For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
The promise of Fall
Concealed tenderly inside
A summer acorn
Young, not yet hardened
Perfectly formed masterpiece
Like a nestled star
Autumn is coming
Young, not yet hardened
Perfectly formed masterpiece
Like a nestled star
Autumn is coming
I think the leaves are
Banking the sun-colored hues
For a last hurrah
Shades of red and gold
Sultry-warm, a feast of light
In the foliage
Autumn is coming
But now an acorn
Summered protectively green
Perfectly seasoned
Shades of red and gold
Sultry-warm, a feast of light
In the foliage
Autumn is coming
But now an acorn
Summered protectively green
Perfectly seasoned
Once upon a time, a young girl lived with her family. Moving with the seasons, finding work where they could, the family did not have a place they could call their own. They were migrant. And they were poor.
But the young girl didn't know this. She smiled and laughed with her fellow workers, with her sisters and brothers in the field. She went to school when she could, and she went to church on Sundays. She liked her simple life.
One day, she saw a notice posted in the work shed.
Donate your clothes to the poor.
Oh! She thought to herself, how selfish of me. She berated herself for never having given the poor a second thought. She felt so rich in her own life that she had not noticed there were some without.
She convinced her sisters to help her collect clothes to donate. They sifted through their own belongings. Only the best, she thought, because a gift isn't a gift if it isn't already loved. She and her sisters left their bag of clothes outside of the work shed, under the posted sign.
And they continued to work. To sing. To laugh. They lived in fellowship.
On Christmas morning, an anonymous delivery was made to the young girl's family. It was a bag of clothes.
Oh! She thought, as she and her sisters opened the bag that they, themselves, had gathered and donated. Oh! We are the poor...
Heavenly Father, help us to see what needs to be seen, to hear what needs to be heard. Help us to be sensitive to those we are trying to help. Father, infuse us with wisdom for today and for tomorrow, for this season and the next. We are your handiwork.
I love this, Janet! Life is so relative. That is a smart, sweet little girl, knowing all she had to be thankful for. So many kids today only see what they are missing. Beautiful poem! I'm excited "Autumn is coming." It is a wonderful season. The only thing I don't like about it is winter follows :).
ReplyDeleteYes! Life is relative - to our own experiences and perceptions. My mom's friend was the little girl - she had no idea that she was someone else's mission! And the acorn doesn't know that holds a promise of fall (and then, yes, winter...) I'm glad you could stop by and visit. Have a wonderful week and enjoy what remains of the summer.
Deletesuch a sweet story! the content heart of the girl is admirable...she was poor and didn't even know it...but content and joyful and kind.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gen - she's my mom's best friend. And she remains content and joyful and kind.
DeleteThank you for your sweet story, Janet, and your photo -- which reminds me anew how God's hand is so evident, even in the very small things of the world, if we'd only stop to see.
ReplyDeleteI love to look for the evidence of God's hand. Sometimes it just, plain drops me to my knees. "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!"
DeleteI am glad you could visit and look forward to reading about your daughters' first days of school.
I really enjoyed this! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Barbie. Your encouragement means a lot. I hope you have a wonderful week!
DeleteOh what a powerful story! I feel like I have a lot to learn from this girl. I often throw around the words "poor" and "broke" when really I have much more than I need.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with JOAT!
I feel like I could learn a lot from her as well - she is much older now, my mom's best friend. According to my mom, she just has a positive attitude all the time. Joyful, you know??
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