Little Things, Big Impact.

Jeremiah and I do the weekly grocery shopping. I try to keep it to once a week and pretend that it saves me money. 

On our weekly excursions, I notice things that remind me of friends, so I snap a photo of it and send it off to them once I get home. I'm not the biggest fan of shopping, so it is more enjoyable to think of the people I love while I do this most odious of tasks. I never buy anything. I don't like a lot of "things" in my house, so I avoid buying them for others unless I know they will really appreciate them. Also, until very recently, we were quite broke. 

A couple weeks ago, we went to a few extra stores to find replacements for library books Buttercup ate (Just so you know, libraries don't save you money when you forget to keep them away from puppy teeth!). I noticed a book a friend of mine would like. She recently lost her mother and I haven't known exactly what to do or say, words of exhortation is not my gift... You need a toilet scrubbed, I'm there. You need someone to tell you you're awesome, get my husband... this made me think of her instantly. I smiled, took a photo and walked by. 

We did not find any books we were looking for. Apparantly, a board book translated from French and one in Spanish don't have a big market here... Go figure.

While walking back out, I saw the book again. I thought of my friend and what she had been through the past few months. I thought about the money I had in my pocket from my grandparents and the fact that Zach's job now allows me to spend this on things we don't always need.

I bought the book. 

Took it home, wrapped it up, and sent it down with a note that she was in my prayers.

This week, I got a thank you note from her. Inside was a crochet cross that I thought she must have made, because surely she wouldn't send anything made by her mother to me as thanks for a book. But when I read the note, I found out that, not only was it made by her mother, the pattern was of her original design. 

So now I have this reminder that even though it was just a book, even though I don't know what to say, and even though it was just a book, it made a difference to my friend, and she returned the kindness.

God bless and see you soon,

Joelle