I had to look twice. I couldn’t believe what I saw the first time and truthfully, the second look didn’t help.

In a world full of “jazzies” and “mobile chairs” of all types, I saw the most amazing thing. A regular, old fashioned wheel chair. I mean old. No special padding, no special wheels, just a hospital type that I don’t think I’d want to spend much time in.

That’s not the biggest surprise. It was being pushed by a little angel of a child. The young girl almost had to walk on her toes to reach the handles. But once she got rolling she was fine.

I will tell you that I wanted to offer my help. I mean I thought it proper to take the time to say, “May I help you get around the store?”

I would have enjoyed every minute of it.

But something told me to stay out of it.

“Perhaps there is someone else in the store who would be back to take over,” I thought to myself.

There wasn’t. I pretty much followed them through the entire store and that little child did a great job.

I can’t for the life of me guess the ages of little children. They either seem little or big to me.

This little child was growing up fast.

There was no list that I could see so they shopped as they saw things they needed. The woman held a small market basket on her lap so they weren’t buying for the week.

Every so often I would hear the woman say, “Help me to remember.”

They would be in a section they felt they needed to be but she couldn’t remember what it was.

I know that feeling. If I am going to the store I have a number limit in my memory bank. Three. That’s it. If I need more than three I must make a list. I’ve tried and I spent an extra half hour walking up and down until I remember the fourth thing. Often it was wrong.

“Help me to remember,” she said and the amazing thing was, the child remembered.

“Grandma, it was pepper. We need pepper, remember?”

“Ah, that’s right!”

I was slowing down on purpose just so I could help if they needed me. They didn’t.

At the other end of the store I heard, “Well, is that all?”

“That’s it!” The child said.

I got in line behind them.

Just before they paid for everything I finally spoke to the woman.

“She’s quite a helper. I couldn’t believe how she remembered all those things.”

The woman leaned over toward me and motioned for me to come closer.

“Look, I have a list,” she said as she opened her hand to reveal a piece of paper. “I don’t want her to know. I want her to get smarter than I was at her age. So, I do this every time we go shopping.”

She smiled and then began to laugh as she sat back in her chair.

“Grandma,” the child asked. “What are you laughing at?”

She paused for a moment and looking back at me she said, “I don’t remember!” She laughed even louder.

They rolled out the door and a small car pulled up. I followed out the door and overheard them speaking.

“So, how did grandma do?” The woman asked.

“Well, mommy. I had to remember everything,” the child said.

I got in my car and watched as they pulled away. I sat there remembering my two boys at that age. Things I’d thought I had forgotten came rushing in and I began to laugh, too.

Life has a way of doing that. Sometimes you forget little things and later see them has huge, significant moments in your life. Keep an eye on the world around you. God is speaking to you through every smile, every bloom, every falling leaf and everyone you meet.

When I got home I realized I had actually forgotten something I needed.

But that woman and child? I’ll never forget.

Bob Perks 2believe@comcast.net