I’ve seen it happen so many times, but on this day…I couldn’t let it go. Just seconds before me, a shiny luxury car (brand will remain undisclosed to protect the innocent) zipped into the parking space. You know the one. It’s labeled “customer with child” and has a cute little picture of a momma and her two kids in the shopping cart. I stuffed down my desire to get angry but couldn’t help but be a little baffled that she took the spot and a little more baffled that she cut me off to get it.
She jumped out of her car all by herself and wiggled her cute little self up to the store. It was a long walk- you know, 10 yards. I parked in the back and loaded my 4 kids out of the car, armed for the trek up to the store. In my heart, I had a little pep talk and reminded myself that I chose to have 4 kids and I love them and wouldn’t trade them for the world. I reminded myself that no one owes me a closer parking spot even if it is labeled for moms like me and the parking lot is a busy and dangerous place to be wandering.
The shopping trip went as planned. You know, we spent too much money on not enough food. The kids were rowdy, but no one harmed anyone or knocked over a display case of wine…so the trip was a considerable success. Until I went back into the parking lot. I saw the spot and the shiny luxury car once again, as I watched the store employee load Barbie’s groceries into the trunk, the anger and entitlement raged back into my heart in a wave of furry.
I started thinking about how much I deserved that parking spot. I reminded God that I was actually there first and that there was a sign telling her not to park there. I whined about how difficult it is to shop with 4 kids every week by myself. Didn’t I deserve something?
I was so furious when I got home that I decided to write a blog post about it. My goal was to inform that world as to what those parking spots were for. I just needed a picture to complete my post, so I googled it. What I found was a gold mine of articles about “customer with child parking.” I was excited over the possibility of finding someone who would relate to my outrage. The excited wilted quickly when I read that most of the posts were written by people who resented the space. The writers claimed that the spots were not legal permit-required spots and therefore they should be ignored. “Park where ever you’d like”, he declared.
My heart sank. Really? Is our society so shallow that we require a legal fine to be considerate to others?
That blog post was getting longer. By this point, I was determined to declare this injustice against us poor moms. Until the words washed over me. He/she thinks she deserves that spot, too. Right or wrong, they also feel entitled to the spot. So who is justified in their entitlement?
Ugh. How I hate that moment when conviction makes ugly what only moments before seemed so right. God gently reminded. I am entitled to nothing. Neither was Barbie in her shiny little luxury car. Neither was super-jerk who wrote that post. We are all guilty of selfishness. We are all helpless in a pit of our own depravity. Neither of us stepped back long enough to think about the other person and technically- none of us was entitled to that spot.
Are you guilty, too? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my days to be filled with me. I want to strive to think about the needs of someone else first. So I’m giving up those closer parking spots. I’m not taking the largest bathroom stall when I’m alone and don’t need it. I’m not getting mad when someone doesn’t put me first because, afterall- I probably did the same to them.
I’m purposing myself to think about how I can serve others in the everyday…even if I “deserve it.”
Your turn~What is something that we can do today to serve someone else?
Kim Sorgius
Kim is just a girl, crazy in love with Jesus. She's a single mother of 4, a passionate homeschooler and life-long student. After teaching 8 years in public school, she traded her M.A. in Early Childhood for sippy cups and homeschool co-ops. Kim is the owner and editor of The Homeschool Village and Not Consumed where she encourages others to rest victoriously in the hands of God, rather than allowing life's difficult circumstances to consume.
Follow Me:
Last updated by at .
lol, yeah….. i hear ya….. but as sharon would say, let me play “angel’s advocate” for ya. i too have taken “that” spot when i apparently don’t need it…. it was because i was either pregnant and in danger of miscariage or 4 days post-partem after a birth that didn’t go as planned and i was in so much pain i couldn’t walk a straight line and was supposed to be on bedrest but had no other way to get food except to go get it myself. i do try very hard not to use a convenience that i don’t need (too many times i’ve seen women use the cart designed for multiple children to carry thier purses around when i’m standing there with a baby strapped to my chest, a little one in the seat, a toddler in the basket, and a barely bigger kid with my hand over his on the cart side…. yeah, growling over here) and it happens i’m sure…. i’ve gotten “the looks” when people don’t understand that i actually DID need to use whatever it was….. but i try to pay it forward whenever possible. as we say each week, “be a blessing”…. but i’ll be more conscious of it in the future… we are are here to bless others.
Is it weird that I’ve never seen a parking spot like that before? The only thing close we have on our military base is spots for expecting mothers – you know so they can waddle to their appointments at the hospital without breaking their water.
Aadel recently posted…Preparing For The Journey To Seoul (and some Minecraft)
When I was stationed in Okinawa I went to the commissary during the Christmas season. That time of year was ALWAYS busy. This one day, I sat in the parking lot for about 20 minutes waiting for a spot to become available. When one finally opened up, I was waiting and ready. However,a young dependent whipped in front of me and took it. I will admit, I got out of my car and explained that I had been waiting. She pulled out her card and showed me her Daddy was a General. I told her that was wonderful and I asked her what he would think of her doing that to a person serving under his command. She very kindly accepted my ‘comment’ and moved her car. It was civil, but she got the point. Entitlement or not, I had been waiting and common courtesy is a way to love others, regardless of ‘rank’
Rebecca recently posted…Cherish Your Children
Great reminder. Thank you for sharing and reminding me of John 13:34 & 35
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
This is what makes the Holy Spirit filled followers of Jesus Christ the salt and light of the world.
We are always graced, but never entitled. And with grace comes humility and love. I love today’s post and can relate! At the store I shop the sign reads; expecting moms and those with newborns, so you and I would not quality for that. I do regard the sign although I can also understand how it can seem offensive to some; for example, a man or a woman without a child or those with children but don’t qualify. I have a child with food allergies and honestly we are inconvenienced so often that it is becoming second nature, not to say that certain times it doesn’t hurt. However, there are times when it is more than inconvenience and it’s a major risk and that is what I worry about. At those times is when I pray others will put aside their feelings of entitlement and consider the safety of my child’s life. Anyway, I think it is wise to welcome a bit of inconvenience into our lives if it may help another persons walk in life.
Oh do I understand your frustration… I get that way over people who can’t seem to park their little car into just one spot…, they park so close that getting my little ones out their carseats involves a certificate in yoga… and I do get angry at them… And it never fails that moments later I feel bad… that driver might be someone’s grandmother… or having a hard day and just didn’t have the energy to focus on making sure they were centered in the spot… and so what if I have to stretch in odd angles to get my kiddos out… they always think it’s a fun game! What a powerful thing that conviction of the Spirit… So glad you shared this post today.
Marissa
Marissa recently posted…Five Minute Friday: Cherish
I sure felt this way when I was pregnant and people parked in those “pregnant mom” spots. I’ve never seen those spots for moms with kids! wow!
For people who are inconsiderate, I just say a little prayer for them and hope that all works out for good. You never know God’s will and how that little inconvenience will play out.
Jennifer Lambert recently posted…We Choose Virtues New Website
I understand your frustration and your rush to judgement. I have been in that same spot. Now that my kids are a bit older, I find myself feeling like even though I can’t park there (or shouldn’t) because my kids are no longer in the strolled, carrier stage, I wish that I could some days and carry a placard that says “four of these kids have special needs and could have a lay-on-the-ground tantrum at any moment and I want to be closer to the car to lessen the chance of that and the embarrassment of it”! But you are absolutely right that none of us are entitled to any of what we have, let alone a parking spot!
Sharla recently posted…No “F” Word Allowed in Our House