Christlike Friendships

Today, in Sacrament meeting, the speakers spoke about Christlike friendships. One speaker talked about how Christ showed friendship by doing things like helping people who needed it and laying down His life for us. He likened it to a story of his father who would stop in a visit a man who was bedbound almost daily until his own death. He talked about the unselfishness of friendship and the necessity of forgiveness. 

As I listened to him speak, I thought of the ladies I work with at the shelter. These women literally have next to nothing. All of their belonging have to fit on or under their bed. Some of these women are the sweetest people I have ever met, and they are the outcast of the ladies in the shelter. They sit alone and are often ridiculed for being different, but they are the ones who will sit with others who are left out and try to include them.

Over the last three weeks, I have been the recipient of their kindness. Twice, I have been waiting outside the gate in my car, waiting for security to let me in. Then, one of the participants saw me as they were waiting to be let in. When security came to the door, they would ask for permission to push the button to let me in. Then, there was a lady that I had talked to a few times that saw me coming in and cleared a table for me saying she knew I had not where else to go in the shelter. One more lady that made me think even more about this was a sweet lady who is openly ridiculed for exercising in the facility. (I feel the need to point out that she does this off in an area out of the way but visible of other people.) It appears to me that she may not have any friends in this shelter. She has been alone every time I have seen her including mealtimes. Thursday and Friday this week, she noticed that I was sitting by myself at the table near the lunchroom, and she came and sat with me. She was quiet, working on a puzzle one day and drawing/painting the next. I told her goodnight as I left, and she smiled and returned the gesture. These gestures mean the world to me. They have nothing, but they are doing the small things to make me more comfortable when I am there to help them (none of these ladies have wanting my help looking for more permanent housing). I guess this is what people mean when they say they get so much more out of serving other people than the other people get sometimes. 

She Cares

Yesterday, I left my clothes in the wash before going to bed. (I try not to do this because I never know when Sean or Noel will need the machines.) In that load, I had a pair of knitted socks. Noel knows I don’t like to dry my hand knit socks because I don’t like them to shrink at all. Knowing this, my sweet girl pulled them out of the load before drying it and put them on the table to dry. I know this is a little thing, but it shows me a glimpse of her heart. I love that my kids are so thoughtful!

Small Miracle

Sunday, I accidentally locked my keys in my car. I had them in my crochet bag (I knit or crochet to help me concentrate at church), but stuff fell out when I went back to the car for gum. Some how I missed them when I put stuff back in before I locked the door. 

We have roadside assistance with our insurance which has come in handy in the past, but I wanted to do my best to keep the Sabbath holy, so I asked someone at church that is known for being resourceful if they knew how to break into my car. It is a Kia. I figured it would be easy. Unfortunately, they were not able to despite their best efforts. Reluctantly, I used ordered a locksmith. That was when a small miracle happened. 

I told this man who was trying to help me that the last locksmith the insurance sent out made me uncomfortable, and Chad was busy inside and unable to stay with me. This man with whom we have struggled to get along for years, stayed with me as I waited along with his wife and sons. We talked and laughed and passed the time together. It turned out I had no reason to worry because this locksmith was not creepy and got the job done fast. I appreciated his willingness to help, though. It was the tender mercy I needed at the time. 

Laundry Day - Take 2

Since I have a major fail when it came to doing laundry yesterday, I had to do it today. Chad had the day off, so I had a different helper that usual. We loaded up the car with the family laundry and set off to the laundromat to find that there was a car show on the street of the one we usually go to. With a week and a half of laundry, we were not going to park a block away and carry it. Chad searched laundromats in a neighboring town, and we drove the 15 minutes to get there. 

The place we found was not ideal, but it was also not the worst one we have been to. It was very clean and spacious with plenty of folding tables, other tables, and places to sit. The lady working there was so kind and helpful, too. The only issue we had was there were a number of machines that were out of order, and the large capacity machines were all being used. We filled five machines and still had quite a bit more to do. About 10 minutes into the loads we had started the lady that worked there plus two more people searched me out to let me know one of the big machines was available. One of them even made sure it stayed available for me. I have never been treated so kindly at a laundromat. Usually, people are respectful, but never that helpful. If it were closer to my house, I would go there more often for that reason alone. (They were just as helpful to another lady that w came in with a lot as well.) 

I have been in such a crabby mood for the last few days (especially yesterday) and praying for help with my overwhelm all week. Today, I was given an answer to my prayers through those kind strangers at the laundromat 20 minutes from my home. I am so thankful for these small miracles in my life. It made me feel loved.