Today has been a great day.
I gave out the remainder of the toys I collected for the Toys For Tots Drive and left some books on the coffee tables throughout the treatment facility (DACCO); just so that those waiting may have some reading material to flip through or even take home to keep if they wanted.
On the way home, I decided to stop and do some groceries. As I entered the Publix Shopping Plaza, I noticed something that was out of the ordinary. An African American woman was slowly walking along, wearing a knit cap which barely covered all of the thick matted hair she tried to hide beneath. Her burden did not seem too heavy that she could not manage, nor light enough to allow her to walk at a brisker pace; I couldn't help but think that in those 2 large plastic bags, she must have everything that mattered most to her. My heart sank as I felt her aloneness, especially during this holiday season and thought,
"There, but for the grace of God, go I".
She reached me as I was looking in my trunk for a very special gift I had held on to for just the right person. As she neared, I turned towards her, held out my gift and asked, Would you like a Bible?" She smiled as she looked down at the burgandy vynal cover with gold letters, showing the large dark gap inside her mouth which replaced the area of a set of shiny white teeth which once enabled her to tear and chew her food and share a sense of pleasent feelings with others. It was a smile I was not accustomed to, it was one which touched my heart and brightened my day. I handed her the bible and still smiling, she accepted it and thanked me. I hurried off to do my groceries.
When I was done shopping and on my way out, I noticed the woman I had given the bible to had taken a seat by the sliding glass entry doors. I imagine she must have needed the rest and that she must have walked a long way down Dale Mabry Highway before reaching the Publix Shopping Plaza. I walked by her with my shopping cart unnoticed, as she was busy playing some sort of self invented game, continuously patting a white straw against her knee. During my drive home, a gnawing thought came over me; I kept thinking of that woman, her toothless smile, her bible and how I had just handed it to her as though it were just some extra book which I needed to get rid of. The thought continued until I entered my parking area and it told me to go back to the lady with the tender smile and dedicate the bible to her on the inside cover. In spite of my other thought (The little evil one) which told me that she probably would not be there if I returned, I felt that I just had to return to the lady with the enchanting smile. I had to correct my wrong and treat this woman with respect and honor. I also wanted to show the same regard towards the bible I had presented her with. I will do this! The bible I had given her was meant to be hers and must be treated as the valuable gift which would accompany her and bring her comfort throughout her journeys. Never turning my car off, I made a U turn, exited out through the gate and headed back towards Publix. The lady was still there in the same seat, playing the same game upon returning.
I walked over to her with my pen in hand, standing before her now I said, "Hi, remember me"? The lady looked up at me and smiled again as she nodded her head in recognition. That gentle smile. "I would like to dedicate the bible to you in writing. Would you let me do this? May I have it for a moment"? She seemed very eager to oblige as she quickly began going through her 2 bags which were on the seat beside her. She had a cup of coffee in her hands which I warned her to be careful not to spill over as she searched. Smiling, the lady handed me her bible. It was nice to receive such a genuine smile. I asked if I could sit beside her to write; she nodded her head and mumbled something inaudible to me. I then asked what her name was and though she had to repeat it to me a few times, I finally understood it to be, Nadine.
I began to fill in the area with her name which says,
Presented to___________________________ I then asked her for her last name and she hesitated awhile before deciding that, Smith would be the easiest surname for me to understand as she blew out consonants and vowels through the spaces in her mouth. I read out loud to her what I had been writing including my first and last name as well as my wish for her to be blessed today and always. After including the date, I looked up at her and asked Nadine if she knew anything about Jesus. Nadine nodded and mumbled, "Yes, I know". "So you know that He died for our sins then"? Again she nodded and presented me with her timid smile. "Do you accept Jesus as you Lord and Savior Nadine"? She looked at me seriously and responded, "Yes". "Good. You know you are never alone with Jesus in you. Right"? Again, she nodded and seemed to repeat some of what I had just said. "Okay then"! I leaned over towards Nadine, put my arm around her and cheek to cheek, hugged her. "God Bless you Nadine, you will receive many blessings this New Year. Remember that and remember to read your bible". I returned the gift of a smile to this woman, waved at her and walked towards my car, praying for her all the way home.
Nadine blessed me with her gift of a gentile and genuine smile a few times today. I am grateful that I can be humbled and that I have been brought to remember that there is not one of us who is higher or better than the other and that God loves us all equally.
Today, I Was Blessed By A Smile.
