Blessing Others - A story of pearls and pumps

My Sara grew up surrounded by people.  Not sure she ever realized how miniature our family really was.  Almost every holiday and special occasion, that was spent in our home, was filled with those who had no where else to be.  There were young couples who couldn't travel "home" for Thanksgiving or Christmas because they were required to work the day before and after the holiday.  There were students financially unable to purchase a ticket overseas to where "home" was.  There were families that didn't have the means or time to get across the country to spend a few days at "home."  There were the older couples, without children of their own, who had no one else to share a special holiday with and didn't want to be "home" alone.  There were elderly friends whose children and grandchildren lived other places and couldn't OR wouldn't see that they had a place to be on special days and "home" seemed at times like a prison.  How painless it was to set a few extra plates to accommodate those who would be by themselves otherwise.  I have incredible memories of Bettye, a widowed lady in her early 80's, who arrived at our house one Christmas noon (picked up and brought by another guest) dressed in her finest, wearing her pearls and pumps.  You would have thought she was attending a State Dinner or High Tea with the Queen of England.  It is impossible, all these years later, to remember how many times Bettye stated that it was the best Christmas she had ever had.  It IS possible to remember how we cried to think that the simple time we spent around the table could have conceivably been her BEST Christmas.  Sara grew up putting puzzles together by the roaring fire Dennis had blazing in the fireplace with people she had never met before that day.  She listened as we took turns around the circle recalling our favorite memories of one holiday or another.  We joined voices with strangers on Christmas Eve's as we walked through nursing homes proclaiming "Joy To the World",  our tears mingling with those residents who were "stuck" in that place all alone.

Any of you who have ever been in our home know how "casual" I entertain.  Dennis was a "people magnet" and couldn't bear the thought of anyone not having somewhere to be.  I always serve buffet style and it is every person for themselves.  Here is the food, GO FOR IT!  You might possibly see the pots and pans piled up near the sink (depending on if there was time to get everything cleared away before the guests started arriving) and me in my apron with spatters of gravy and who knows what else on my face and in my hair.  It concerned me at first that people would be "put off" by my causal ways.  Dennis always assured me that no one cared about that, they were just grateful to be there and have people to share the day with.  You know, he was absolutely right.  No one ever commented about the pots and pans and my spattered hair.  

After so many years of being the one who invited others to my home, I find myself being the one invited by others.  I realize that we tend to be comfortable with our inner circle of family and friends and just don't think to venture out, to enlarge our circle.  Suddenly, it hits me that if other precious friends didn't ask me over on these special occasions, I would be sitting in an empty house by myself.  That is something I can't even fathom - how discouraging and distressing that would be.  A friend on Facebook responded to a post on my wall this week.  I commented on how incredibly blessed by friends who take such care to minister to me and told then that their friendship is priceless.  A friend commented back and said these words:  "You have blessed so many...Reaping time!"  It struck me - the principle of sowing and reaping is true.  WE DO REAP WHAT WE SOW.  Let me make something abundantly clear here, Dennis and I did nothing special.  We are instructed by God to be salt and light, to take care of widows and orphans and "whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them..."  Not a big deal at all UNTIL I am the one in need of being brought into someones circle.

There are precious friends out there who are "doing unto others" with open arms.  Thank you David & Susan who have invited me countless times for every celebration that one can think of and many times for dinner at home.  Thank you Glenn & Fay for planning a birthday dinner, complete with cake and candles, for my Sara two days after her daddy went home to heaven and for my birthday a few weeks later (including my brother and sister-in-law) and for inviting me for every special occasion you can come up with.  Thank you Linda & Mike for your "open door policy" to me and anyone with me and for your prayers and encouragement.  Thank you Chuck & Jo for having me in your home to celebrate Thanksgiving (along with my friend Sherli who was visiting), your dad's birthday and countless other special events including Mother's Day.  Thank you Paul & Kay for including me with "couples" for dinner (it means the world to stay a part of my "old" friend group).  Thank you Bruce & Marsha for having me over so many times I have lost count since our re-acquaintance on President's Day (the first being to celebrate your precious Bethany's birthday).  Thank you Lamar & Jimmie (who have just met me recently) for having me over twice in less than 2 weeks time including Memorial Day and treating me like "one of the kids."  Thank you Rita & Paula for implementing the plan to meet every week for dinner since Dennis died.  Thank you Sandi for making time to meet with me often and to minister to my hurting soul.  Thank you Lois & Jan for always inquiring, if you see me on Sunday, if I have someone to go eat with.  Thank you Sara B. for inviting me numerous times to see a movie or to go eat and for checking on me every single morning at school to make sure I arrived and am okay.  Thank you Peggy for including me in so many special events and keeping in close contact.  Thank you Brenda,  Harold & Kristen for the times you have invited me to special events, picked me up and provided the ticket.  Thank you Lauren, Julianna, Meredith, Desiree, Darrell, Jenna, Zach, JT, Kari, Shawna for being great "kids" to me.  You have cooked, brought flowers, served Mother's Day brunch, cleaned my house and stayed with me during bad weather.  Thank you Bob & Sheryl for how you blessed me when my basement took on water - what would I have done without your hand extended?  I am sure there are others who have been overlooked here but know this:  I love and appreciate you all more than you will ever know.  You have ministered to me through your kindness.

I encourage you to "reach out" to others.  The principle of "sowing and reaping" will bless your life and the lives of your children.

I love you!
Teena