Good Morning, Readers! It's been a while since we've chatted. My achy tired body got licked awake by a hungry dog this morning. As hard as I tried to ignore him, Toby was relentless. I got up, let him outside, and decided to stay up. Presently, Toby and Sadie have full tummies, gone outside to do their business, and are now taking their morning naps. As for me, I am waiting on a hot cup of coffee to help clear the cobwebs and will need to decide whether to open the Garage Sale for the third day. The aroma coming from the kitchen is heavenly!!
Ahhhh...Michael just brought me my cup of joe. First sip? Mmmmm!!!! It's a new day filled with new opportunities and adventures! Waitttt a minute! Maybe I'd just like a boring day of rest. Naughhh, that's not me!
If you are a Facebook friend, you know that I have been working long days preparing for, and holding, a garage sale. You would not believe all the amazing events connected one to the other the past couple weeks.
A week ago last Friday, I had a uterine biopsy. I'd not been feeling well for a few months and had kept putting off seeing a doctor. When I had the dog bite to tend with, I was reminded that I had another issue to deal with as well. The doctor I saw in the ER recommended a GP and when I saw Dr. B, he recommended a specialist just several blocks from the little casa. God eased my mind and met my need to find doctors to replace the doctors I had gone to for years. After tests, an ultrasound, and biopsy, the verdict was that I just needed to take a medication for three months. Thank you, Lord!
Why am I telling you this? Well, rather than put my life on hold fretting about what might be, I forged ahead keeping my goals in mind. Michael often chides me about not resting but when I just sit and think about myself, my pains seem to multiply rather than subside. Time and time again, out of my pain has come my purpose.
I cleaned out the garage and put up shelves turning the garage into a make-shift store. Despite Beverly telling me that it wouldn't make any difference, I forged ahead. She kept telling me that this was a little town and people would toss things all over and that my goals were totally out of line. All I knew was that God expected me to do my part and He would do His. Once I had my shelves up, I started unpacking boxes and arranging my displays. Rather than rent tables, we used tubs as bases and put boards on top. It worked!
The garage sale was scheduled for Saturday, April 14. The problem was that once I started putting stuff out, people started stopping by. We made a group decision to start the garage sale on Friday the 13th!! Beverly kept telling me not to expect the same results as I would get in the city. I listened but kept forging on. I have a talent for organizing appealing displays and I knew that people tend to be more respectful with organization rather than chaos (plus they tend to buy more!).
Life here is totally different than what I have been used to in the city. Call me a snob if you will because I will admit to thinking I was above living here. For most of my life I have lived in affluent areas and lived a life I thought was the norm in America. I have to admit, I have felt like a duck out of water since moving here permanently. Now, I don't live in an affluent area. In fact, in many cities, this would be considered an undesirable area to move to. I've struggled with feelings of "this is what my life has come to?" My neighbors to my left don't have central heat or air and have tin foil on their windows. The neighbor behind me has a run down shack that is falling down in his back yard. I've wished that I could put up an eight foot fence so I didn't have to see the mess.
Isn't that our human nature to look down on the less fortunate not wanting to really see the poverty and need? In third world countries, compounds and estates are built with tall walls to keep out the riff raff around them. In the city, subdivisions are built where houses are priced within a certain range. The more affluent areas are surrounded by walls with a sentry at the gate. Here, a block may have houses under fifty thousand dollars as well as a house that would sell for close to a half million dollars. It's different in small town America than it is in the city. Well, as usual, God blessed me during the garage sale and I learned that my Mexican neighbors to my left are pretty special folks despite the foil on their windows.
I've learned the principle of sowing and reaping over and over. My next season in life has always been connected to helping others and to give away what I need. Whattt, you say??!! Psalm 37 says to trust in the Lord and do good. He tells me to give to others what I need and that those seeds will be used to bring a harvest back into my own life.
The first night of the garage sale, little Omar Jr. arrived with his parents. He was a precocious bright six year old who was "almost" in second grade. He delighted me with stories about his homework and what he did for fun. He had spiked his hair with gel and said it smelled good. I took a whiff ... (smile) he still smelled like a little boy who had been playing hard. Omar's father bought some tools and I gave Omar Jr. a toy. My seed was planted; and, the next day, some of Omar's friends showed up with their parents telling me that Omar said there was a nice lady at the garage sale house who gave free toys. They wondered if they could have a toy. I had a couple left and the little ones played while mom and dad shopped. Their purchases far outweighed what I gave away.
