Pinched to Perfection

On the morning preceding my cancer check-up (see Afraid and Assured), my wife and I decided to do some shopping at our favorite warehouse club. Around 11:15am in my attempts to get one of the warehouse club’s oversized shopping carts, I tried to separate the opposing carts that were stuck together. As they were separating, the pinky of my right hand got pinched by the carts leaving a small bloody pinch. The nearby Utility Worker asked me if I was OK. I lied and said, “Yes”

In my job as a Utility Worker, this had never happened. I’d separated hundreds of carts with no damage to myself. I went to show my wife what I’d done to my pinky. Her questions of concern were met with my irritation of what I felt was obvious.  I was in pain, and I was not doing fine. An argument in the vacuum cleaner aisle of the store ensued. (We are a passionate couple.)

Customer Service was happy to get me an ice bag after I explained the situation. In case my finger bruised black and blue or swelled overnight, I thought it would be wise to have an official report filed the jovial store manager. We did finish our shopping.

Though my pinky is healed now, there is miniscule scar on the front of it that reminds me of the event. Sometimes crazy things happen that leave a mark on you (physical or emotional), but you have to press onward.

Life is not fair, and at times bad things happen that just aren’t right. You must turn “lemons into lemonade.” When people see you bravely plowing through your adversities (as much as it may pain you); they will be more likely to offer a helping hand. With God on your side, your power source is fully activated.