Another Lesson at Walmart

Usually the lessons I learn at Walmart are not lessons I want to learn. (see What Happens at Walmart Shouldn't)  But once in a while I'm caught off guard.  Like this time....

A while back I drove into Walmart's parking lot.  When I opened my car door I heard a woman screaming the most insulting, heart-hurting, ear-burning language you can imagine.  Expecting to see the boyfriend/husband she was abusing I turned to see a little boy probably 3-4 years old.  The woman was mad at him for something and wanted him to get in the car while she loaded her groceries.  He wasn't as fast as she'd wanted and she was letting him know what she thought of him because of it.  Honestly, I got ticked and decided to give her a piece of my mind.  How dare she talk to her child like that.  Clearly he couldn't stand up for himself so I would.  Someone had to stop her after all.  I bet she wouldn't talk to her dog that way.

There were only a couple cars between us - I started marching toward her.  I wanted to rip her vocal chords out and choke her with them.  Just then, when I was still a car away an older gentleman approached her and said, "It looks like you're having a hard time.  Please let me help you."  He started to unload the rest of her groceries into the trunk and said, "Why don't you help that sweet little boy into the car, I'll finish this."  Guess what her reply was?  Absolutely nothing.  She was speechless and so was I.  And that state was much better (especially for the little boy) than how she'd have been if I'd have handled it my way.  I realized that not only did he diffuse the situation between her and her little guy - she actually handled her son quietly and much better, but he taught me a lesson - and hopefully her, too. 

If Christ was to witness the same situation I think he'd have handled it the same way as that gentleman.  With love.  Just like he did so many others.  Humbled...lesson learned.

Bitter-Sweet

What a busy week!  I've had very little time to think of the fact that I'll be dropping my son, Kalten (Call- ten) off to go on a church mission for two years.  That might be good or I'd be in tears constantly.  I have no doubt that once we hit the car the tears will come, and more than once.  Sometimes out of pride.  I'm just so proud of my 19 year old that has chosen to serve the Lord for two years before he worries about himself.  I am proud of a son who loves the Lord.  A typical boy of this age would usually be concerned about girls, college, career, video games etc.  I think it's rare to find a young man who loves the Lord so much that he's willing to put his own life on hold to serve others.  The Savior taught, "When you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God."  He also taught, "For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."  When he returns I know his life will be much richer because of the things he finds in himself and those things that he learns that will enrich and strengthen him.

I will also cry tears because two years is a long time.  I love him so much!  We've been very close from day one.  He'll be the first to tell you he's a mama's boy.  I do feel like part of me is getting ready to detach a leg or something.  He's part of me.  Yes, two years feels like forever.  Speaking of forever, I have no doubt that us giving him up for this two years will help us on our path to being a forever family.

I will also cry tears because of the unknown.  He really doesn't need me around to take care of him anymore but I still worry about all of my children's safety.  For some reason this scares me.  If something happened to him on his mission I wouldn't see him again in this life.  I can't think about it much more than that.  My heart may explode.  But I do find comfort in knowing that a prophet parent once felt the same, Mosiah 28: 5-7 "And it came to pass that they did plead with their father many days that they might go up to the land of Nephi.  And king Mosiah went and inquired of the Lord if he should let his sons go up among the Lamanites to preach the word.  And the Lord said unto Mosiah:  Let them go up, for many shall believe on their words, and they shall have eternal life; and I will deliver thy sons out of the hands of the Lamanites."
Mosiah too was nervous for his sons to go on a mission.  For those who aren't members of our church it's helpful to know that the sons of Mosiah were Nephites,  Lamanites were their enemies and their desire up to this point was to rid the world of Nephites.  King Mosiah had much more reason to worry than I do.  I would imagine the people in Ohio are wonderful and will help to take care of my son.  It does warm my heart the sentence spoken to Mosiah, "Let them go up, for many shall believe on their words, and they shall have eternal life: and I will deliver thy sons out of the hands of the Lamanites."  My son will be protected.

My emotions are swimming near the surface.  Most are amazingly good emotions.  I love the Lord, I'm grateful that this son of mine does too.  All our lives will be blessed by his service in sharing this love with others.  Does it get better than this?  I doubt it.

