Last Friday, a Miracle touched my book fair. It came in the form of a 6-year-old girl who had just had surgery. Miracle is her name.
I had just completed a 3-day event at the local hospital. The day was slowing down, the hussle and bussle of daytime appointments, daily visitors, and a long work week settled peacefully alongside the setting sun. It had been a good three days of sales. Customers liked the variety and low prices. They bought many gifts for special people…for anniversaries, birthdays, or just to say “I love you.”
As I packed up the unsold merchandise, I noticed a black woman standing nearby at one of the display tables, about three feet away. Her back was turned to me so that all I saw was a head full of long, thin braids trailing down past her shoulders. She was quite short – less than five feet tall, from what I could see. She was the only customer in my vicinity, and I couldn’t tell if she was just passing time or intended to shop.
“The cash register is still on, if you’d like to buy something,” I told her, continuing to clear the table. I wasn’t trying to intrude on her solitude, just convey that I was nearby to help if she needed me. I soon learned that her need was not for salesmanship, but comfort.
“Oh, I’d like to buy something, but I don’t have any money,” she said, adding as she burst into tears, “I’d like to buy something for my niece – she just had surgery.”
I was caught off guard by her crying, yet my spirit leapt to attention. I went to the woman, touched her carefully on the arm, and said, “I’m sorry. Tell me what happened.” It was all she needed to hear, and she shared the details of her anguish.
Her niece was upstairs, just taken back into surgery after an operation earlier in the day. The woman explained that “just yesterday, she had been a flower girl in her uncle’s wedding.” The little girl had sickle cell anemia, and there was a complication from the earlier procedure that had the family worried and upset. They didn’t know what the second surgery meant, and were waiting to hear from the doctor. “I had to come downstairs to get away for a few minutes while we’re waiting,” she explained.
Miracle was the little girl’s name, and her aunt loved her dearly. I asked questions about the family—were there siblings, or was she an only child?
“She has a little sister—Savannah is one year old, and they’re very close,” she said as the tears streamed down her face. “Savannah is a miracle too. Her mother wasn’t supposed to have another baby, and she is perfect, healthy in every way.”
I was moved. And I moved—to the table across the way, where I had a display of white stuffed cats for sale. Cute things. Little girl things that might cheer up a hurting aunt and a sick little girl. I motioned for the woman to come look with me, and I said, “Do you think Miracle would like one of these?” I’d chosen a set of two kittens – one large, one small – thinking one perhaps symbolized the aunt, and the other, the niece.
“Here, this is for Miracle.” I handed the pair to her, said it was hers, no charge, from me.
She smiled a wet smile, exposing broken and cigarette-stained teeth. Gratitude filled her teary eyes, and she thanked me. “This is Miracle and Savannah…two kittens, one big, one small!” And it warmed my heart, no matter her lack of money. I was grateful that I was in a position to do what seemed right.
Yet the woman continued to cry. She seemed inconsolable. What more could I give to her, I thought.
And again my spirit moved. I could pray. No matter that she was a stranger. I should pray. I put my arms around her, rested my chin on the top of her head, and called aloud on Jesus Christ. I asked the Lord to watch over Miracle, to heal her, and prayed that this second surgery would be successful – that it would fix whatever was wrong. I asked for peace for the family. I asked him to protect the little girl. With a perfect stranger, for a first time ever, I was compelled to give of myself in a new way—to pray because it was the only thing I could do—and the only thing that mattered.
Aunt Penny was again grateful. Perhaps she thought of me as a passing angel, but I was the one who’d been blessed. I was the one who was able to turn to someone in need and give something that heretofore I only gave to my family or friends, or at my church. It was the end of my work week, and I was tired. But after hearing of Miracle and her family’s pain, I was energized by being able to reach out to a stranger, listen, and care. I knew it was the Holy Spirit, and it felt good to obey His leading.
After three days of sales, I didn’t care what the dollar figure was. I walked out of the hospital with a glow in my heart—and that was all the pay I needed.
A Miracle had made my day.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Horsing Around in the Animal World
I was on horseback yesterday for a couple of hours, taking my fifth riding lesson. Here I am a grandmother (I do try to stay in shape), learning how to officially ride a horse. It's been a lifelong dream, fostered before I ever started school back in the 1950s. I saw each summer a herd of about 20 horses that grazed and nuzzled each other on open land, surrounded by billowing trees across from my uncle's cottage, located on the Fox River in Illinois. I'd stare at them for hours. To me, they were such majestic, magnificent-looking creatures. If I'd had my way, I'd have grown up on a horse ranch in Arizona instead of on the concrete sidewalks of Chicago. The site of those steeds got into my blood, and finally, I have a chance to get to know the animal and feel what it's like to groom one, saddle it up, and ride. I don't even mind picking the crud out of their hooves with the grooming tools.
