Memorial Box Monday – The Robbery


Sometimes when we are recalling the things that the Lord has done, we see His protection as well as finding what some of His purposes were for a particular situation.

A few years back, when we were pastoring in Virginia, Autumn, Emma, Graham and Liberty had gone with me to Richmond to take Tyler to work. Tyler had a relatively short shift that day, so the plan was to drop him off, then stay and run errands and pick him up in four hours. Our home was about 50 minutes each way from where he worked, so this worked well.

We dropped Tyler off at Ukrop’s {grocery store} and off we went. Liberty was 3, Emma was 8, Graham was 7, Autumn was 12……so that gives you an idea how little the kids were. We went to several places and as the time approached for me to go pick Tyler up, I debated. Should I go to Dollar Tree or not? It had not been part of my plans, but I kept feeling strongly that I was supposed to go, so we went.

As we moseyed our way through the store, Dw called. I was on my cell with him and the kids and I were looking at things near the back corner of the store. All of a sudden we heard screaming. Serious screaming. Scary screaming. The kind that makes your hair on your neck stand on end. Since I was on the phone with Dw it didn’t really register what I was hearing for a few seconds. Then I stopped and listened. What was that?

I thought, “Is some couple having a huge fight? Or is some man beating up a woman?” It gives me chills just remembering that day. I said to Dw, “There is someone really screaming, I need to go see what’s going on.” In my panic, I had just hung up on him. He told me later, “DON’T EVER DO THAT AGAIN!” {He was in a panic, why was someone screaming and were his wife and four of his children safe?}

I told the kids to stay put. The screaming continued and I crept down the aisle and over a few aisles near the middle of the store toward where the screaming was coming from. The kids had not stayed put {they were scared to pieces} and were tight against my back, I didn’t even realize that they had followed me, I was so overcome with what was going on. The screaming continued. As I slowly moved down the aisle closer toward the front I could now clearly see the one register. The clerk spotted me creeping toward her and I am certain she saw the concern on my face, not to mention my eyes being about as wide as they get.

Gracious, I didn’t realize how much emotion is still wrapped up in this memory as the tears start to flow typing it. It was one of the most terrifying times in my life, and this was just 2 weeks after the tornado where I narrowly missed death.

Anyway, God has given me an amazing ability to read lips, so I knew in an instant what she was saying, “We’re being robbed!!” Her eyes were huge pleading with me. I shook my head acknowledging that I understood. I slowly to creep backwards and instantly banged into the kids. I had no idea they were right behind me. We all crept backwards slowly. We moved a few aisles over.

I started to pray softly, “Oh God! Help us! What are we going to do?” Suddenly I remembered my cell phone. I dialed 9-1-1 and when the dispatcher answered I whispered, “I’m at Dollar Tree on Hull Street in Chesterfield and we are being robbed.” She was such a kind dispatcher. She started asking me all kinds of questions. The little guys were starting to cry softly, and Graham kept begging me, “Let’s go out the back door mom.”

The dispatcher said, “Where are you in the store?” I told her that I had moved slowly back near the left corner of the store with my four young children. She asked me if I had seen the person robbing the store because she wanted a description and I told her I had not. He must have been at the register next to the one where the clerk mouthed the information to me. I could not see him and really, truly, I didn’t want to!! And I really, really, didn’t want him to see my precious treasures! I asked her if we should go out the back door. She told me not to, since we did not know if there were others helping this man rob the store or if there was even an accomplice in the alley behind the store.

After hanging up with 9-1-1, I called Dw to tell him that there was a robbery going on. He hung up and called people to pray.

Eventually the screaming stopped and all we could hear was crying and crying. We then heard someone shout, “He’s gone.” We went slowly to the front of the store and there we found the clerk that he had been robbing. She had been knocked to the floor by this thug. She was probably about 65 years old, tiny in stature and crying hysterically.

Now you have to understand sweet friends, I really, truly am a shy person. But it was definitely the Holy Spirit because I went right to her and wrapped my arms around her and just hugged her while she sobbed. She had been cut as she fell to the floor. She was bleeding. I just hugged her like she was one of my kids. I hugged her tight. She held on for dear life.

