Misdirected Package

I was waiting for the package.
I received an email telling me that the package had shipped.
I received another email telling me the package would be late.
The package never came.

I kept checking the tracking number.
The package was stalled.
It did indeed ship.
It was not delivered.

About a week later, I got another email telling me the package had been delivered.
My husband and I were getting ready to go away for the weekend.
The package was nowhere to be found.
It was not at any of the doors, not near the garages, and not in the mailbox.

I texted my neighbor.
She lives on the cul-de-sac, which has a different street name.
However, both of our houses have the same house number.
A few times, packages have been delivered incorrectly.

The email telling me that the package had been delivered, had no picture.
A picture of where it had been dropped off would have been helpful.
I asked my neighbor if she received my package.
We are away but you can walk around our property to look for yourself, she answered.

The next morning, when I went for my walk, I did just that.
I checked her doors, garages, and mailbox.
Nothing.
What could have happened?

I was also calling the post office, since the tracking number was initiated by the USPS.
All the pertinent information was taken during our phone call.
It was promised that someone would get back to me after they investigated the situation.
The postmaster, himself, called me.

Do you work at a school? He asked, which seemed like a random question.
No, I don’t, I answered. Why did you ask that question?
Because the package was delivered to a school!
A school? I asked in disbelief.

The same tracking number was given to you and to the other recipient, he explained.
The postmaster gave me the address of the nearby school.
The package was delivered there.
The package had my tracking number.

I was confused.
Did this person order mascara, too? I blurted out.
Mascara? I have no idea, the postmaster said.
My mascara was discontinued; I was delighted when I found it online.

I knew that I had given him too much information.
The only thing that was clear was that a package with my tracking number had been delivered.
It was not delivered to my address, but it was using my email for notifications.
I called the school, knowing that school was now finished for the summer.

I left a message about a half hour before my husband and I were to leave for the weekend.
He said that he could drive me there if someone answered and had the package.
No one answered or called back.
I tried again when we got home and got a message in response.

I’m so glad you called back, the woman said in her message.
I wrote your number down incorrectly the first time, she continued.
We do not have any package delivered here with your name on it.
I will continue to watch for any packages, since they come to me in the office.

I realized that my question to her was really a moot point.
The package was delivered to the right address; sort of!
Whoever made the initial label, used the same tracking number for two packages.
What are the odds of someone ordering the same discontinued mascara?

I called the company and requested a refund.
After hearing that the postmaster was involved, they were a little more understanding.
They still kept saying that the package was delivered correctly.
It was and it wasn’t…but they did not seem to comprehend the problem.

In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. (Psalm 18:6)

Praise God that our prayers always go to the right place.
Praise God that He hears our prayers..
Praise God that He answers us when we call to Him.
Praise God that He doesn’t make mistakes.

Can you imagine if our prayers had tracking numbers?
Can you imagine if God got prayers mixed up from one person to the next?
Can you imagine if the answer to this situation was given to the person in that situation?
How grateful I am that I serve an all knowing, all powerful God who never makes mistakes.

The package has never been found or delivered to me.
I bought new mascara.
How can something so simple become so complicated?
Praise God that never happens where our mighty God is concerned.

2 responses to “Misdirected Package”

1. What is the likelihood??!

   Reply

   • It seems highly unlikely, Janna, but it did indeed happen.
     Gina

     Reply