Who knew Menards would be the place that I would be given a powerful reminder? Tonight, my husband and I just had our son with us. Our daughter was on a special night away with her Nana. As we were wandering Menards – in part looking for sprinkler heads and part pure exploration, we took our time. We lingered. We found ourselves going down isles for no reason other than to be curious and be without hurry. To be together. Most often, we go in with a mission, and a timeline. Tonight, it was different.

As we headed toward the check out at the end of our visit, I turned my eyes from the items lined up on shelves around me, and the (already displayed) Halloween décor that intrigued my sweet Aiden. It was then, that I was caught in my tracks of the sweet reminder that was right in front of me and had been the whole way through the store. My husband, walking Aiden in the cart, but with it backwards. Aiden was in the front, facing out looking at the world around him, and Elliot behind. Squeals and giggles as he was head on.

In this moment, it reminded me to pause and ask:

Who is turning your cart around for you in the midst of your journey, to help you see clearly at what is in front of you, instead of what is behind?

Who is the person that is showing up to give you a better picture or vantage point, even if it may not be the most convenient for them? An opportunity to experience, awe and wonder, even if in this case, it was simply looking for the Halloween display with glowing eyes and items on the shelves.

And then..

Is there someone who you could be tuning the cart around for?

Who needs you to be that person, to go out of your way, to give them a better vantage point? Maybe in the slower pace, the better seat, a word of encouragement, truth spoken over them when the false narratives replay in their minds.  

To some, it was just a dad being silly pushing the cart the wrong direction. But to me. And to Aiden. That was a dad, choosing to give his son the best perspective, to let him have the best seat.

Grateful. For backward carts + a really great dad – who gets it.