Strangers We Meet Along The Way: It's the Little Things

Strangers We Meet Along the Way:  It's the Little Things




I was just reading on facebook very early this morning that some good friends were coming in from a trip over night and they were at the Love's Truck Stop in Ina, Illinois heading South...home to Metropolis.

Just hearing that they were at that truck stop...took me back to about 3 years ago when we were on our way to the races in Springfield, Ill and I was in the middle of one of my 21 days of giving projects.

Geezer was gassing up the Valkyrie at that truck stop and I ran into the ladies room.  I didn't notice anyone when I first went 'in' to the ladies room...but when I came out of the stall there was a very elderly woman...probably in her late 80's and she was fumbling around and acting very nervous and rattled.

I wiped up the counter top as I always do and was washing my hands and wondering..."WHAT could be wrong with this poor lady"

Now...I call Geezer "Mr Congeniality"...and he could strike up a conversation with the devil himself I guess...and Geezer would be laughing and talking to the old devil and saying "Maaaaan, I don't know what you think you're DOING...but YOU haven't got ANYBODY fooled...YOU ARE THE DEVIL and you are wrecking havoc with this old world"   Oh I don't know what he'd say to him...but he'd have something to say...because HE is Mr Congeniality and he laughs and talks to EVERYBODY.

People are going to be SO disappointed when I start doing my own grocery shopping and this or that...because I have literally gotten emails and posts on facebook...telling me how glad they are to see Geezer come into their stores because he's so friendly and jolly and he makes their day.  Now that is absolutely true!   "I" on the other hand will go in these same stores and I'm as quiet as a church mouse and nobody even knows I'm IN there...unless my billfold comes undone and I spill change all over the place...which has happened...so sorry to say...."some days you're the bug and some days you're the windshield" poop happens....especially to meeeeeeeeee    :-/

But while I may not stop you and talk for 15 minutes if I meet you on the street or in the aisle of a store...I WILL ABSOLUTELY...stick my nose into your business....IF I think you are in a bind or have some kind of problem...or are hungry or needy in some horrible way.

So I had washed my hands and there was no way I was going to leave this poor old woman...who was obviously in some sort of distress.  So I said "I don't mean to be nosey...but you're obviously upset...is there anything I can do for you" 
And she turned around to me and said "Oooooooooohhh HONEY!!!  I'm traveling alone and I've lost my pocket book :-) and I just don't know what I'm going to do.  It had a lot of cash in it and my credit cards" 
We talked a little bit and I asked her when was the last time she remembered having it and had she made other stops after that...She finally realized that she had probably left it at her last stop...and she was going to go back there. 
We slowly walked out together and talked as we walked and I guess I talked to that old woman for 15 minutes.  AND it was just heavenly talking to her...because she went right from being upset about her bag...to telling me about how she loved to travel.  She was dressed to the hilt and had jewelry out the wazoo...so I figured she was probably fairly wealthy.  But just having someone to talk to and tell her story....seemed to mean the world to her...and it meant the world to me too. 
NOW I tell the Geezer when we head out for Springfield to the races...Make Love's at Ina. Il your gas stop...because I LOVE the Love's Truck Stop there...and you just never know who you're going to run into in the ladies rest room.  This elderly lady was my 'giving project' for that day...on my 21 days of giving...I gave her my time and attention....So seeeeeee this  '21 days of giving' is a really GOOD project and we'll talk about that soon.  If I'm walking good by the end of November...I'd like to do that project again in December....what a great time for giving time and attention and this and that.

Simple acts of kindness can mean so much to someone.  And it can be as simple as a smile, a thoughtful deed...a compliment...or just taking the time to listen if someone needs to talk...

One of my favorite stories is "The Christmas Guest" and it tells the story of old Conrad.  He had said that the Lord appeared to him in a dream on Christmas morning and said He was coming for a visit that day.  So old Conrad worked all day getting ready for the Lord's visit...turning down invitations from friends and this and that.  And by days end, old Conrad was SO disappointed because the Lord hadn't come...so he said "Lord WHY didn't you come for a visit like you promised...I worked all day getting ready for you"  And the Lord said, "Conrad...Three times my shadow crossed your floor and 3 times I came to your lowly door...I was the beggar with bruised cold feet and I was the woman you gave something to eat...and I was the child on the homeless street. Three TIMES I knocked and 3 times I came in and each time I found the warmth of a friend." 

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unaware."

Here's another story I love...I've used this in the Encourager Newsletter a time or two...and I'll post this and then we'll wrap it up for today because I've gone too long...as usual.


                                                       
“A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his little lunch pail with Twinkies and Root Beer and he started his journey.
“When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons.
“The boy sat down next to him and opened his lunch pail. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie.
“The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at the boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer.
“Again, the man smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.
“As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. The man gave him his biggest smile ever.
“When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, ‘What did you do today that made you so happy?’
“He replied, ‘I had lunch with God.’ But before his mother could respond, he added, ‘You know what? God’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!’
“Meanwhile, the elderly man, who was also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked, ‘Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?’
“He replied, ‘I had Twinkies and Root Beer in the park with God.’ However, before his son responded, he added, ‘You know, he’s much younger than I expected.’ ”
~Author Unknown


SOOOOOOOOO we have Thanksgiving coming up.  Most of us are planning our big feast...I am too...Turkey and dressing and all the trimmings with pies and fruit cake and this and that.  But what about the families on food stamps OR that aren't even ON food stamps and have a hard time making ends meet to buy groceries.  They're EVERYWHERE.  Let's hunt a few of them up and see what we can do to help them have a nice Thanksgiving TOO.

Peace and love from the Canyon...I love you all gobs and gobs and thanks SO much...for stopping by.