C'mon. You've seen her. The mom in front of you in the check-out line for groceries, wearing her sunglasses on her head, with 3 kids dressed so cute all around her. The one holding the Coach purse and checking her cell phone with all the organic food and hardly any packaged products in her basket. You just think she has it all together. Then she pulls out her Lone Star card, swipes it, and the government and food stamps has just paid for her groceries. You immediately change your view of her, believing she is milking the state and has probably lied on her forms to receive aid. You might even roll your eyes or stop making small talk with her because you see it, and that white card has changed something in your heart and head. She gathers her kids and her groceries and heads out the door, and you sigh and make some comment to the check out guy while your things are being scanned. If that wasn't enough, you see her in the parking lot, too. True, her car isn't the newest, but it is fine. You watch her tell her kids to get buckled, and then she puts her youngest in a $280 Britax carseat. Oh my, you are done. You've closed the door and nailed it shut. What is the world coming to these days? People can have all that and not even be trying to get a job! Just using every program for all they are worth. You have every reason to get all huffy....right?
BUT.
Did you see her try and hide her conspicuous white card as she swiped it, quickly returning it to her wallet?
Did you know she saw you roll your eyes?
Did you know her purse was a gift over 3 years ago?
Did you get that one of her bffs died in a car accident and car seat safety is so important that she sold things and pooled birthday money to buy that one?
Did you see her kids that gained weight last year because she could no longer afford to make lunches for them, and they were forced to eat in the school cafeteria food that was horrible for them?
Did you know her son needs 2 fillings and they can't afford to pay yet?
Did you know her food stamp money is rarely stretched that far because she refuses to feed her family junk?
Did you know she can't go to the store again until they get money for the gas to drive there?
Did you know at home she tears the dishwasher cubes so she can get two out of one?
Did you know she only uses 2 Tbsp of laundry soap per load to make it stretch further?
That car she is driving is paid off, and is leaking oil, and they can't get it fixed.
The clothes all her children are wearing are hand-me-downs, or given to them.
The chairs her family sits in at dinner are all broken.
Her home had to be sold so they could live off what they made.
The door she takes pictures of her kids in front of is chipped and peeling.
Her youngest won't get to go to pre-k this year.
Her oldest had to get just one choice for glasses that her insurance would pay for.
That her kids had to leave their wonderful dentist to go to one that spends 30 seconds with them and doesn't even scrape or floss their teeth.
That her cute updo is because all her hair has fallen out because she is trying to hold it together for her kids.
That her husband has 2 degrees and still has struggled to find a job for 2 years.
That she works 4 jobs and types into the morning hours to earn any extra.
She is waking up every day asking God for guidance and rescue and giving thanks for what they have, because most have so much less.
She knows He'll answer and provide, as He always has before, and is trying to be joyful in every circumstance...failing and succeeding, many times each day.
Did you know?
Because I bet you didn't, and now you do.
Praying I never see people through my own eyes, but the eyes of Jesus, because you never know.
2025 Recap
4 months ago
