Monday, December 10, 2012

Service by a Simple Gesture















































Have you ever had a day, a week, month, or year that could only described with a word such as: Intensity? That may end up being my life's theme, but last week was particularly definitive. So much that I was physically dragging by mid-week. I felt like a zombie shuffling through Costco on Wednesday night. I ran into a former neighbor, then proceeding to check off the grocery list, I bumped into the parent of one of my community service scholar students at Paly. 

Much later, and my cart full, the mom came back into the store to find me and I thought, "Uh, oh, she needs something from me and I have no energy to help." My personal supply had been depleted by my family's emotional needs. Yi walked alongside my shopping cart, and I just came out and asked her, "So, what's up?" She replied, "Oh, I just need to talk to you. I'll wait for you outside." At this point, I started the deep breathing exercises and looked for alternate exits from Costco--none to be found. She had no idea what I was dealing with at the time, and that I would not be able to help her. I might have even lost composure one way or another if she had so much as asked. 

As I proceeded to the parking lot from the receipt-check I could see Yi waving to me, and in her arms was a fresh winter-time bouquet of flowers! She smiled and told me, "You do so much, I just want to thank you!" I gasped and hugged her, twice. "You have no idea what kind of week I've had, so this is really perfect timing, thank you." This kind gesture, combined with another one--a sweet poinsettia and a plate of brownies left by my friend Julie from church, were enough to get me through a week of extreme Intensity. As the adrenaline stops pumping from my own trials, I'll be inspired by the goodness of Yi and Julie to show my own appreciation toward others in my midst.  

 

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