading WIC into his new car.
Perhaps some think, “Why does he not get a job?” “It must be nice to
have Obama use our money to pay for his groceries so he can have a new car and
an Iphone.” “Maybe they should stop having children if they cannot afford to
take care of them.” “Don’t they know what causes that?”
If only they knew that the couple
was very uncomfortable getting WIC in the first place. If only they knew that
the wife went through a very uncomfortable experience at the WIC office. If
only they knew that they dreaded going to the store. If only they knew that the
couple went to the store, away from their town, in order to keep people from
talking about them. If only they knew that the couple really does have several
kids (6 to be exact). If only they knew that the couple knows EXACTLY “what
caused that.” If only they knew that only two of their kids are biological. If
only they knew that two of their kids came to them by adoption and two others
are foster kids. If only they knew that the WIC was given to them in order to
provide for their foster children. If only they knew me and my wife, that we are a ministry family, seeking by God's grace to love the least of these. If only all of us wouldn’t be so quick to assume that we
know. I would love to say that I am exempt from such poor assumptions. But the fact is, because of remaining sin in my heart, I am not. I too often come to quick and wrong conclusions.The fact is, I am reminded that like those in the check-out line, I am constantly in need of Jesus. Like the hymn writer said, "I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee."
