No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted. ~Aesop, Greek Fable Writer
Well, yesterday got away from me, so I’ll combine Friday’s and Sunday’s posts again—hence the quote above. With the holiday weekend last week, my week ran short, and I thought yesterday was Thursday. You know how trash day generally moves forward one day if you have a holiday?
Well, the trash was out yesterday, and trash day is Thursday, ergo…yesterday was Thursday :).
Louis is fine, just doing time as he likes to say. Football season has begun, so he’s keeping busy with that, and despite his bad knee, he’s still running and playing handball. They won’t see him again until the 60 days of therapy are up, and he’s not one to sit around waiting, for anything. Louis likes to be first in line, wherever he goes. It’s kind of cute, and always makes me smile. He doesn’t like to waste time, any more than I do.
He told me last time I saw him, “You don’t realize how draining this is for me, to just sit here and talk. I’m always on the move. I never sit still.” Or, as he’s told me many times, he has ants in his pants. So, just as he appreciates my visits, I appreciate the effort he makes to be sociable. But when it’s time to go, he practically shoves me out the door, eager to get back to movement. Or sometimes a nap, to recover from all that sitting :).
The birthday discussion continues, and I am so grateful to everyone who kindly stopped by and left a comment. I never realized there could be so many perspectives on one subject. Gives you something to think about, doesn’t it? Congratulations again to my birthday drawing winner, Jennifer Mathis, who chose Jake’s Return as her gift.
As for me, I got in the mood to bake a cake, and since I gave up eating cake and ice cream over the summer (and haven’t missed it a bit), I made two cinnamon-apple cakes, and took them to the homeless shelter for my monthly contribution. Oh, the house smelled wonderful. I made an awesome soup for myself, too, so was a regular Domestic Goddess for the day. Chicken and wild rice, with fresh green beans and cherry tomatoes. Delicious!
Speaking of soup and the homeless, I need to update you on my soup-making ministry. Did you think that fell apart? Well, only partway. Due to my messed up shoulder, I haven’t been able to make soup for the homeless shelter since May, (can’t lift the pot, for one), but before then, I made beef vegetable barley soup, split pea with ham, Italian vegetable, ham and potato, and yet another split pea with ham—my personal favorite.
Then it got warm, and I asked the house manager what he would suggest for the summer…at first he said chili, the guys really love chili, but I was thinking something cold for the summer months.
His eyes lit up. Salad, he said. They love salad. Any kind of salad. Lettuce and vegetable salads, cole slaw, potato salad, pasta salad, tuna salad, or any kind of summer picnic salad—but probably not three bean salad. He frowned at that one :).
Unfortunately, I don’t have a good recipe for any of those—yet—and again, boiling potatoes or pasta would require lifting the pot, so I had to settle for other alternatives for the time being. One month I took six boxes of breakfast cereal and two gallons of milk. Then, this month, I took a can of coffee and the two cakes.
As I handed them over, still warm from the oven, he smiled and said, “You must really like us!” And then he said, “Wait a minute,” and went back inside to get something. I don’t go inside, because the smell of disinfectant is so strong, and it gives me a terrible headache.
He returned with a lovely signed card that says:
Gestures fall short, words are never enough.
We do not have a way to adequately express our gratitude and appreciation.
You have gone out of your way to be a Blessing to us.
Your gifts…undeserved.
Your graciousness…an example that we pray to be able to follow.
All we can do is say: “Thank you, and God Bless you always.”
I keep it right by my computer.
So, if you ask me, I had a wonderful birthday. Thank you for all the the calls, cards, well-wishes and emails. On the day of, two friends contacted me to ask what I was doing to celebrate. A quick flurry of coordination, and the three of us went out for dinner. We talked and laughed for well over two hours.
So I am blessed, indeed.
Posts
.jpg)
9 comments:
Good morning, Liana! I know the feeling of time stealing away, and of thinking you are on a different day. Holiday weeks mess me up as well, due to the shift in schedule.
In my opinion, some things that may appear to be chance, however, are often the workings of a higher power. I have had days when my plan was xyz and I ended up doing abc. I knew I wanted a different direction, but that wasn't happening. When I "went with the flow" blessings came back to me.
Similarly, your acts of giving, though you give freely without expectation of return, often set you up for positive karma, where the universe gives back to you in a way you need (but maybe not always the way you want).
You are a good person. What you do matters. Hugs!
LIANA--I enjoyed this blog, especially about your food ministry. Our congregation has been given a challenge to find a mission that will take us out of our comfort zone. Immediately, many of us thought of our annual church Thanksgiving diiner for--ourselves. Now, we're thinking of a community dinner, opening the doors, filling the front yard with tables--our fellowship hall and kitchen are small--and getting the early service band to play out there. We'll see if we can get it together! Definitely out of the comfort zone of Presbyterians. Good luck with your projects. Celia
Hi Liana,
My time doesn't steal away it races away. What a wonderfully charitable thing you are doing cooking food and taking it to the homeless.I truly admire you for it.
Regards
Margaret
Liana, as I said before you an inspiration. Every time I read your blog I feel energized to do something good for others. I have fantastic recipes for salad but don't know of any homeless place. We have two homeless that sit on the benches, with their full carts, in front of our building or others. Our supermarket, Publix, has offered them jobs. They refused.
What a nice person you are! By the way, I have a great recipe for three bean salad and will email it to you later today. I am so glad you are helping the homeless. So many people fail to see them as humans or think they're worthless. My daughter helps with her church's homeless program, and my women's group at church helps with a group of teens at risk, an abused women's shelter, and a food pantry. There are many people in this world who took a wrong turn and need help finding their way. As Maggie sort of said, we are instruments in God's plan, and those of us who can help must do so. As Celia suggested, our church has an annual Thanksgiving dinner and serve around a thousand people. Sadly, we charge, but we use the revenue to do the other things our church does--and we are very mission oriented. But, this way to be about you. Good for you!
We got mixed up and put out our garbage on Friday, the usual day, except for holiday weeks. We were thrown off because we had come back from vacation Wednesday and still weren't thinking straight. (g)
It must make you feel really great to do something nice like you do for the homeless, and learn how much they appreciate it.
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
http://facebook.morgan.mandel
Liana,
Good to hear that your birthday turned out well. Birthdays should at least bring a smile. :)
My son, Joe, is in motion often. Your desciption of Louis's movement reminded me of Joe.
Have a great week.
Smiles
Steph
ahhh...and I missed your birthday. :(
Happy Belated Birthday :)
(((hugs)))
Post a Comment