I gave out the remainder of the toys I collected for the Toys For Tots Drive and left some books on the coffee tables throughout the treatment facility (DACCO); just so that those waiting may have some reading material to flip through or even take home to keep if they wanted.
On the way home, I decided to stop and do some groceries. As I entered the Publix Shopping Plaza, I noticed something that was out of the ordinary. An African American woman was slowly walking along, wearing a knit cap which barely covered all of the thick matted hair she tried to hide beneath. Her burden did not seem too heavy that she could not manage, nor light enough to allow her to walk at a brisker pace; I couldn't help but think that in those 2 large plastic bags, she must have everything that mattered most to her. My heart sank as I felt her aloneness, especially during this holiday season and thought,
"There, but for the grace of God, go I".
She reached me as I was looking in my trunk for a very special gift I had held on to for just the right person. As she neared, I turned towards her, held out my gift and asked, Would you like a Bible?" She smiled as she looked down at the burgandy vynal cover with gold letters, showing the large dark gap inside her mouth which replaced the area of a set of shiny white teeth which once enabled her to tear and chew her food and share a sense of pleasent feelings with others. It was a smile I was not accustomed to, it was one which touched my heart and brightened my day. I handed her the bible and still smiling, she accepted it and thanked me. I hurried off to do my groceries.
When I was done shopping and on my way out, I noticed the woman I had given the bible to had taken a seat by the sliding glass entry doors. I imagine she must have needed the rest and that she must have walked a long way down Dale Mabry Highway before reaching the Publix Shopping Plaza. I walked by her with my shopping cart unnoticed, as she was busy playing some sort of self invented game, continuously patting a white straw against her knee. During my drive home, a gnawing thought came over me; I kept thinking of that woman, her toothless smile, her bible and how I had just handed it to her as though it were just some extra book which I needed to get rid of. The thought continued until I entered my parking area and it told me to go back to the lady with the tender smile and dedicate the bible to her on the inside cover. In spite of my other thought (The little evil one) which told me that she probably would not be there if I returned, I felt that I just had to return to the lady with the enchanting smile. I had to correct my wrong and treat this woman with respect and honor. I also wanted to show the same regard towards the bible I had presented her with. I will do this! The bible I had given her was meant to be hers and must be treated as the valuable gift which would accompany her and bring her comfort throughout her journeys. Never turning my car off, I made a U turn, exited out through the gate and headed back towards Publix. The lady was still there in the same seat, playing the same game upon returning.
I walked over to her with my pen in hand, standing before her now I said, "Hi, remember me"? The lady looked up at me and smiled again as she nodded her head in recognition. That gentle smile. "I would like to dedicate the bible to you in writing. Would you let me do this? May I have it for a moment"? She seemed very eager to oblige as she quickly began going through her 2 bags which were on the seat beside her. She had a cup of coffee in her hands which I warned her to be careful not to spill over as she searched. Smiling, the lady handed me her bible. It was nice to receive such a genuine smile. I asked if I could sit beside her to write; she nodded her head and mumbled something inaudible to me. I then asked what her name was and though she had to repeat it to me a few times, I finally understood it to be, Nadine.
I began to fill in the area with her name which says,
Presented to___________________________ I then asked her for her last name and she hesitated awhile before deciding that, Smith would be the easiest surname for me to understand as she blew out consonants and vowels through the spaces in her mouth. I read out loud to her what I had been writing including my first and last name as well as my wish for her to be blessed today and always. After including the date, I looked up at her and asked Nadine if she knew anything about Jesus. Nadine nodded and mumbled, "Yes, I know". "So you know that He died for our sins then"? Again she nodded and presented me with her timid smile. "Do you accept Jesus as you Lord and Savior Nadine"? She looked at me seriously and responded, "Yes". "Good. You know you are never alone with Jesus in you. Right"? Again, she nodded and seemed to repeat some of what I had just said. "Okay then"! I leaned over towards Nadine, put my arm around her and cheek to cheek, hugged her. "God Bless you Nadine, you will receive many blessings this New Year. Remember that and remember to read your bible". I returned the gift of a smile to this woman, waved at her and walked towards my car, praying for her all the way home.
Nadine blessed me with her gift of a gentile and genuine smile a few times today. I am grateful that I can be humbled and that I have been brought to remember that there is not one of us who is higher or better than the other and that God loves us all equally.
At least,
That's The Way I C It.