The police arrived and locked the entire store. We weren’t even allowed to leave. We were locked in for probably 1/2 hour while they checked everything good and asked lots of questions. It was wild. That clerk just sobbed and sobbed and sobbed and held on like there was no tomorrow. Her name was Bonnie and I asked her if it would be okay for me to pray with her. She shook her head. So while hugging her tight, I began to pray aloud over her. Asking God to comfort her and minister to her heart. I thanked Him over and over and over for protecting her. {Really friends, he could have killed her. He could have killed others in the store!}

Eventually we were allowed to go. What an experience! How do you even deal with that as you walk out of the store? Our lives were forever changed {again} in a few short minutes. Not many people have been in a store robbery in their lifetime. The kids were crying and scared and so I prayed with the kids as we went to the car. Thanking the Lord over and over for His hand of protection. When we all got into the car, I realized it was so weird. What do you do after such an event? So I said the only thing that I could think of saying, “God protected us guys. He loves us so much. Let’s celebrate His protection. Let’s go for ice cream at Bruster’s!!”

Right across the side street from Dollar Tree was a Bruster’s {best ice cream we’ve ever had – hands down!}. I let them order anything they wanted. And we decided there is a new rule for our family.

Anytime we are in a robbery, we get to go for ice cream!

But the story doesn’t end there. Obviously, I was shaken. The kids were shaken. God had protected us, the others in the store, the clerk at the other register. He had protected Bonnie. I wanted to do something for Bonnie. I wanted her to know how much God loves her, how He died for her so that she might live.

I decided to fill a gift bag with all kinds of goodies….stuff like: Bath & Body bubble bath, special smelly stuff, pampering stuff. And I also put a Bible in it and a copy of of book that I loved at the time. I wrote Bonnie a letter and told her about God’s deep love for her, and that He had special plans for her life.

The next day I drove back to Dollar Tree. She actually was working. The minute she saw me she threw her arms around me and hugged the daylights out of me. She said, “You were in the store yesterday for me. God knew I would need you here and so you were shopping just so you could be with me after the robbery.”

As I walked away I realized that God had indeed allowed us to be in the Dollar Tree on Hull Street at that exact moment so I could minister to Bonnie. His plans for Bonnie are for good. His plans for me are for good. He is amazing. Although I would not wish to be in a robbery again, He will use every circumstance to minister to others, if we let Him.

What has God done for you? How has He provided? When has He protected? What has He surprised you with? How has He healed you? Please link below with a permalink. If you merely link to your blog home page or I will be forced to delete it, and I really, really, hate to do that. I can’t wait to read your stories – please share!

If you are wondering what a Memorial Box is, I explain it here. If you don’t understand how to link a permalink, it is explained here. Now do it! Tell us all what faithful God has done!!

7 thoughts on “Memorial Box Monday – The Robbery

  1. Oh Linny! I am so thankful for God's mighty protection in the midst of the "lions den" for you and your children!

    And so thankful that He can turn terrible things into something good.

    In college, my interpreter looked at me blankly one day when she asked if she should dye her hair and I said, "pray about it". Because God is all about the little things, right?!?!

    (Itty Bit escaped the car accident that smashed his car seat because he woke up with a cough that morning… God is so good).

    Thank you for sharing this my friend… I still have goosebumps!

  2. oh Linny! I was crying as I read this out loud to my daughter, Hannah. If the bible were to be rewritten and new stories added, God would surely ask you to be an author of one of the new books of the new bible! Can't you just hear pastors in the distant future? "Now, turn with me to the book of Linny." LOL! I'm so encouraged! Isn't God good???

  3. Ok, 1st of all, If I didn't know any better I wouldn't believe you 😉 2nd, you know how they have chicken soup for the soul books?… umm, you really need to publish a memorial box monday book and maybe even include a memorial box! Gather all of your posts and have others contribute. THAT would be an amazing book. Plus, a fine way to raise $$ for orphans and adoptions. Feel free to use my idea!!! I'll even help gather stories if you like!! Just let me know. My God story isn't nearly as exciting but He is so taking care of us!
    We are still recovering from our move and Isaac had to visit the Dr this morning and we had to buy a medicine and a few other things we needed to get through the week. Well, this morning the drs office I "found" a gift card AND a store credit that I didn't know I had. My $25 bill wound up costing a whopping $2.05. Thank You Jesus!! Yippee!!Sheri

  4. Oh my goodness Linny, I had tears reading that. I can't even imagine! But to see God's hand so clearly upon you & your littles (and those precious employees!)- what a miracle!! God is so so good. It never ceases to amaze me the circumstances He will use us in, and for His glory! To even think that we could be a useful tool for His beautiful plan just blows me away!

  5. Kind've funny – I left a comment on another post of yours asking you to read a post of mine… but then I read this one. I "permalinked" to it for you above (Barometric Pressure). It doesn't exactly fit what you're tralking about, but then it kind've does. Hard to explain, but hopefully you'll get it. I Have several posts I could permalink to, abotu how God has provided, but I decided to just do 1 that may not really be what you're looking for. But to me, I learned that God can even change barometric pressure changes to kick you into gear. 🙂

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