What’s In Your Cart?


On this day in 1939, Sylvan Goldman who owned the Humpty Dumpty supermarket chain got an idea. He was trying to think of a way for his customers to transport more groceries around his stores. He attached 4 wheels to the legs of a wooden folding chair, and then attached a basket to the seat. The shopping cart was born. 

Before this shopping trips to the Humpty Dumpty or the Piggly Wiggly would be limited to what you could carry in your arms. I wonder if Sylvan’s original patent stated that one of the wheels was to either not spin or rapidly shake back and forth? It’s possible that this is some modern improvement on his original design.

However it happened the carts keep getting bigger. When I bring my groceries to the check out counter I sometimes use the self check out. I don’t like the self checkout because the computer keeps telling me I put things in the bagging area when I didn’t. When I get a real person they will often ask this profound question. “Did you find everything you need?” To this I always answer, “I don’t need half this stuff.”

Sometimes I don’t have everything I need. Yesterday I was making pancakes for breakfast and discovered there was no syrup. I thought about putting mustard or barbecue sauce on them, but instead my nephew ran out to pick some up. The good news is that in our walks with God we do have all we need.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” II Peter 1:3

Did you catch that? You have what it takes. Occasionally I will be speaking with someone who feels like they just don’t have what it takes to live the Christian life. This is never the case though. God has made sure we have all we need to live a godly life.

It may be so that you haven’t always come through in your walk. That would be true for all of us. However, God’s grace is sufficient, and his mercies are new every morning. Each day is a new opportunity to live for Christ knowing that you have what you need. Walk in him today. And the next time you’re at the grocery scanning your cart wondering, “Do I have everything I need?” Remember you do in Christ.

Following the Son,

James A Williams

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