About a year ago I posted an entry about seeing the hand of god in everyday things. I'm not an especially good Christian. In fact, I won't receive communion because I have broken commandments for which I can't repent. I feel bad praying when I don't do the other work I'm supposed to. I'm not as fair to God as I should be, in fact, I'm not ready to be.
But for whatever reason, in my hour of need, he always makes himself known.
Tonight I felt a bit sad. Misunderstood to be sure, reeling upset from my email contretemps with the fictitiously named Katie. I sat on the couch, refusing to let go of Ellie, snuggling her sweaty, sleeping warmth while my husband let me watch two back to back dvr'd episodes of Grey's Anatomy.
He kept checking in.
'You ok?" he'd ask.
"Nope" Id reply. "Still sad"
"I'm sorry" he'd drop a kiss on me. "Do you want me to take the baby?"
'Not yet" I'd say. "I'm not ready.
Finally he put her to bed.
and I got up to check email.
Trepidatiously.
Nothing from Katie.
Nothing to be answered.
Except for one tiny email with the subject line "Sand Toys".
To me, care of Craigslist.
Saturday, I had posted:
I have a small plastic laundry basket full of about 16 sand toys, - ie little rakes, molds for castles etc. I was holding on to them to donate them to the park next spring (the sandbox toys) but I'd actually prefer they go today, vs 7 months from now. These are clean - they were all run through the dishwasher. Not cracked, just older.
Everything in picture included -
The message I received?
Hi, My daughter is autistic and recalls having sand toys like yours when she was small. She has asked me to contact you to see if I can pay you to ship these to us. I'd gladly pay you $50 plus shipping charges for your trouble if you can arrange that. My daughter, now 17, does not like many things, but has been searching the internet for days until finding your listing.
Sincerely,
and it was signed with a legitimate name, a title, an address, telephone numbers. A name that matched the email address, that was googleable, for which I found many instances, as well as pictures, and board appointments that authenticated his identity.
I replied that I would send them, at our expense. His payment to be an email message that they arrived safely.
I am, in a few words, reminded again, that there are things out there, greater the me, greater then my tiny troubles. That God, once again, cliches abounding, in his infinite wisdom, is allowing me to give rather then to take. so I'm humbled by the opportunity. And will go to bed sorry, for even if I was right, right about Katie, right for being angry, maybe I wasn't so right being righteous.
Every now and then God has to bitch slap me.
1 comment:
You are wise, my friend.
I can't count the times all my woes have been put into perspective by a brush with reality.
I hope you slept well . . .
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