Miracle at the Mart

A really cool thing happened yesterday while I was feeling ticked off and a bit insignificant.
Let me start over...
I had to run into the Mart for 4 things. Just 4. I don't particularly enjoy the Mart on the side of town I was in; I feel the need to be packin' heat.

I zoomed into the superstore and soon realized:
1. They did not have 2 of the 4 things I came for.
2. My $1.50 coupon for one of the items was in the car, and I was not going back out for it.
3. I was ticked.

On my way across the store to get the last thing, I cut through the clothing to see if they had any cute plain T-shirts out for Spring. I may dislike the Mart, but I am not above a cheap T.

I was starting to look at the stacks of shirts when I saw it.
A wallet.
More of a zippered change purse, really.
It was just lying there in the T-shirts. I reached to pick it up, and looked around quickly, thinking,
"If the person who put this here is still shopping nearby, I am going to be accused of stealing. And I may be shot."
There was not a single person anywhere near me. I could tell from the feel of the wallet that it wasn't empty, and I checked the side pocket for an ID. I found a shopping list; no ID.
When I unzipped it, I know I made an audible gasp. It was LOADED with money. A pretty thick wad of money. All I could make out were $50 bills.

Again, in a panic for my own life, I zoomed over to the customer service person near the fitting rooms and asked her if anyone had reported a lost wallet.
"OH MY WORD YES!" she said. "And she just left!"
"And she was very upset."
I asked the sales clerk to describe the lady so I could help look for her. We were both about to take off on a search when she found us.

She came wandering up the aisle looking everywhere... up and down and in the floor and under racks.
She looked up, and I asked,
"Did you lose a wallet?"
I think I heard the breath go out of her.
"YES!" she practically yelled, and we handed it to her.
She immediately opened it up and began rummaging in it and said,
"Here... let me pay you for turning it in."
"Oh my word! No way!" I said, and I started to walk away to avoid her stuffing money in my hand.
"It was the right thing to do," I said. "I'm just glad to be able to return it to you."
"You have no idea how much money..." she started to say.
"Ha! Yes... I do! I looked!" I said.
Then we both laughed and she grabbed me and hugged me.

It was the biggest squeeze I've ever received from a total stranger, and I could feel her gratitude.
As I walked away she yelled,
"Thank you! You are an angel!"

Well. I wouldn't go that far, honey. You have no idea how peeved I was to even be in here.
And then I realized... I wasn't in there to be peeved. I wasn't even in there to buy my 4 puny items. I was in there to find that wallet.

In light of the events happening in our world, I have been struggling with the "whys" lately.
I do not understand everything that happens. I won't dare try to explain things.
Yesterday, however, I received the gift of understanding the "why" of my ill-fated trip to the Mart.
And the gift of a big hug from a happy stranger.