Anyone who knows me well, knows I love to tell stories. It's been a while since I've told any here, so scroll on by if you're not interested.

Still here?

Not very long ago, God stopped by when I went shopping in Kohl's with coupons and Paul and Adam. They followed me a bit and cruised around a bit. Adam got tired so they went back to the car and people watched and drove around while I actually found a few sweaters and went to the dressing room to try them on. While I was in there, two women began talking about some clothes for one of them.

I really tried my best to butt out. I really tried so hard not to get involved.I tried not to listen but they were right next door. I felt like the one woman needed some encouragement and her friend wasn't getting through. "It's not my business," I kept protesting to the Lord. I lost the argument when I stepped out of my booth and looked at them. They were between me and escape.

So I chatted with them and gave my encouraging opinion over the clothes the one was trying to decide about. She was going on a blind date and needed some help. She is sixty and hadn't dated in a long time. I did not ask for details. She was so indecisive and I stayed with the other woman who I thought was her friend and encouraged her to try something on too. She wasn't going to, and she wasn't her friend. They had just met too! A little more time and I said I needed to leave and the one trying on clothes asked me to wait just one more outfit, so I went out to look at clothes while I waited. It also gave me an escape route. The friend who wasn't a friend followed me out.

Your gifting will always draw people to you, and I knew exactly what was happening, but I didn't have lots of time. Two men were driving around waiting for me.

Linda began chatting with me and as often happens, out came her life story. Her kids were no longer talking to her, she was separated from her husband for fourteen years because it was cheaper for him to support her than to divorce her. He poisoned their now adult children's minds in recent years, and so they turned against her and moved away from her and closer to him. She suffers from depression.

I asked her if I could pray for her, and she said yes. But then I asked if I could hug her because she needed one and she said yes. When I did, she broke down and put her head on my shoulder and sobbed in my arms for a good five minutes.

Suzanne came out of the dressing room during this and asked if everything was ok and I said it was. She continued shopping for her blind date. Linda settled down and wiped her tears and apologized for crying all over me, and I told her it was fine. She thanked me for the prayers and hugs.

I asked Suzanne if I could pray for her for anything, and she said yes, so I did, but that's another story. We didn't exchange info, so I don't know how the blind date turned out, or how Linda is doing, but I leave them in God's capable hands. If I need to know how they're doing, He can certainly arrange that just as He arranged this. And by the way, I bought two sweaters for seventeen dollars with my double discounts!