A light pink sweater of cotton with a light pink head cover to match. Thick glasses with soft frail skin. Her smile and deep eyes welcomed me like the warmest hug from my own Mother. I couldn't describe why I was drawn to her. Clearly she was struggling to open the freezer door in the frozen food isle. I asked if I could help and she smiled and said yes. So I helped her. I asked her her name as I kneeled down next to her and she said her name was Dorthy. I told her mine, and we spoke of how pretty each name was and where we were from. I smiled back and asked her if I could help her with anything else and as she held a very heavy basket I was a magnet to her. I would have walked her and her grocery's all the way home if the opportunity arose. I asked if I could take her basket and help her with the last few items she was on the hunt for. I was thrilled when she said yes. I followed her with a rather heavy basket of items as my feet trailed behind her wheels and motor. "Bagels, I need bagels." We came into the bread isle and we stared at all the bread. We contemplated the differences between "round top" bread and "flat top". She had to have been a beautifully seasoned 90 years old at least.
As we walked to the register I asked her where she lived before residing in this town and she said she had been born in San Francisco and worked as a marketing agent and cashier in L.A. But the thing she took most delight in during her younger years and said she truly lived when she ballroom danced. It was her favorite time. "Getting to dance and float across the floor, it was truly the best time of my life".
She asked me if I needed to get anything. Nothing else mattered. I was satisfied with helping her. It's why I went in the first place (Though I didn't realize that when I was originally on the hunt for V-neck t-shirts). I was over flowing because of her. I told her I couldn't find what I was looking for. Explaining why I needed the t-shirts, for a half marathon I was running in with friends this coming weekend. Filling her in on where I was from and what I had been doing while I've been here.
As I unloaded everything onto the belt I got back down on my knee and grabbed her hand and asked if she needed anything else and she said no, that someone would bring her stuff outside with her to her ride. I looked into her glossy gray eyes and told her, "It's good to know you Dorthy. God bless you". She looked at me, squeezed my hand and said, "God bless you too. You are a great addition to this world".
If only for a moment our paths crossed. She changed my life for the better. Thank you God for that amazing gift. I will never forget those words. Even if I make it to her age. Hands small and warm. Love bursting with appreciated openness. You don't know what you need until you get it. I needed to hear that. To be reminded that God has me here for reasons unknown and with destinations just as foggy.
But His love is true, Amen.
His strength encourages, Amen.
He never fails, Amen.
And he does not lie, Amen.
Amen...
I once was told that I was a servant-almost to a fault. I am thankful for these words. Nothing brings me more joy than to serve. And I am thankful for the opportunities that continue to raise the words that are written on this heart.
Praise God.
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