Calling the crowd to join his disciples, Jesus said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all.” (Mark 7: 34 – 35) 

A quick run through the supermarket wasn’t the place Jennifer expected to learn a lesson in faith, but faith overtook her one Thursday in the checkout line.

Jennifer had figured on just swinging by the shops to grab a few things before picking up the kids at school. One of those basic hand-baskets was all she needed, and she got into the “15 items or less” line to speed up the process. But her run through the store ground to a halt when the elderly couple in front of her started having problems. First the woman forgot something on her list and sent her husband shuffling off to retrieve the item. Then came the inevitable struggle with the card reader. She swiped it upside down. Credit? Debit? PIN number? “Honey, what’s our PIN number?” Jennifer kicked herself for coming to the store on Senior Discount Day. The words “stupid” and “idiot” began to flash in her thinking. Then a little booklet in the magazine rack caught her eye. Nestled between “Amazing Astrology” and “Celebrity Diet Secrets” was “Bible for Busy Mums.” She took it out and flipped it open to where Jesus talked about taking up the cross. It occurred to her that one of life’s little crosses was being offered to her right then and there. She changed her mind, offered up a kindly prayer for the old couple, and dropped the little booklet into her basket.