Sandra Heska King

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Shopping and Rainbows

September 2, 2010 By Sandra Heska King

We shopped all day today, we three girls. Grandma, Mom, and Grace. School starts next week, and Grace Face has grown so much. She needed just about everything.

I like to shop. And I don’t. I become discontented.

I want.

Rainbows of colors promise youthful beauty. All the new styles taunt my frumpiness. I touch some soft tops as we pass, run my hand over some new crisp jeans, pause in front of the too-thin mannikin wearing a sweet classic dress.

And I remember. School clothes. For Gracee.

Focus.

And she cleans up–with sparkly jeans and tops and sweatshirts and a new pair of Twinkle Toe light-up shoes. All on sale. And I find packets of bright headbands and barrettes and some silky pajamas with peace signs. And a flannel footed onesie with monkeys on it that will keep her warm in the winter that she says she’ll wear–but only at home and only with family around.

And I think I should watch for a similar pair for her mom.

I justify buying a jigsaw puzzle as educational because it’s a multicolored map of the United States.

And I break down and buy myself a T-shirt. One T-shirt. But it’s a Detroit Tigers T-shirt.

A very successful shopping day that creates a drought in my finances.

On the way home, it suddenly starts to pour. But the sun is bright on our right.

“Look for a rainbow, Grace,” I tell her.

I’m excited.

And we all crane our necks–looking, looking.

And there it is! I can see it in my rear view mirror.

Big. Bright. Perfect. Spanning horizon to horizon, it seems. But I can’t turn around.

I tell Abby to quick snap a picture. She riffles through my purse for the camera, but the bow is gone as quickly as the rain began.

Still I’m lost in the colors of rain and rainbows and God’s promises.

I decide no fashion designer can top the Great Designer, and no promise made can top His. And I get this song stuck in my head.

Linking up to Emily’s Imperfect Prose on Thursdays.

Rainbow photo courtesy of morgueFile free photos.

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Filed Under: stories and reflections

Comments

  1. in the hush of the moon says

    September 2, 2010 at 11:38 pm

    i know this, the lull and drag of shopping, the yuck of feeling spent, and then, the stunning free gift of God’s hand on earth… oh, what a gift… and it’s free–had i mentioned that??? 🙂 such a beautiful post. thank you, sandra. xo

    • Sandra says

      September 3, 2010 at 7:59 am

      Oh, Emily. What you said in those few words just tied up that whole post beautiful. He paid the biggest price. His gifts and promises are free! He calls us beautiful and beloved. Nothing off some store rack can compare.

  2. nance nAncY nanc heyyou davisbaby says

    September 3, 2010 at 12:49 am

    good shopping day story!

    • Sandra says

      September 3, 2010 at 8:00 am

      😀 😀

  3. Danise says

    September 3, 2010 at 1:54 am

    There is nothing like a timely reminder from God.
    His promises are real.
    His beauty is indescribable.
    Found your blog through twitter.
    Thought I would stop by. Glad I did.

    • Sandra says

      September 3, 2010 at 8:01 am

      Welcome, Danise! I’m so glad you stopped in, too. Hope you can stay a while. Thanks. :}

  4. Talon says

    September 9, 2010 at 3:55 pm

    You have such wonderful description in your writing, I felt like I was along for the shopping trip. 🙂

    It’s wonderful to see a rainbow – and even if you can’t catch it on a camera, you can catch it in your heart.

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