Blueberries and Cinnamon

We were at the grocery store in Rochester getting a few things to take back to Hope Lodge.  I picked up a pint of blueberries and Joel stuck them in the top of the cart.  Unfortunately, unbeknown to us, do to their packaging, they slide down the side of the cart.  As they slid the lid opened and blueberries spilled out all over the floor.  We were oblivious until I squished one with my shoe.  I looked down and saw blueberries everywhere.  Before us, behind us, around us.  I was afraid to move.  The cart wheels had squished blueberries coating one wheel, our shoe soles had blueberry spots, and who knows who else was leaving a trail of blueberries in their wake.

Joel tiptoed through the tulips ~ oh that is right~ he tiptoed through the blueberries to find a clerk.  The young man was so nice, reassuring us that it happens more often than you think.  He accepted our apology, took a broom, and began to attempt to sweep up the mess.  And blueberries are great at leaving a mess when squished.  We both just shook our heads, exasperated but at the same time finding the situation a bit humorous.  Especially later. A side note:  ever since that day, we carefully place the blueberries in the bottom of the cart after checking the lid!

It reminded me of a time we went to another store in Rochester several years ago.  We were picking up a few organic items and decided to buy some cinnamon in bulk.  Joel took a plastic bag and then grabbed the cinnamon's container, opening what he thought was the lid, and shaking it into the bag.  He had not opened the container correctly and cinnamon went everywhere.  A cloud of cinnamon went up in the air and landed on the floor, on the shelves, on other containers, on us.  It was a big mess.  Joel even found cinnamon on his boots when we got home later!  The older clerk that came to help us that day was not so nice, nor friendly or reassuring, but kept giving us dirty looks as he scowled at us for the mess we created.  Our apologies were not received well at all.

What a difference in responses to these two messes.  There is something to reflect on here of course.  We did not expect what happened to happen at all.  Sometimes life surprises us that way.  Stuff happens and we have no control over it.  We only have control over how we respond.  It can be as simple as a clerk's response while coming upon 2 shoppers who accidentally scattered blueberries across the floor, or it can be as complex as our response in a messed up relationship.  And let's not ignore how unkind both sides of the aisle act regarding politics in government, cities, neighborhoods, and families.

Treat each other with kindness and grace.  We are to be more like Christ in how we live, and He treated everyone with a heart of love.  A Father's love for His children expressed with  the blood of His only Son.  Kindness and grace comes from a loving heart.  A forgiving heart.  Life is too short, dear ones.  Forgive, embrace with love and be rich in kindness.