A couple of photos that spoke to me while decorating last year:
One last good-buy to a great Thanksgiving.
:(
That same afternoon, the Christmas carolers were ready to burst out!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Blessed
For FHE in December, the singles ward organized an activity where everyone brought preassigned goods that would be useful for someone in need; toothbrushes, tooth paste, soap, crackers, granola bars, combs, etc. (We signed up to bring toothbrushes.) A big room with several long tables was set up. All the goods were categorized into an amazing array. Gallon size baggies were handed out to be filled with a good variety of each. We all filled many bags and collected them in boxes to be delivered. On the way out, we were instructed to take a few filled baggies to keep on hand to be given out at a moments notice during the month.
We drove for a week or so with the baggies on the floor board in between the front seats. It's surprising how hard we looked for just the right person in need. The corners we had noticed them before were empty now.
At the same time, a story kept rolling around in my head about my brother Jim. A few years ago, he had passed a homeless man on the corner of the McDonald's he was driving into and decided then to purchase extra food to be given to the needy man on his way out. Good idea, right? Wrong. As Jim held out the bag with a smile, the man sternly quipped, "I don't want food, I want money!" Yikes.
So, while watching for needy people around, I also sized them up pretty good. Would I be rejected? It made me nervous.
On the access road against the freeway one day, there was a weathered man with a backpack and a sign. I would be stopped there until the light changed, but I thought twice about offering. I looked down at the baggie on the floor and back at the man. He must have seen me search, because the second my window rolled down, he reached out. I handed him the baggie with a smile and to my surprise, I heard his words, "Thank you ma'am. Have a blessed day." I felt warm and grateful I could help. His response was a gift I won't forget. I can still hear his voice, as he was the grateful one.
Last week on our way to institute, I pointed out the other long overdue-to-deliver baggie to my friend. We talked about where we have seen people in need lately. Mill Ave. seemed to be a good place to start. So we decided to make it our mission to find a recipient for the bag on the way home. As we drove slowly through town along Mill, sure enough, there was an older man in a wheelchair on the corner. He was holding a sign I couldn't read. We went around the block to be able to turn in where he was. It was a cold day, but a sunny one. I pulled into an expired meter slot and made my friend vouch for me if a policeman questioned the meter. I grabbed the baggie and walked to the corner. I came up behind him and on around to speak to his face. He looked at me and before I even started to speak, he held out his tired hands to retrieve the welcome goods. I handed them across and at the same time I said, "I thought you could use these", he said, "Bless you, ma'am." His sign read, "ANYTHING WILL HELP". But I will remember this mans' eyes. Gratitude.
I was blessed for delivering small bags of necessities to two people who were in obvious need. My offerings weren't bounteous, but their graciousness in accepting was overflowing. They both blessed me.
Matthew 25:40
We drove for a week or so with the baggies on the floor board in between the front seats. It's surprising how hard we looked for just the right person in need. The corners we had noticed them before were empty now.
At the same time, a story kept rolling around in my head about my brother Jim. A few years ago, he had passed a homeless man on the corner of the McDonald's he was driving into and decided then to purchase extra food to be given to the needy man on his way out. Good idea, right? Wrong. As Jim held out the bag with a smile, the man sternly quipped, "I don't want food, I want money!" Yikes.
So, while watching for needy people around, I also sized them up pretty good. Would I be rejected? It made me nervous.
On the access road against the freeway one day, there was a weathered man with a backpack and a sign. I would be stopped there until the light changed, but I thought twice about offering. I looked down at the baggie on the floor and back at the man. He must have seen me search, because the second my window rolled down, he reached out. I handed him the baggie with a smile and to my surprise, I heard his words, "Thank you ma'am. Have a blessed day." I felt warm and grateful I could help. His response was a gift I won't forget. I can still hear his voice, as he was the grateful one.
