As a young mother, the incident embarrassed me to no end.

My 3-year old daughter and I had run to the grocery store for a few things.  Upon arrival, I had placed her in the front seat of the shopping cart so I could keep an eye on her.

After gathering the items on my list, we headed for the check-out line. 

It was a small mom and pop’s kind of store.  They didn’t have a big intercom system.  If the cashier needed help bagging the customer’s groceries, they would just yell for help and the nearest bag boy would come running.

My young daughter had seen this action displayed numerous times as we shopped there often.

On this particular occasion, my little one thought she’d preempt the cashier.  As I pushed our cart up to the conveyor belt and began placing my items on it, my daughter yelled the magic words as loud as she could, “SACK UP!”

Then, she sat there and excitedly watched for someone to answer that call. 

I wish I could say that I did, too, but every fiber of my being was mortified as I quickly hushed my little girl, smiled sheepishly at the cashier, and kept my head down hoping to get out of the store without my offspring popping off with any more outbursts.

It took me years to realize that her example was one worth following.

My young daughter had given me a poignant show and tell example of how to cry out, lift up my voice, and yell for help – something the Scriptures encourage us all to do.

“This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” (Psalm 34:6 NKJV)

“I cried out to the Lord…and was delivered from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:3 ISV)

Cry out is just another way of saying yell.  We open our mouths, yell, and God comes running! 

The Bible is full of stories of people crying out – in praise, in desperation, in need, in trouble.  God welcomes it all!

What are you burdened with today that you just need to cry out to God about?

What desperate place do you find yourself in that you need to call upon God over?

More reliable than the fastest bag boy, His Word promises He’ll come running if we go ahead and yell!

“…everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 HCSB)

Until next time, Grace and Glory!