<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">Grandmother Pa’Ris’Ha
teaches us to be kind. One of my favorite expressions is “Kindness
doesn’t cost…and you never know whom it might
save.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">Well, today “kindness” cost
$3.14 – but the lesson was priceless. I share this because we
seldom get a second chance to do something good, or
“right.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">I stopped into a fast food restaurant to
grab a coffee before going over to the dentist’s office to get 2
teeth extracted. A woman walked in and asked the Manager if she had an
extra roll of toilet paper. The Manager looked confused and asked if it was
needed in the restroom – and the woman told her, no, she was just
wondering if they could afford to give her a roll of toilet paper.
The Manager, of course, said no, and then she and the other counter staff
laughed after the woman left.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">I watched the woman once she got
outside. She seemed confused. She went up to cars, presumably
trying to see if anyone was in there. I watched to see if she
connected with anyone, but she didn’t. I started to go outside, but
hesitated and then she left.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">I walked over to the dentist office,
regretting that I hadn’t gone out to speak with her. Shortly
after I signed in at the front desk, the woman walked in asking the same
question. Again the same scenario repeated itself. The receptionist
seemed puzzled at the question and then told her they couldn’t give
her any. The woman turned dejected and walked out. The chatter
started among the other people waiting as well as the office staff at the
front. I got up and told the receptionist that I would be right
back.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">There happened to be a drug store next
door. I called out to the woman, and asked her to come over to
me. I asked her name – Dianne. I asked if she had a job, which
she didn’t. She was on SSI. She had kids. I told her to come
inside the drugstore with me. We went back to the paper goods and I
bought her a package of toilet paper. She thanked me.
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">When we got outside she started to cry.
She wanted to tell me about a man who was “breaking her heart”
– and apparently took her assistance check the day before. I
gently told her that I needed to get back to my appointment and then
walked away.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">Then I turned around and called out to
her again. “You deserve better,“ I said to her. “Just
remember, God loves you and you deserve better.” She
smiled tearfully and we both turned around and walked away.
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">Any time we allow ourselves to invest
even a few moments in another person’s life – we walk away a
better person – not because of what we do, but because of what/who we
allow to touch us. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">She came to me twice. We don’t
always get a “second chance” – guess Creator knows how
guarded I can be! Glad I listened the second time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">It’s been a good day. (Even
if I did get some teeth pulled!)</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">~ Rev. Deb Adler</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><a
href="http://one-under-the-sun.com/link.php?M=134766&N=15&L=7&F=H">https://debadler.wordpress.com</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><a
href="http://one-under-the-sun.com/link.php?M=134766&N=15&L=1&F=H">https://www.facebook.com/Ven.Pa.Ris.Ha</a></span></p>
<img
src="http://one-under-the-sun.com/open.php?M=134766&L=2&N=15&F=H&image=.jpg"
height="1" width="10"></body>
</html>