Those Little Old Ladies

No offense to those little old ladies who might read this. I think you are adorable. I generally love little old ladies. Well, unless they are of the crotchety sort. I met one in the grocery line up yesterday. She was walking up at the same time as me, and when I saw her teeny weenie amount of groceries, I knew it was only right to let her go ahead of me. I'm sure people hate ending up behind me. I've got coupons, I've got my own bags. Yup, it takes awhile.

Anyway, this little old lady was adorable. She had her basket of groceries. 2 apples, 2 plums, 3 bananas, a little mini pack of Kelloggs cereals, etc, etc. Shopping for one. Her total was $45. I wish I could shop for only that much! She seemed quite conflicted because she was going to have to carry her own groceries, but didn't want a lot of bags. So the cashier boy suggested that she buy a reusable bag. So I grabbed one for her, and almost all of her groceries fit in that one bag. She seemed slightly disappointed that they didn't all fit.

After she left, the cashier boy (I love how I can call 20 year olds, "boys") and I discussed how cute little old ladies are. He definitely agreed. But he said its also sad at times. I agreed with that. As he was bagging up all of my groceries (and the 20-something guy behind me seemed to be fuming), I realized just how many reusable bags I do have. I had at least 6 left over after a pretty big shop.

*A complete side note from my story. As I was getting all of my stuff bagged, a little girl and her Mom were leaving the till next to us. She turned to her Mom and said, "That little boy is such a WHINER!" The Mom shushed her and looked up at me. We both grinned. The cashier boy was also laughing. Then the little boy and his Dad came up to the till. It was their turn. And he was definitely a whiner! "I want, I want, I want" and "I need, I need, I need." Then finally when it was time for them to leave (thank goodness), his Dad asked him to put on his jacket. "No, I want to be cold. I don't need a jacket. I don't want to put on my jacket." Then he took his jacket, threw it on the floor and kicked it away from himself. GASP, I can't even imagine what I would do if Abbi put on a performance like that!!!

Anyway, as I was leaving the store, my little old lady was standing in the cart area, waiting for a ride, or perhaps a cab. I looked at my stash of bags, and walked over and gave her one. I said, "Now you'll have two for next time." She thanked me. In a way,it was totally insignificant, but for me it felt kind of special.

The sermon that Sunday morning was about our "Sphere of Influence." I remember this term was used by Denise Mira years ago in a sermon. She and her husband used to come speak at our old church in Nanaimo. Totally fantastic, inspiring family. You can read her blog here.

Yesterday the pastor was saying, "If God needs to reach accountants, he is going to dress up an accountant and send him in." He was saying that in the story of our lives, God has placed us in our specific homes, in our specific communities, and in our specific city for a reason. He spoke of the economy and how people are hurting right now. So he encouraged us to do what we could to ease someone else's burdens. He said you may not have money to give, but if you see someone in need, and you can meet that need - meet it.

Which is where my whole, slightly random, reusable bag story came in. I'm sure a resuable grocery shopping bag isn't going to change the world (although I'm sure Al Gore would beg to differ), but I think if anything, it kind of reminded that woman that there still is kindness out there. And hopefully it brightened her day. And that story could maybe make me sound like a bit of a saint, but the reality is, prior to my shopping trip, I was still struggling with the idea of giving to those in need...

I have had a giant pile of maternity clothes that I have been planning to sell on kijiji. I had gone through them all, checked for stains. Ironed, and washed them. Took all sorts of pictures. I listed 17 pieces for $50. No bites. OK, OK, so I lowered it to $40 (still a steal). I was telling Rob no one was buying them before we left for church. And in his Rob, completely unassuming way, he said "Why aren't you just giving them to a woman's shelter?" OUCH! Cut to the heart. Stubborn Holly tried to argue with Rob that I was going to use the money for good things, and I had bought all of these and I wanted to get my money back or at least some of it. And really it is so cheap for clothes that would have cost so much to buy new. Anyway...we left for church, me still thinking, "How on earth could Rob say that?"

Then the sermon hit me. And it was my second smack in the head, and I kind of got the message. I can't say that I'm not going to continue selling or consigning things. I don't necessarily think that is wrong, but I also need to be sensitive to what I feel God is telling me. That may come through a sermon, or my husband - or both in this instance. Perhaps someone really needs these clothes, and really, do I NEED $40? Not really. It would be nice. But its not a NEED issue. So I came home after church, still fighting the idea of just giving them away. Finally, I told Rob, I knew that I had to give them away, rather than sell them. Then I turned on the computer and had two offers for the $40. WHEW! Talk about testing a woman! Stubborn, Selfish Holly was tempted to just take the money and run. Instead I just replied to one and offered her the clothes for free. She is picking them up tonight.

Anyway, I'm not sure there is a moral to my story, other than we all need to be sensitive to the needs of people. Something I'm learning. And I figure in my day, some maternity clothes and a single grocery bag, may have helped at least two people out. Not giant, earth-shattering offerings, but something. So perhaps that just might encourage you today to take stock of what you might have that you could offer to someone in need.

Perhaps you have an extra loaf of bread, some extra clothes, a skill (sewing, mechanic, cooking), shovel someone's walkway, or you could take the time to help a complete stranger. Sometimes I just need to be reminded that there is still a hurting world beyond the walls of my cozy home. Perhaps we can all be reminded...