Last week on our way to institute, I pointed out the other long overdue-to-deliver baggie to my friend. We talked about where we have seen people in need lately. Mill Ave. seemed to be a good place to start. So we decided to make it our mission to find a recipient for the bag on the way home. As we drove slowly through town along Mill, sure enough, there was an older man in a wheelchair on the corner. He was holding a sign I couldn't read. We went around the block to be able to turn in where he was. It was a cold day, but a sunny one. I pulled into an expired meter slot and made my friend vouch for me if a policeman questioned the meter. I grabbed the baggie and walked to the corner. I came up behind him and on around to speak to his face. He looked at me and before I even started to speak, he held out his tired hands to retrieve the welcome goods. I handed them across and at the same time I said, "I thought you could use these", he said, "Bless you, ma'am." His sign read, "ANYTHING WILL HELP". But I will remember this mans' eyes. Gratitude.
I was blessed for delivering small bags of necessities to two people who were in obvious need. My offerings weren't bounteous, but their graciousness in accepting was overflowing. They both blessed me.
Matthew 25:40
Friday, January 18, 2013
In A Tizzy. . .Not Pretty
I was driving north along McClintock last Sunday when I came to the odd cross walk just south of the canal - almost to Guadalupe. The pedestrian lights above it were flashing red as I pulled up next to the intersection. I usually slow way down at that stretch of the road anyway, because that crossing is so different than any other I am used to. I always carefully look both ways in case of someone I don't see. (So, if you are following me there, caution; my brake lights will always be ahead of you.)
Stopping, I had a front row seat to watch a little family cross, complete with a baby stroller and a dog. They made it safely across, all the while the red light above them flashed away. Waiting for the light to change, and not sure of what to expect next, I was surprised when the driver 2 lanes down from me continued on through the red flashing lights. (I was still waiting for pedestrians; they could have been my own children.) I was also confused. How could he be so careless and disregard the red lights? It seemed nervy! As I sat there dumbfounded, I noticed a second sign below the lights that read, "Proceed when clear". Now I understood why the driver didn't hesitate. . . But I have a hard time with the sign
When did going through a red light become legal? If the city wants to prevent accidents, I think all red lights should be honored. No exceptions. (Maybe you should never be caught driving behind me there, because now I will probably always stop no matter what the color. And I certainly won't be risking my life there as a pedestrian!) Is green going to mean something different now, too? Sorry for my tizzy. On a red light, I vote for no exceptions. Maybe we could stand to wait and take a breather until the detection is clear of pedestrians; then proceed on a green light. . . or a purple one. "Proceed when clear" on a red light is an accident waiting to happen. It tempts drivers to look for shortcuts or loopholes. Driving shouldn't be about shortcuts or exceptions. If the light is red, you stop. If it's green you can go. It's that easy.
Stopping, I had a front row seat to watch a little family cross, complete with a baby stroller and a dog. They made it safely across, all the while the red light above them flashed away. Waiting for the light to change, and not sure of what to expect next, I was surprised when the driver 2 lanes down from me continued on through the red flashing lights. (I was still waiting for pedestrians; they could have been my own children.) I was also confused. How could he be so careless and disregard the red lights? It seemed nervy! As I sat there dumbfounded, I noticed a second sign below the lights that read, "Proceed when clear". Now I understood why the driver didn't hesitate. . . But I have a hard time with the sign
When did going through a red light become legal? If the city wants to prevent accidents, I think all red lights should be honored. No exceptions. (Maybe you should never be caught driving behind me there, because now I will probably always stop no matter what the color. And I certainly won't be risking my life there as a pedestrian!) Is green going to mean something different now, too? Sorry for my tizzy. On a red light, I vote for no exceptions. Maybe we could stand to wait and take a breather until the detection is clear of pedestrians; then proceed on a green light. . . or a purple one. "Proceed when clear" on a red light is an accident waiting to happen. It tempts drivers to look for shortcuts or loopholes. Driving shouldn't be about shortcuts or exceptions. If the light is red, you stop. If it's green you can go. It's that easy.
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