It was never about stamps.

The other morning, I stopped by Denver’s main post office to purchase three rolls of stamps. I was second in line, but the customer ahead of me spent nearly twenty-five minutes conducting business at the counter.

As the line grew longer, so did everyone’s frustration. One man began making comments to the postal clerk and other customers, but no one responded. I remained patient by keeping a positive attitude. Trust me when I say I was praying under my breath, "Lord, give me patience by loving others first."

While I stood there sensing the tension around me, the Holy Spirit then whispered, “It’s time to be a witness.” My immediate response was, “Oh dear God—not here, not now!” But the prompting continued. So I leaned toward the two people standing beside me and said, “You know, this morning while praying to God, I asked Him to give me patience—and then I came to the post office.” That simple comment brought laughter, opened a conversation, and created a genuine moment of connection in the middle of everyone’s frustration.

When it was finally my turn, I approached the counter cheerfully and said, “Good morning! I’d like three rolls of stamps, please.”

“We don’t have any rolls of stamps,” the clerk replied. Thinking she might be joking, I asked again. This time, she explained that she did not have any stamps to sell. I noticed several books of stamps in her drawer, so I asked, “Could I purchase a few books instead?” She replied that the post office was extremely low on stamps and that none were available for purchase. Surprised, I asked, “Do you know where I might find some?”

“I don’t know—maybe another post office,” she said before suggesting that I try the kiosk out front. “The kiosk is broken,” I replied, “but thank you. Have a wonderful day!” She smiled and said, “Oh my goodnes-thank you-you too!”

I walked outside and that's when it hit me. This morning I walked into the post office looking for stamps, but God had something more meaningful in mind. The experience became an opportunity to practice patience, offer kindness, and connect with the people around me.

In the end, it wasn’t really about stamps. It was about listening to the Holy Spirit and allowing God to transform an ordinary inconvenience into a meaningful encounter—simply by choosing to love first.