Thursday, October 14, 2010

Go the Extra Mile...

*** Be sure to enter the Organic Hemp Boo Boo Bunny giveaway (ends 10/15/10) ***

The other day I looked out my window and saw my neighbor across the street struggling to get up the front steps with her groceries.

Now, I realize most of you live in suburban neighborhoods with garages and rarely SEE your neighbors, so do some imagining with me.

All of our houses have parking on the street next to a sidewalk that leads to four or five steps guiding you up to a quaint little porch.

This little old lady had a walking stick that I watched her catapult up the five steps and then use her shopping cart (you know the kind you can pull behind you with wheels - we use those around here to WALK to the grocery store and back) as a cane to go up one step at a time.

As soon as I saw her launch her cane up to the landing, I raced out my door to help her with the rest... thinking I'd be back in 5 minutes.  Easy peasy.

Little did I know that she would ask me to stay for a little bit... like 30 minutes.
She showed me her little house that is in desperate need of cleaning.
She showed me the bedroom she no longer sleeps in because the couch is more convenient and easy to get to in her old age.
She showed me her beautiful back yard garden with a peach tree.
She showed me the peaches she had collected from the ground to eat - crawling with ants and bugs.
She showed me the peach compote she had made with those peaches in her fridge.
She showed me her torn curtains.

And she told me lots of things, too - in her broken English (she is from Poland).
She told me her husband died in this house.
She told me has no children to come visit her.
She told me she saved a plant from the garbage dump and nursed it back to life.
She told me she watches me play with Little Bug on our front porch sometimes.
She told me that God must have sent me today because she had been so lonely.

At first I was annoyed that this "good deed" was taking longer than I expected.
{My husband was home with Little Bug, by the way.}
But then I realized that God might have just interrupted my day to bring some joy to an old woman across the street who hasn't seen a visitor in months.

She hugged me as I left, and I promised to bring her some potatoes and milk next time I visit.

I'm trying to appreciate those interruptions to my routine and see them as DIVINE INTERVENTIONS.

3 comments:

  1. And who knows but that you have come . . . for such a time as this and for this very occasion? Esther 4:14 Amplified Bible

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  2. Amen! What a divine intervention that was. That's a great story. What amazing love you have in your heart, friend.

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  3. I realize this is an old posting, but still want to comment.
    Your letter spoke to my heart. Often opportunities drop right in front of us. Often at the most inconvenient times. I'm trying to be more "mindful" of what God would have me do. TIME is often the hardest thing to give...and it costs so little. I'm sure you made God smile that day. Bless you.
    beth

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