All I Wanted to do was buy Water – When your plans are interrupted –

Buying Dollar Store Water –
Written July 19, 2025 for sharing 7-21-25
By Pastor Calvin Cook

I simply went into the Dollar General Store to buy some water for our cooler, while we are traveling. But this trip which has been a time of meeting God in unexpected places continued. In the Dollar Store, there was a young man at the counter and I could see that they were counting change that was spread out over the counter.

I heard the young man apologize that he had to pay with change, that was the only money he had. He shared with the cashier that he mowed someone’s grass they paid him with these two rolls of quarters so he would be able to buy baby food. The baby food was on the counter. As the cashier counted, she determined that there was a shortage, one roll didn’t have an adequate number and the second roll had nickels intermixed with the quarters, shorting the $20 needed to buy baby food, by a couple of dollars. The young man commented that every time he trusts somebody, they short him.

The young man kept apologizing for taking so much time. I sympathized as I had been in that place. I noticed the young man was barely 18 and immediately I thought about this baby he was buying food for, where he lived, if his car he was driving would even make it out of the parking lot and so much more. As he made his second trip to the car to scrounge up change – I paid for my water and gave the clerk the shortage for what the young man was short which was $1.40 –

I exited the store and lingered a bit. The young man came out and had the biggest smile on his face. Thanking me for what I did. I remarked “my friend, the only one who will never short you is Jesus, I would suggest you get to know him.” He replied, “My uncle has been telling me the same thing.” To which I replied, “I would listen to your Uncle, he has a lot of wisdom.” We parted, and I continue to pray for this young man who I don’t even know his name.

When we pray to God to be used. Hear me — GOD WILL USE US ! The divine purpose might not be flashy or loud, but God will use us, but we have to allow it to happen. We must be willing to live out what we talk about and the words we say. This is putting our prayers of requesting God to use us into action.

Several scriptures come to mind but the one that immediately came to mind in the Dollar Store parking lot in London Kentucky – to share with this young man without having to search for words was John 10:10 “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” (ESV)

Whatever you are facing right now, whatever you are short – Jesus has come to give you so much more – not just a little – or once in a while – but to give it abundantly. As we return to Jesus, to the foundation and rock of our salvation, even return to the ordinary, may we realize that abundant life.

The further practice of sacred repetition would be: Be to others the way you expect others to be to you. Stop judging others first. Look at yourself in a spiritual mirror and become the person God has created you to be.

And if you want to talk about it – let’s get together – and talk about this abundant life that is available in Jesus.