Which brings me to one of the books I carry in the fall line-up at my books fairs, "Spirit of the Horse," by Bob Langrish and Nicola Jane Swinney, published by Paragon Publishing. The photography is artistic and portrays the animals in the wild and from around the world. Chapters cover horses on film, Arabian horses, Iberian horses, those from Europe, of the Americas, ponies of the world, foals and heavy horses. Two-page spreads in the 10" x 12-1/2" book size are beautiful, while Swinney's prose is informative and thorough. Given that our prices are 30% to 70% below publisher's prices, this 257-page book is a bargain at $14.99.
It's an interesting fact that many children's books are written about animals. There are books about rabbits and lightning bugs, kittens and puppies. And bears -- bears are big (no pun intended). New books released for Christmas are bear stories that hope to appeal to parents as gifts for children. A new title published by Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon and Schuster is "Bear Stays Up for Christmas." It is written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman. It's a cute story about a bear's friends who are determined to keep him awake for Christmas, helping him to fight his natural desire to hibernate by stringing popcorn on the Christmas tree, baking cookies, wrapping presents, and more.
"I've Seen Santa" is also about bears. Little Bear doesn't want to go to sleep, but tries to stay up to see Santa arrive on Christmas Eve. He discovers Big Bear, his father, eating Santa's blueberry pie. Little Bear is tucked back into bed, snuggling up to Big Bear, only to hear noises downstairs. The pair find Mommy Bear messing with the stockings hung from the mantle, and they all decide to sleep downstairs to see Santa. The book is written by David Bedrod, illustrated by Tim Warnes, and published by Little Tiger Press...and there's another animal for you!
"Snuggle Up, Little One--A Treasury of Bedtime Stories," features mice, lions, tigers, chickens, cows, rabbits, a bush baby--and of course--bears. This version is a padded hardcover, 171 pages, with 6 different bedtime stories. Its navy blue cover is softened by a beautiful illustration of a tan mother bear carrying her baby bear-child, snuggled in a red blanket. They walk in a darkened forest in the background, and human-like expressions of love between parent and child indicate the tenderness that the stories inside are sure to portray. The book retails for $29.99, but the book fair price is $12.99.
If these titles intrigue you, click on the link to Books Are Fun on the right-hand side of this page and shop online. You too may find an animal book that is just your style!
Which brings me to one of the books I carry in the fall line-up at my books fairs, "Spirit of the Horse," by Bob Langrish and Nicola Jane Swinney, published by Paragon Publishing. The photography is artistic and portrays the animals in the wild and from around the world. Chapters cover horses on film, Arabian horses, Iberian horses, those from Europe, of the Americas, ponies of the world, foals and heavy horses. Two-page spreads in the 10" x 12-1/2" book size are beautiful, while Swinney's prose is informative and thorough. Given that our prices are 30% to 70% below publisher's prices, this 257-page book is a bargain at $14.99.
It's an interesting fact that many children's books are written about animals. There are books about rabbits and lightning bugs, kittens and puppies. And bears -- bears are big (no pun intended). New books released for Christmas are bear stories that hope to appeal to parents as gifts for children. A new title published by Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon and Schuster is "Bear Stays Up for Christmas." It is written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman. It's a cute story about a bear's friends who are determined to keep him awake for Christmas, helping him to fight his natural desire to hibernate by stringing popcorn on the Christmas tree, baking cookies, wrapping presents, and more.
"I've Seen Santa" is also about bears. Little Bear doesn't want to go to sleep, but tries to stay up to see Santa arrive on Christmas Eve. He discovers Big Bear, his father, eating Santa's blueberry pie. Little Bear is tucked back into bed, snuggling up to Big Bear, only to hear noises downstairs. The pair find Mommy Bear messing with the stockings hung from the mantle, and they all decide to sleep downstairs to see Santa. The book is written by David Bedrod, illustrated by Tim Warnes, and published by Little Tiger Press...and there's another animal for you!
"Snuggle Up, Little One--A Treasury of Bedtime Stories," features mice, lions, tigers, chickens, cows, rabbits, a bush baby--and of course--bears. This version is a padded hardcover, 171 pages, with 6 different bedtime stories. Its navy blue cover is softened by a beautiful illustration of a tan mother bear carrying her baby bear-child, snuggled in a red blanket. They walk in a darkened forest in the background, and human-like expressions of love between parent and child indicate the tenderness that the stories inside are sure to portray. The book retails for $29.99, but the book fair price is $12.99.