Service Fail

In an effort to teach my children to love those around them and be more charitable I decided to step up my own game.  I really like the idea of having a service day each week where I concentrate on a few projects or on one big thing.  Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't depending on teaching classes, appointments, lesson plans and all the other things that creep up when you're a Stay-At-Home-working Mom with 2 jobs.  I try to keep my ears open for ways I can serve and when it works out I get really excited.  I LOVE it!

Recently, I became aware of a couple ladies in my ward with some health issues.  One sister has had a tremendous amount of medical problems and now to top off a long list she is suffering from ovarian cancer.  The other sister had the first signs of a heart attack.  She's helping her daughters try to raise their kids and is very quiet about her needs.  I thought I'd take some tulips to each of them, maybe visit, do some dishes, clean their bathrooms whatever they needed.  I had these thoughts of grandeur.  With my visit they'd have their spirits lifted and some chores done besides.  They'd feel loved by both me and Heavenly Father cause I'm just what they've needed and I'm His instrument to help them....I know, I'm a geek sometimes.

So I gathered some flowers and went to the first house...the one with the sister who'd just had a slight heart attack and is raising those grand kids.  No answer at the door.  But a couple dogs were barking like crazy.  Then I thought, I wonder if she's laying down and didn't hear me?  So I knocked some more (like that was necessary- anyone who could hear those dogs would know someone was at the door).  Still no answer.  Then I wondered, what if she's having issues and can't come to the door?'  (I tend to play in my mind and can be somewhat paranoid).  I tried peeking in a window to the side of the door to see if I could see anyone laying on the couch or some movement.  Then I realized if a neighbor was watching they'd be calling the police about the "peeping tom".  I left.

I went to the other sister's house.  Her husband let me in.  He seemed awkward about me coming to see her but let me in and quietly walked me to her bedroom.  She was in bed facing away from me, hooked up to oxygen.  He shook her gently and said, "Sister Browning is here do you want to say hi?"  She let out a quiet mumbled "Hi." and went back to sleep.  He was about to try again and I had this overwhelming feeling of guilt for waking her from her needed sleep, I felt I was imposing rather than being helpful.  I just told him it's okay - to let her know when she woke up that I'd come to see her.  I gave him the flowers to put in her room and I left...after I picked up the bowls from dinner I'd left with them the previous week.  I got more out of that visit than she did.  He did tell me that she's pretty out of it.  She probably won't realize I had come, nor see the flowers that were supposed to brighten her day, at least not while they still looked good.  They were already starting to droop.

I went to the car and realized the flowers I had for the first sister were already drooping as well - the ONLY draw back of a beautiful warm day.  I knew I needed to get them to her so I drove across town again to see if she was home.  Score!  She was.  I knocked on the door.  The dogs started barking again.  I opened the screen door and she opened the main door.  A big dog about knocked me over and took off down the street.  She yelled at him and he didn't even glance back, like he'd been waiting for this freedom- and someone clueless enough to hand it to him.  I gave her the wilted flowers and said, "I'll go chase him down."  She stopped me and said he wouldn't come to me because he doesn't know me and will just run further away.  I apologized and let her know I'd heard she'd had some problems and wanted to come check on her.  She said she was fine (her tired face betrayed that).  She let me in but kept looking at the door.  I knew she was worried about the dog.  I asked if he would come back on his own?  She said no, that she'd have to use meat to coax him home.  I sheepishly offered to take the meat and get him.  She said no.  She'd have to go do it, but since I'd come to help maybe I could watch her grand kids while she did that.

I felt like such a heel.  Great help I was!  She didn't take long, thank heavens.  I didn't want her out there breaking a sweat in her condition, on my account.  I couldn't believe the inconvenience I'd created.  Why did I open that door?  I'd heard the dogs earlier.  I did take that few minutes to look in the kitchen and bathroom to see what I could clean while she was gone.  It was already clean.  Her house looked great.  So I played with her cute little grand kids.  Probably got them all hyped up for her to take care of the rest of the day.  Needless to say, my service for the day was of no help to anyone.  I made a lady with a heart condition run down the street after her dog and woke up a sick lady.  Wow.  Hoping things go better next week.

Have any good (bad) service stories of your own?  I'm probably alone on this one.