One of my favorite places is Chopt Creative Salad Company. The food is fresh and I get excited when it’s nutritious and delicious.
As my lunch break approached, I was ready to treat myself with the following goodness: warm grains, warm marinated roasted chicken, kale, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, apples, a drizzle of vinaigrette, and cranberries for a touch of tart. Their Cran-Apple Harvest Bowl stays in my rotation, and on this day, it was time to snatch it for the second half of the workday.
I found the perfect parking spot underneath some beautiful shade to weaken the balmy 80-degree heat from infiltrating my windows (Thank you, Lord, for trees.). I leaned over to the passenger seat and reached into my day bag.
No purse.
Certainly, it’s here, I thought. I scrounged around left-to-right and to the bottom.
No purse.
Then it hit me. My mind time-traveled to earlier that morning when I used my lip care and there was my purse – perfectly cater-cornered on the couch.
I returned my leaned body back to the driver’s seat and stared at the steering wheel.
*insert bright idea to use digital payment app*
Yes, that’ll work. Well, it didn’t work last time, but it will work today. It has to work today.
My mind time-traveled again to that time at the grocery store when I had to go home to get my bank card because my digital payment app didn’t work properly. It was embarrassing and inconvenient. A definite reminder that I didn’t want that to happen again.
I checked my app and everything appeared to be in order.
“It’s going to work. I’ll have them do a test transaction with something small so it can be deleted easily.” I said aloud after a sigh. “I’m going to eat today. I don’t have time to go anywhere else, so this has to work. Lord, let it work.”
I hopped out of my car and walked toward the yellow “C.” Patrons sat on the patio with smiles on their faces, engaging in seemingly bright conversations. Their food looked like it was picked from Eden.
“It’s going to work. I’m going to eat today,” I said aloud between footsteps.
I walked inside and waited my turn. After a pair finished their orders, I stood near the beverages, chips, and cookies. The plan was to let the associate ring up one of those. A group of 5 came in and assumed I wasn’t next to be served. Two of the five went around me and out of my peripheral vision, I saw them look over for my reaction. My face stayed straight ahead awaiting the associate to finish the pair’s transaction.
*insert a manager at another register*
He asked me what I needed and I told him my plan. He waved his freshly gloved hand.
“You don’t have to do all that. You’re good.”
My prideful reflexes kicked in and I felt compelled to unleash them, one by one. First, the offer.
“Are you sure? I really don’t mind. I just want to test it out to be sure it works before placing an order.”
“You’re good. Do you know what you want?”
I told my pride to sit down. I was getting the blessing I asked for and it was before the group of 5 was being served. Why was I turning it down? I took a deep breath and reached for gratitude.
“Yes, I do. A Cran-Apple Harvest Bowl, no almonds, add chickpeas. Thank you so much. I appreciate it.”
“No problem.”
It wasn’t flirty. It wasn’t condescending. It was a genuine act of kindness and I almost stained with prideful residue.
He fixed my order in record time and I was itching to ask him to let me try my digital payment app. Seriously, the words almost jumped out of my mouth. I swatted them down like a swarm of flies and nervously spoke – prideful reflex #2.
“I come in here so much, I should know the menu by heart,” I said with a soft giggle.
He looked up with grace and kept working.
Next up, shame – prideful reflex #3.
“I didn’t realize I left it until I got here. I can’t believe I didn’t notice it.”
His hands kept moving. Order prepared.
He pressed his screen and I saw the amount diminish to zero on my miniature version. Pride finally sat down for good and my chest didn’t feel so tight. I welcomed the bowl with both hands.
“Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it. God bless you.”
“You’re welcome. Have a good day,” he said with a smile.
I walked out of the restaurant on pillows of goodness. I couldn’t believe I had the food I wanted, perfectly prepared in a bowl full of grace. I wanted to tell every person in the parking lot “Look! Look what God did for me today!”
Don’t worry… I didn’t. That wouldn’t have been wise.
I did tell my cousin with whom I was on the phone earlier that day. We were talking about the law of the harvest and life lessons (how odd). Learning how to receive was definitely one that I was still working on.
“And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.” – Matthew 13:58 NLT
The first time I read this passage, it hurt my heart. And not because of what you may think.
It was because if I was there, I could have been one of those missed-miracle people. I could have been still sick because I was afraid Jesus’ power was a fluke or preferential. I could have responded out of past disappointment or worry that it wouldn’t last. I could have been locked out of deliverance behind the door of pride.
But that day, I wasn’t one of those people. I believed I was going to eat Chopt and I walked forward in faith. I was so grateful for more than food… I was grateful for growth. Instead of exiting in a hurry, I sat there and ate my food. My next obligation was moved (a divine set up?) so I took my time to enjoy small bites in a mindful eating exercise. I couldn’t stop my “thank you’s” and prayers. This was truly a lesson learned.
Here’s the thing we usually miss from Matthew 13:58 – Jesus left. He left! There was no spiritual connectivity to match his power and willingness to heal more people, so he dipped. On top of that, He was in his hometown of Nazareth. You would think that would be the place of potent belief, but no. In verse 54 onward, He wasn’t a stranger. They knew his family and that He performed miracles. So, there were no excuses. My Jesus decided to take His nice hair (because that’s how I envision it) and healing power to the next stop. He turned off the faucet, not His capability.
That’s what almost happened at Chopt. My lunch miracle was ready for my faith. My heart posture was humble enough to receive a miracle.
So, I ask you this and place this question on the table of my spirit too – How many miracles are you missing?
After this experience I don’t want to miss another one. Do you?
Miracles are everywhere. Be one for someone else and watch God serve you a grateful bowl too.
Peace & Thanks for listening, Family!
CJW
Listening at the Speed of Life 