God never ceases to amaze me with who He uses to get a message across to you when you absolutely need it the most. Some of you who know me, also know of the social anxiety I have and being able to go out in public.
Well, for those who don’t, I am terrified of going to places where there are a lot of people, and just cannot talk to people in general, unless I know you. I get panic attacks, but as a therapeutic action, my therapist wants me to try and wander out a couple times per week and go into stores even for just 10-20 minutes so I can learn to over come my fears.
Today was one of those days. Those of you who also know me, know that I am a writer and am trying to get published. Anxiety is a very powerful thing and can play many tricks with your mind and you always worry if you are good enough, do people like you. This is something that I have been praying about and dealing with for a while now. (Thank you all for your prayers, I can surely feel them.)
Along with this anxiety comes doubt of my writing and if I will ever get published. I know I have the talent, and I have been told this by many people who I respect, some of them published authors. Yet, I still am overwhelmed with doubts and fears and wonder if I should just give up.
Today I went to Barnes & Noble to get a couple of things and just happened to be standing in line when this gentlemen cut in front of me. I wasn’t upset, I knew that he didn’t see me, and he looked back at me and asked if he had cut. I told him not to worry about it and go ahead of me.
Then as we were standing there waiting a little old lady walked up behind him and informed me that she was with him. I smiled and said that was fine. The only way I can describe this lady was an older version of Pippi Longstocking. Her clothes were filled with colors and didn’t match, her hair was frizzy, and she was carrying a pink umbrella and also had on a dark purple eye liner. All I could think about as I was talking to her was Pippi Longstocking.
She asked me what I had to buy, and I shared with her the items, and she asked if I was a writer, I told her I was and she smiled.
The man who she was with was leaving and she noticed and scurried ahead and I followed behind to go to the cashier. The one thing that impacted me the most was before she left, she stopped and turned around to look at me.
She looked at me and said, “I know you will be published, the time is coming.” I just about dropped everything I had in my hands.
Of all the people I run into when I am out, which is not very often, and most people don’t even care about you enough to say hello. This little old lady who was a Pippi Longstocking look-a-like was my messanger angel whom God used to encourage me and to let me know not to stop and to use the gift he has given me.
The moral of this long winded post. When you are out, don’t be so caught up in what you are doing to stop and talk to the people you are in line with, or passing someone in the shopping aisles. You never know what you are missing and the words of wisdom you may get. God can use anyone to speak to you.
