“You make Hell better!”

Ever had someone say that to you?

I did.

It was on the way home Saturday.

My wife had just finished thanking me for joining her in her errands and the wonderful fact that we had just gone to Walmart and Sam’s Club together.  Neither one of us are huge fans of doing Saturday grocery shopping, but it had to be done (or at least according to our 4 hungry kids).  I would have much rather been doing anything but spending my Saturday in Walmart, but my wife asked if I would go, so… I went.

Now, let’s be honest.  I probably could have found an excuse somewhere inside my brain to not go.

“Uh, Honey, I need to go scrub the siding of the house with a toothbrush.  I don’t think I’ll finish in time. ”

Or…

“Honey, that’s a great offer, but I really need to visit David’s mother’s uncle’s cousin’s brother in the hospital this afternoon.  You know how he asked me to pray for her, I mean “him,” last Sunday in church.”

Yeah, I probably could have come up with something really good to not go to Walmart.  But for some reason, I didn’t.

Why? I’m not really sure.  I think maybe because I knew that my wife was dreading going as much as I was, and she wanted a reason that would make the trip a little better.  Now, I’m not sure how my presence at Walmart could do that, but according to her, it would.  So I went.

90 minutes later, we were done, but for those 90 minutes, it was just me and her.  Sure there were a lot of other “unique” people there, but we were oblivious to them (except for the punk rock lady.)  We were chatting and just enjoying each others company.  Before long, we were checking out and loading up.  Our trip to the nether regions complete.

So, why do I share this?

Because I wonder how many of us have helped make someone’s “Hell” a little better today.  I mean, isn’t that part of the reason God has left us here?  Aren’t we suppose to be a blessing to someone?

Now, don’t think for a moment that I’m holding myself up as a “model” to be followed.  That is certainly NOT the case!  What I AM saying is what the Spirit reminded me of.

“Aren’t you glad you did that?  Isn’t it better when you focus on someone else and not yourself?  Putting someone before yourself wasn’t too bad was it? ”

I somehow someway did something that made my wife’s day better, because I didn’t put myself first but put her first.  I wasn’t planning on doing right, it just happened.

Still, it was kind of nice to make her “Hell” a little better.

Wonder if I can do it again tomorrow?