“I’m bored.” “I have nothing to do.” “What are we going to do today?” “Why can’t I play on the computer all day long?” Summer break has officially begun in the Deitz household. My boys last day of school was last week and today was the first official day of break. I didn’t think I’d say it, but thank God for the garage sale! If we didn’t have those four to five hours in the beginning of the day then I think these knots in my shoulders would be like cement. I suppose the other positive in the garage sale is getting my kids to WORK. 🙂 It is refreshing to have them with me as we help people unload their accumulated burden of stuff.
In the process of this day I can recognize one fleeting moment that God called me forth to be His smile to another. And that’s it, literally, His smile. I was bringing a load of stuff from one place to the next when a gentleman stopped me and asked where he could find the office for bill assistance. He was dressed in what appeared to be his best, some black slacks and a black oxford shirt with the color frayed at the ends just a bit from so many washes and the pants with some dust spots just below the knees. The instant he asked me the thought came to mind about how humbling it must be to have to ask a stranger where to go when it probably took a great amount of courage to show up for assistance to begin with. As the thought came and went I smiled and stopped to put down what I had in my arms so I could take him to the office myself. “Oh, thank you,” he said and smiled and I could tell his step was a bit more hopeful. We made a little bit of small talk on the way to the office and led him to the door trying to make him feel as if he were a special guest.
There are so many times that we’ve struggled financially in the 14 years we’ve been together and by the grace of God we’ve managed but I don’t believe there is any formula for those who might show up at the steps of the church office asking for help…and if it were to ever be me I’d pray that I’d be greeted with someone who treated me with respect and not sympathy.
I think having my kids with me this week, working for nothing is a good thing. We all need a good work ethic in life because you never know what lies around the corner.
Blessings
Shannon