The "Hallmark" Store

First published February 20, 2009

Valentine's Day was the first official holiday for us to celebrate in our new location of Cairo. Normally, I look for any excuse to celebrate and create an "event." One of the first stops I used to make was in a Hallmark store. I could spend hours there looking through cards, choosing the perfect thank you notes, reviewing the newest ornaments....ahhhhhhhhhhh.....sweet bliss. However, much to my chagrin I discovered that Hallmark did not include Egypt in its collection of locations.

This almost caused a complete meltdown. In the States I am a platinum member...not to brag, just a fact. I began feeling very sorry for myself and most deprived. How could anyone do anything without at least a few resources? The lame-o cards from 1952 imported from China do NOT count.

I tucked the celebration idea away because the girls needed to go to youth group in Maadi. Maadi is a district of Cairo on the complete other side of town. Since it was a new location, John and I thought we should go with them the first time to make sure they got to where they needed to go. We took the subway and arrived early. To pass time we walked around the area. To my surprise and thrill a little store covered in red merchandise appeared before my eyes.

It was a store that sold all kinds of fun things to celebrate Valentine's Day. I looked at John and said, "THIS could be my Hallmark store." He smiled and gave me a little hug as I started perusing the aisles. Emileigh informed me that she would prefer a red and white scarf at another vendor for her gift, so I nodded and kept looking.

I found a photo frame (for John and me), a stuffed hippo (for Aria) and a bag of Dove chocolate. (I actually expected a light to shine from above and angels begin to sing when I put the Dove chocolate into my basket.) The bag was a bit worn looking, but chocolate is chocolate regardless of the exterior. (I know there's a sermon illustration in there somewhere.) I finished looking around and went to pay for my stuff. The lady told me the amount and I thought it was a couple dollars more than it should be, but maybe there's some weird tax. I still haven't figured all of it out yet and I don't have the Arabic skills to argue. She bagged the stuff and handed me the bag. I exited with my family and we made our way back to the sidewalk to head to the youth meeting.

Once we arrived home later that evening, I began to pull the items out of the bag from the "Hallmark" store. I pulled out the frame and the hippo. I looked in the bag and THERE WAS NO CHOCOLATE. I stared at the bottom of the empty plastic bag waiting for the Dove bag to appear. I looked at the frame and the hippo. I looked back in the bag. Still nothing. Are you kidding me? Before I jumped to conclusions, I looked at the bag to see if some gigantic rip had allowed the precious cargo to slip through. It remained perfectly intact.

I reviewed my actions from the store to the flat. I could only come to one conclusion: the cashier, chicky, lady had opened the plastic bag on her lap when she placed the items in it. That would give her opportunity to set the Dove chocolate aside and continue placing the other two items in the bag. She closed up the bag, handed it to me sans candy and sent me on my way. 

The more I thought about it the angrier I became. How could she do this? This wasn't for me, it was for my visiting friends. The heart-shaped Dove chocolates would be set on their pillow as a welcoming gesture...now it was all ruined--ruined because of the sneaky cashier on the other side of town who overcharged me AND kept my candy. Grrrrrrrrrr.....

Our friends arrived and I escorted them to their guest room. Their pillows were adorned with candy albeit non-heart shaped. I finally confessed to my friend that I had great intentions of surprising her with her favorite candy, but alas it was not to be. I could feel the anger rising in me again and she sympathized with my plight.

I stewed about "THE INCIDENT" off and on for 2 days. I imagined the bag of candy being put back on the shelf for the next unsuspecting customer. Then I thought that that was probably why the bag was beat up in the first place. It had probably been sold and reshelved multiple times. I was only one in a long string of chocolate-sales-reversal victims.

I knew that my anger was not only inappropriate but bordering on the ridiculous. I took a psychological step back and realized that I was mostly angry at my inability to communicate well enough to discuss my displeasure with the transaction. I was also reminded that while I can find some things that are similar to my former home in the States, I'll never find anything "exactly" like I had. All my anger was actually a displaced sense of mourning. 

Whew! It's such a relief to know that I'm not becoming psychotic over extended cocoa deprivation. Yes, she pulled one over on me. As a country singer might croon, "I was done wrong." But should I be surprised by someone who acts like this? Why would I? Jesus said, "Does a physician go to the those who are well? No, he goes to those who are sick." My Savior has extended grace and mercy to me over and over again. Can I do any less?

My whole life should be a constant expression of love and forgiveness. So will I return to that store a second time? Yes. Will I check my bag before I leave? Yes. Will I show love during each interaction? Lord, help me to say, "Yes."