Dear Friends and Family,

Do you have a pet peeve, something that you find especially annoying?

Mine happens to be shopping carts – left in all the wrong places.

Stray cats don’t bother me at all. But stray carts do, a lot. I’m helplessly lost trying to understand why people can not take a single minute to be a good neighbor…

Why do I share this? Because there’s a pandemic of stray carts at Costco. And it’s become bad enough to write about – again.

What do I mean by – again? I first wrote a note to the church on this very topic back in 2019.

I’ll have more to say later…

† † †

Now I AM NOT VENTING but it is said you can tell a lot about a person’s character by what they do with their shopping carts once they load their car.

Some folks return their empty carts to the places designated for carts. Others leave them on the sidewalks, away from the cars.

Then there are THOSE folks – the ones who leave their cart in an empty stall. Or squeeze their cart in between cars. The ones who know quite well that others, such as pastors and good samaritans, will return their cart for them.

Ever wonder what Jesus would have done with His shopping cart?

I believe He would have gone around the whole parking lot collecting stray carts.

Our God who became man epitomized humble service. He gave of Himself to come to earth, and then He gave more.

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  Philippians 2:5-8 NASB

I know many of us put our carts away. I know many of us have a humble spirit just like Jesus.

But let’s not settle for just a humble spirit. Let’s be givers as well.

Perhaps the next time we see a stray shopping cart, let’s go above and beyond. The next time we see something that needs to be done, regardless of what that may be, let’s go and do it.

And instead of venting, like I just did, let’s commit to being better neighbors. Whether it is pushing stray carts or doing good deeds, let’s do our best to be like Jesus.

† † †

Allow me to close by sharing a few thoughts about pet peeves.

We know it’s not possible to control the actions of others. What we can control, however, is the way we react.

As we go around the parking lot being good neighbors, let’s do so out of love, not obligation.

Let’s not mutter grr under our breaths as we return carts. Let’s give grace instead.

Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love for our neighbors. All of them. The ones who once annoyed us and the ones who will soon want to park.

And let’s allow Jesus to show us that by serving them, we are serving Him.

May His love for us and our love for Him and others fill us with His joy and peace.

In love always,