Do you know what went first at the garage sale? Shoes and towels. The Mexican ladies oohed and aahed over towels I thought were unfit to use and pranced around in high heels giggling and laughing. I stood back watching and listening. I saw joy and a sense of gratitude for being able to buy a pair of shoes for a dollar and a towel for fifty cents. Right then and there, I decided that I would hold fast to my prices but would also meet the needs of those that the Lord brought to the sale. I silently prayed over each sale and person who I encountered.
By the end of day one, Beverly was in awe. She couldn't believe that nothing had been stolen and that the people coming to the garage sale had been so respectful putting things back into their places. The sales I made tripled when I met a need and gave something away. Coincidence? I don't think so. I did my part and God did his.
Day two of the garage sale brought a new challenge that threatened to dampen my joy. There was a mother who came to the garage sale. She gave her little girl a twenty dollar bill to buy a movie then headed for her car. The girl picked out her movie, gave Beverly the bill, and received eighteen dollars in change. The girl ran to join her mother. The problem? Beverly had been given a counterfeit twenty dollar bill. It made me so sad to think that a parent would use their child to pass bogus bills just to get real money. I got angry at first then God reminded me that desperate people do desperate things. Evil people do evil things. He would take care of it. I needed to move on.
By the end of day two of the garage sale, I had probably made more money than most garage sales in town. I decided I would go one step further. I knocked on the door of my next door neighbor's house. I told Alva and the two grandmas to come and pick out whatever they wanted from the clothes and household goods. Alva's eyes brightened and she and one grandma and little Valentina joined us. We talked and I found out more about Alva, Sam, Valentina, and the new baby girl, Jamena (pronounced Himena). Sam doesn't speak much English but is learning quickly. Alva works in Customer Service and loves fixing up her house. The grandmas watch the little ones while Sam and Alva work. Valentina is three and fluent in Spanish and English. Her baby sister is gorgeous with black hair and deep brown eyes. The girls are precious. I held the baby and tears flooded into my heart. I felt ashamed of myself. Here was this beautiful creation of life ... here were these beautiful people who loved the Lord and were happy, kind, and loving. They were not here to be judged because of their economic status or race, they were the same as me and we would one day go to Heaven together.
Alva and grandma helped us pack up the garage sale leftovers and said that they would help again today if I needed them to. I had to take a break to raise my blood sugar and went inside for a few minutes. Refreshed, I returned outside to find things neatly boxed and moved into the garage. Michael counted our earnings and was completely taken aback. There before him was almost the exact amount to the penny that I told him we would receive. If I decide to put in a claw foot tub in the casita (my woman cave), I will be able to do so. How about that!!
Well, I've gone through three cups of great coffee, shared some of my experiences of my garage saling with you and it's time to get myself in gear. Joel Osteen is soon on TV and I love his sermons. He is so uplifting and positive. His "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" is contagious.
There has been so much going on in my life -- I need to slow down enough to share it. God is hard at work refining and teaching me as well as blessing my socks off!!
When life gets tough do you retreat into yourself or do you plant the seeds you need to have a bumper crop? If you are sad do you reach out and cheer others up? If you are lonely, do you offer friendship to another? Do you remain teachable rather than put up walls of "I am who I am"? When you are angry, do you give grace? Or do you rehearse it and nurse your feelings until they are totally blown out of proportion? Do you blame others when you have to face your own failings? These are the questions I ask myself each day.
May the Lord bless and keep you this day ... may His face shine upon you blessing the seeds that you plant. Always know you are loved and prayed for!!
Miss Dottie
PS: I took this photo this morning as I walked back into my kitchen from outside. What do you see? Do you see the lush greenery? The pot of flowers? Or, do you see the pile of dirty clothes waiting to be washed outside the laundry room. Get my drift?? It's all how you look at life ... you can see the beauty or the dirt around you. Up to you, my friends!
Oh my gosh - what great memories. You get an A++ in garage sale 101.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy that the $$ you made from the sale will help build your spiritual oasis--claw foot tub and all!
XXOO-
Jane