The Man at Walmart

So yeah I usually try to be as sarcastic as possible on this thing. 

This time, I'd like share a much more meaningful story. 

The other day I was at Walmart [per usual]. It was a crazy busy day [per usual], and the lines were insanely long. By the time I finally got to be the one paying my life away, I saw a man sitting in a wheelchair. All by himself. It was obvious that he had physical/health issues, and among other things it looked like he broke his leg or somesuch [totally a word]. I was so sad that he was just so alone. 

I was in a mad hurry, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to "hello". I asked what happened to his leg and he couldn't really talk. All I could make out was that he had a brain problem, like a tumor. And immediately I thought, what a small world. He was trying so hard to speak and tell me why he was the way he was, and I looked at him and said, "me too." 

He didn't have facial expressions, but the look on his face totally changed. I think he found it hard to believe, because I was standing and moving and talking [used to it. most doctors didn't believe me either.] 

We shared some mutual experiences, and he told me things like, "I'm paralyzed on the left because my tumor was in this [he points to the right]." In short, almost everything he was saying was something that I miraculously circumvented. If you survive an AVM [my brain problem] and survive the craniotomy, paralysis is almost inevitable. I tried so hard not to cry when I was watching him. I will always feel almost guilty that I'm not in that chair like so many AVM others. There is only one explanation as to why that wasn't me, paralyzed and nearly mute. 

Heavenly Father. 

In those moments, I think there were a few purposes for them. One being that although life after an AVM and it's belongings is difficult, I live. In ways that most who survive cannot. Walking, talking, moving. I'm like 97%  sure that Heavenly Father was trying to find a way to seriously remind me of what He gave me. At the end of our conversation I just wanted to buoy him up and kept telling him that he is so strong and he survived and he's amazing. 

As I walked away he said in the most tender voice, "thank you". I'm not sure what he thanked me for, but I needed to be the one thanking. Thanking Heavenly Father for everything and this man for helping me. It was a critical experience for me, and maybe for him too. To find a friend who could share empathy and encourage him. I'll never see him again, but I will always remember that day. 


This quote has gotten me through everything in the past few years:

“I cried because I had no shoes. Then I met a man who had no feet.”

Watch this short vid; it's so good and is about the little things in life.