A Last Minute Birthday Card

It was beginning to get dark as Chris pulled into the Kroger parking lot. As we ran in to get William's card and gift I thought to myself kind of laughing, "We are the worst parents ever. It's 5:00 on the night of his birthday and we haven't picked out a card or anything." 

Chris went to get the cash as I headed for the cards knowing I didn't have nearly enough time to find the perfect one--especially as I passed the check out lines all 5 or 6 people deep. As I rushed to the card aisle I dodged an elderly gentleman as effortlessly as Caroline had just taken it to the hoop in her basketball game. But then I heard him, "Excuse me miss, do you know if they have any anniversary cards here?"

I stopped and looked at him, "Yes they do. Let me show you." I led him to the section with anniversary cards, and I admit I thought to myself, "It's a whole row, how did you miss it?" He looked at me and said, "Thank you; it's my 62nd anniversary tomorrow and I need to get a card for my wife."

I hurried down the aisle and started pulling cards out to read, no judgment from me--I was buying a card at the last minute too. The clock was ticking and I needed to find the perfect one for his 18th birthday--you know the one that didn't say, "I stopped at Kroger 3 hours before dinner to buy you this card."  Out of the corner of my eye I saw the man pulling cards out from the section titled "for your husband;" he was moving very slowly and having a hard time opening the cards. I hesitated; I really had no time, but I was drawn back down the aisle.

"Sir," I said, "Those are for a husband. Come down here and you'll find ones for your wife." We slowly walked down the aisle. "Did I tell you we've been married 62 years tomorrow?" he asked. "Yes you did say that. Are y'all going to do something special?" Suddenly I looked and saw why he was having a hard time reading the cards; there were tears in his eyes.

"Well my wife is in the hospital. She has been for 3 weeks." This is that moment when I always wonder what to say, but I didn't wonder for long. "I'd like to pray for her; I'll pray she gets home tomorrow for your anniversary."  I said. "What's her name?"

"Her name is Sue. I don't think she'll get home tomorrow. I'm not sure she'll ever come home again, but thank you for praying. We can use all the prayers we can get." I then told him I was a priest and asked permission to put her on the prayer list. He thanked me again and I hustled down the aisle still needing that card for William.

The gentleman looked down the aisle and quietly said, "Can I tell you something?" I walked back down and said, "Yes, please." He looked at me and said, "A gentleman that worked for me for 25 years had a massive heart attack and died on Friday. You know what he used to say about my wife? He used to say, 'She's a lady for all the ladies.' Don't you think that's the nicest compliment anyone could ever give you?" Now I was struggling not to cry, "It is indeed I said. She must be incredibly special and so lucky to have a husband like you."

This one will be just fine

He put the card he had chosen in his cart, turned, looked at me and said, "I'm definitely the lucky one. Thank you for praying." And he headed to checkout.

Chris and I paid for the card in the now nonexistent lines. As we walked out, I saw the gentleman checking out. "Happy Anniversary." I quietly said. He smiled and left the store.

Sometimes a birthday card bought at the last minute is perfect timing.