My daughter-in-law Bailey and I were doing some grocery shopping on Saturday for Easter Sunday brunch. We were standing in the dairy isle picking up some shredded cheese (sharp cheddar, as a matter of fact) when I heard a tiny voice directed toward us. I turned to find a thin boy, glasses slightly ajar on his nose, standing next to a cart with a few items in it. His stature was slight, his appearance unremarkable, and he was just tall enough to see over the cart.
"What did you say?" I asked him.
"Do you see Colby Jack anywhere? I need to find some shredded Colby Jack." He was very articulate and knew what he was looking for. Bailey and I could not find shredded Colby Jack, but directed him to the Marble Jack and assured him it would serve the same purpose.
"Thank you so much," he said.
I responded, "You have very nice manners young man, and you are doing a good job for someone." Again, he said something which I couldn't understand. "Excuse me?" I asked.
"My mom is hurting right now, so I'm trying to help her out." I was caught off guard by his candid comment. I don't remember what I said. I think I told him it was really great of him or something like that. He put the packages of cheese in his cart and was off.
I hadn't noticed how much cheese he took, but as Bailey and I scanned the overwhelming selection of shredded cheese she said, "Did you see he took two sixteen ounce packages? That's a lot of cheese. I hope he really needs that much." Just then, both of us saw the Colby Jack hanging on the end of a row. "Well if we see him, we'll have to send him back and maybe mention to him to be sure he needs as much cheese as he took."
We shopped a bit longer and had to double back to get apple juice and coffee. As we turned down that isle, Bailey spotted our bespectacled young friend. "I'm gonna tell him about the Colby Jack," I said. I walked over to him and said, "Hey, we found the Colby Jack."
He looked up. "Oh you did?"
"Yup, it's the very last kind hanging up right before you get to the butter. And by the way, we noticed you took a lot of cheese. Are you sure you need that much?"
The young boy reached into his cart and pulled out his list. He said, "Yes, see, this is what I need." There in black ink, an adult hand had penned a grocery list. Included on that list was 8 cups of shredded Colby Jack cheese.
"Well you are right," I said. "You got the right amount. Now you can go back and get the right kind, too." Again, our young friend went on his way to the dairy isle for cheese, but not before thanking Bailey as he pushed his cart past her.
Bailey and I looked at each other, full of emotion. Here we were on Holy Saturday morning witnesses to a resurrection story of sorts. Easter came early for us this year. This young boy was being a light for his family, especially his mom; he was doing what we are all called to do--he was being Jesus in the world. The hands, the feet, the heart of our risen Lord and Savior.
All I can say on this Easter Monday is wow!! He is risen. He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!!!
"If, therefore, I the Lord and Master have washed your feet, you also ought to wash the feet of one another. For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you also should do."
~John 13:14-15
