Mouldy Berries

Isaiah 43:1, But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.

The kitchen counter was cluttered with an array of treasures all hauled home from the grocery store. As I began to unpack the few items from the last bag, my little one asked me for the ripe red raspberries that had yet to be put away in the fridge. As I opened the container, I was surprised to be greeted by mouldy berries. When I opened the second container, I was once again confronted with more mouldy berries. I had thought to just cut my losses and toss the berries for venturing back out to the grocery store was not at all appealing.

Later in the afternoon I needed to run another errand so I decided I could just circle around to the grocery store and return the spoiled produce. Once at the grocery store, I waited in line for my turn and pondered my predicament: the store was busy and perhaps cutting my loss would have been a greater use of my time.

The attendant behind the desk was kind and apologetic. I shared my heart that there was no need to keep apologizing because I know that mistakes happen. She began to look over my bill with a puzzled expression glued upon her pretty face. I wondered why it was taking so long to locate the berries on my receipt. After a few awkward moments she pointed out a hidden mistake on my bill. Apparently I had paid $11 for that sad little pint of mouldy berries.

An innocent mistake so easily missed. An easy mistake that surely made this wayward child ponder in the lingering moments I stood waiting for the cashier to correct said mistake. She refunded my money and again apologized. I was incredibly grateful that she caught it for $11 dollars is a mighty steep price to pay for some fruit. I did not notice the initial monetary mistake, but over time every dollar and dime adds up to a hefty price tag that has the ability to leave our account dry.

My pondering led to the conclusion that the world often takes from us just a little at a time. It does so by skimming off the top of our emotional bank until one day, when we are in need and desperately seeking to withdraw from our spiritual reserves, too late we realize there are none. There is nothing in the bank and we are emotionally and spiritually bankrupt.

And then the weight of my sin came full throttle into my soul causing a most disturbing truth to flutter from my heart to my head: how many of my own innocent and easily missed mistakes have skimmed the top of someone else’s emotional and spiritual bank? And if I was one of many, that soul would have been left bankrupt.

Oh, forgive me Father for I did not know! How could I not have known? How is it that a measly pint of raspberries has left me asking for forgiveness in a grocery store line?

Beloved, I will meet you where you are. I will meet you in any situation. I can be found standing beside you in all circumstances. I am yours Beloved, and you are mine.

Sometimes Jesus will show up in the random in order to drop not-so-random truths into our soul. It is because of His great love for us that He desires to infuse us with more of Himself. The God I love and adore does not stand before me wagging an I told you so finger, but rather I see Him standing beside me. He is softly whispering for me to open my spiritual eyes in order to witness my blind mistakes so that I may correct them. His desire is for us to be spiritually and emotionally wealthy because He is spiritually and emotionally wealthy. He desires to meet us right where we are so that we may be His, not in debt to the world.

Father, thank your for your gentle reminder to pay attention so that we may never over pay for something that will just leave us bankrupt. And your gentle reminder that easily missed mistakes can easily bankrupt others. Amen.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog to receive news posts right in your email the instant they are posted on the site. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TODAY!