Flowers
As you all well know I hate getting up early. The other day was one of those days where I had to be up early to make it to a doctor's appointment for little Clay. Just routine, but still it meant getting up much earlier than I had hoped to. I decided that after said appointment, as I didn't have time before, I'd go get coffee for me, and a cookie for Sam who had been an angel during the whole thing. Once out and as we waited in the drive thru line for coffee, I thought "what the heck, let's hit the farmer's market."
We headed to downtown and as we struggled our way through traffic I thought about what we might enjoy while we wandered. Things like berries, lunch and little treats. What I didn't realize is there was something else I was going to be getting as well. Something simple that would change my whole day. When we finally arrived at the market, I put Sam in the stroller and we headed off to discover what was there for the day. The scents of curry, Greek, baked goods, and fresh fruit wafted through the air. But hinting through all those wonderful smells was the soft scent of flowers. I love fresh cut flowers but rarely justify buying them for myself. We wandered and purchased berries, and lunch. And for some reason I just knew I had to buy a bouquet of flowers. Nothing over big or ostentatious, but something beautiful. I found the perfect one filled with the lovely colors of fall.
As I drove home for some reason or another I kept thinking the flowers were for a police officer. The only way I was going to have contact with one was if I got pulled over. Considering I was doing the speed limit and my car is in decent condition, it seemed unlikely. Until I turned onto nearly the last road home. Not 2 miles from my home there is an ambulance and a police car pulled over on the side of the road blocking some sort of accident. As I got closer I realized there was a mangled car, and a woman who was just in tears. I couldn't stop right there, but I knew I had to go back. About a mile up the road I finally was able to turn around and park behind the ambulance. As I grabbed the flowers and got out, I kept thinking I'm totally crazy, but here goes. One of the officers and the woman both looked over at me as I made my way towards them. "I know this sounds totally crazy, but I believe these are for you." I called out. The officer looked at me strangely and asked "for me?"
"No, for her." I replied. I walked right up to that dear woman with tears pouring down, handed her the flowers, and said "I was at the farmer's market today and knew I needed to buy flowers for some reason. I believe they are for you." The very next thing I knew I was pulled into a hug from a woman who spoke only to say thank you. I'd never seen her before and will likely never see her again. And yet, I will never forget her.
You see this story isn't really about a good Samaritan doing something kind. It's actually about realizing that when we slow down enough to listen to what God is telling us, something amazing happens. The look on her face brought me a sense of peace that comes only from helping someone else in need. Even if it's just a simple encouragement to someone. Yes, on the surface, it appears as if I'm a good person doing something for someone I don't know, but the reality of it is she likely affected me more than I did her. For me, I will always remember to listen to God's little whispers. It will also always remind me that helping others brings peace and joy like very little else can.
So there my bloggers is the moral of the story. Pass it forward. Not because it is a karma thing, simply because it's the right thing to do.
We headed to downtown and as we struggled our way through traffic I thought about what we might enjoy while we wandered. Things like berries, lunch and little treats. What I didn't realize is there was something else I was going to be getting as well. Something simple that would change my whole day. When we finally arrived at the market, I put Sam in the stroller and we headed off to discover what was there for the day. The scents of curry, Greek, baked goods, and fresh fruit wafted through the air. But hinting through all those wonderful smells was the soft scent of flowers. I love fresh cut flowers but rarely justify buying them for myself. We wandered and purchased berries, and lunch. And for some reason I just knew I had to buy a bouquet of flowers. Nothing over big or ostentatious, but something beautiful. I found the perfect one filled with the lovely colors of fall.
As I drove home for some reason or another I kept thinking the flowers were for a police officer. The only way I was going to have contact with one was if I got pulled over. Considering I was doing the speed limit and my car is in decent condition, it seemed unlikely. Until I turned onto nearly the last road home. Not 2 miles from my home there is an ambulance and a police car pulled over on the side of the road blocking some sort of accident. As I got closer I realized there was a mangled car, and a woman who was just in tears. I couldn't stop right there, but I knew I had to go back. About a mile up the road I finally was able to turn around and park behind the ambulance. As I grabbed the flowers and got out, I kept thinking I'm totally crazy, but here goes. One of the officers and the woman both looked over at me as I made my way towards them. "I know this sounds totally crazy, but I believe these are for you." I called out. The officer looked at me strangely and asked "for me?"
"No, for her." I replied. I walked right up to that dear woman with tears pouring down, handed her the flowers, and said "I was at the farmer's market today and knew I needed to buy flowers for some reason. I believe they are for you." The very next thing I knew I was pulled into a hug from a woman who spoke only to say thank you. I'd never seen her before and will likely never see her again. And yet, I will never forget her.
You see this story isn't really about a good Samaritan doing something kind. It's actually about realizing that when we slow down enough to listen to what God is telling us, something amazing happens. The look on her face brought me a sense of peace that comes only from helping someone else in need. Even if it's just a simple encouragement to someone. Yes, on the surface, it appears as if I'm a good person doing something for someone I don't know, but the reality of it is she likely affected me more than I did her. For me, I will always remember to listen to God's little whispers. It will also always remind me that helping others brings peace and joy like very little else can.
So there my bloggers is the moral of the story. Pass it forward. Not because it is a karma thing, simply because it's the right thing to do.
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