Saturday, September 19, 2009

Weekend Edition

We're having a yard sale today. It's not my most favorite thing to do, but the retired Hubs arranged and organized it all, so I'll gladly assist. I'm not real good at "dickering" but he is.

I'm the one who goes to yard sales and says, "Only fifty-cents? I'll give you a dollar!" He doesn't like to go with me and I can't figure out why?

Nonetheless, it's a good thing to clear out items that are not being used and the extra funds are a bonus. I'm always amazed that the things I think will move well don't and vice versa.

In reading the comments to last evenings post, thank you for your kind remarks. Jerelene, yes, I'm a librarian, but to a captive audience... in the state prison system. It is interesting work and sometimes even heartbreaking. I too love the smell of old books (and old money!).

One of the things that caused me to write about puzzles is that I provide them in the library for the inmates to assemble. They love them, it provides a creative outlet and it keeps them busy. If they are busy doing something creative, they are not getting into trouble. People from my church donate puzzles for me to take in. Sometimes I purchase them from yard sales. I'm always quick to tell people, "These puzzles are for inmates in prison and there's nothing worse than a puzzle with pieces missing! Especially when I have to deal with the repercussions."

A friend emailed me the following and I felt it was worthy of sharing.

Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven.
~Psalm 119:89


Are you...?
A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner.



In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding.  All but one.


He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved goodbye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.  He was glad he did.


The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.


The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display.


As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.


When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?" She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly." As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister?" He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, "Are you Jesus?"


He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"


Do people mistake you for Jesus? That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world (shopping, working, reacting to others that are serving us) that is blind to His love, life and grace.


If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.


You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.
Let us live like we are worth the price He paid.

~Author Unknown~

Goldie, thanks for emailing this to me.  It is so worth sharing.

Pat, I'm so sorry for the loss of your Dad, but celebrate with you that he is no longer in pain and is with his Father God.

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends.

Tamara

2 comments:

  1. Tamara I think we all have fallen and have received many bruises throughout our lives but like the man in your beautiful story many of us have stopped and did the right thing. Helping others not only helps ourselves but we are doing God's work....I cannot think of a better way to honor God than honoring his children...he loves all his children and I love hearing it over and over again. Just as important he loves those who have fallen down and have forgotten about him and his word, perhaps only for a short time. He will aways be there for them when they turn for his help and understanding. These people need our prayers and we should never forget them in our daily prayers.....:-) Hugs

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  2. I'm sooo glad you shared the story about the blind girl and the apples. That will stay with me....thankfully.
    Many blessings to you, Tamara. I love coming here....so very much.
    Love,
    Jackie

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