If these titles intrigue you, click on the link to Books Are Fun on the right-hand side of this page and shop online. You too may find an animal book that is just your style!
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Random Thoughts For Fall
In the world of blogs, does silence in the form of not posting get noticed? It's been one month since I've taken time to put my thoughts on paper (computer?) here. For those who view this site, my apologies. For those who are first-time readers, welcome!
Someone flipped a switch here in my part of Colorado, and we went from temperatures in the 80s and 90s down to the 60s. Overnight, the thermometer measures 40 degrees, and with an open window next to the bed, sleeping is fabulous. I grew up in Chicago in Midwest humidity -- where I can recall it being so muggy in the summer that even a light sheet on top of me while sleeping seemed too hot. The cool Colorado nights eliminate the need for air conditioning. It's great!
Fall can arrive so fast. It's as if when the yellow school buses hit the roads, to temper the shock of children having to leave their summers behind, the crisp air outdoors makes them want to be in the warmth of a classroom. OK, I may be stretching it!
My "theme" table at the book fairs this past month turned from that of gardening to back-to-school. Dictionaries, aprons for teachers, packages of colored marker pens, scrapbooks for school and various memorabilia now catch the attention of parents and grandparents.
Popular new books include a "Pirates of the Caribbean" book complete with telescope and small, round disks with scenes from the summer release movie. It reminds me of the old "viewfinder" toys I played with as a child. Johnny Depp's photo on the cover is the striking draw when the product is positioned on the corner of a display table. I chided an elderly male customer yesterday when he purchased the item, teasing him with my comment of, "Now there's a real pirate!" To which he replied, "There's a pirate in every boy!" -- meaning himself. (I thought so.)
Christmas products will soon be released for sale, and my schedule gets hectic. In November and December, I am double-booked with fairs...phew! That means two events at the same time, in different locations. Yes, I'll be adding staff. Finding the right person(s) is always the challenge.
Tonight we meet the new love of a close friend. He met her on "e-harmony.com" -- you've probably seen the distinguished TV commercials about Dr. Neal Clark Warren's matching service, as well as the cute spoofs about e-harmony on Saturday Night Live. Hey, I'm all for it! In this day and age of computers and the Internet, Dr. Warren's service has got to be safer than finding strangers in a chat room. I look forward to seeing who this woman is. Perhaps I'll post about her in a few days. Maybe there's a book in their story!
Someone flipped a switch here in my part of Colorado, and we went from temperatures in the 80s and 90s down to the 60s. Overnight, the thermometer measures 40 degrees, and with an open window next to the bed, sleeping is fabulous. I grew up in Chicago in Midwest humidity -- where I can recall it being so muggy in the summer that even a light sheet on top of me while sleeping seemed too hot. The cool Colorado nights eliminate the need for air conditioning. It's great!
Fall can arrive so fast. It's as if when the yellow school buses hit the roads, to temper the shock of children having to leave their summers behind, the crisp air outdoors makes them want to be in the warmth of a classroom. OK, I may be stretching it!
My "theme" table at the book fairs this past month turned from that of gardening to back-to-school. Dictionaries, aprons for teachers, packages of colored marker pens, scrapbooks for school and various memorabilia now catch the attention of parents and grandparents.
Popular new books include a "Pirates of the Caribbean" book complete with telescope and small, round disks with scenes from the summer release movie. It reminds me of the old "viewfinder" toys I played with as a child. Johnny Depp's photo on the cover is the striking draw when the product is positioned on the corner of a display table. I chided an elderly male customer yesterday when he purchased the item, teasing him with my comment of, "Now there's a real pirate!" To which he replied, "There's a pirate in every boy!" -- meaning himself. (I thought so.)
Christmas products will soon be released for sale, and my schedule gets hectic. In November and December, I am double-booked with fairs...phew! That means two events at the same time, in different locations. Yes, I'll be adding staff. Finding the right person(s) is always the challenge.
Tonight we meet the new love of a close friend. He met her on "e-harmony.com" -- you've probably seen the distinguished TV commercials about Dr. Neal Clark Warren's matching service, as well as the cute spoofs about e-harmony on Saturday Night Live. Hey, I'm all for it! In this day and age of computers and the Internet, Dr. Warren's service has got to be safer than finding strangers in a chat room. I look forward to seeing who this woman is. Perhaps I'll post about her in a few days. Maybe there's a book in their story!
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