What Prompts Gratitude?

In my new (about 2 months now) job I meet and transport handicapped people all day long. Some have physical disorders, some have mental issues; many are invisible problems. I'm sure some have been handicapped all their lives and for others it's a recent struggle. For the most part my clients are nice. Some are friendly and talkative, others may not be able to talk. I'd say 97% of them are amiable and like getting a ride and an escort to the door; some are even becoming friends.

What struck me yesterday as I arrived to board a client with a walker who had booked to use the lift to get onboard, was that some people just have poor attitudes in general. I had just come from getting a fully immobile client at his apartment building – he was on his way to Rosedale Mall. The woman with the walker was at a grocery store between his house and the mall. The man onboard was talkative; he'd commented on the sunshine and beautiful day. I don't know why he was disabled, but he seemed to have no use of his legs and strained use of his arms – enough to operate his electric chair.

After complaining that she didn't know how she would get past the man in the wheelchair, the walker client was short with me telling me that I didn't need to tell her how to do this – she'd been riding these buses for years. In an effort to agree with her and perhaps lighten the situation I remarked, “Oh, I often tell people that you are the professional, and I am the rookie.” I glanced at the other guy with a rye smile for confirmation. Before he could say anything my walker woman retorted, “I don't think that's funny.”

I realize that she may have many other things in her life adding to the way she was treating me. Our culture values civility even from strangers in pretty much any circumstance. I finished my bit of paperwork, get behind the wheel and started out to the mall in silence. Then it hit me – I have a few physically handicapped people in my family and they never have had a bad attitude about their disabilities. I am quite sure they have been in pain and remained civil to those around them. The revelation of this brought tears to my eyes and I was thankful for this grace to me. I silently prayed a little prayer for the woman on my bus as I dabbed the tears from my eyes.

When I unloaded the guy at the mall and walked him through the doors he told me he liked my comment about them being professionals, and me the rookie. I think he felt a little sorry for me.

This story has a happy ending, the walker woman lightened and started asking questions about going to the mall. I was boarding another passenger there who was just as kind as the man I had unloaded. Those two talked a bit as we carried on. It came out that tomorrow was her birthday. I wished her a happy one as I said goodbye.

I'm grateful for work. And grateful for all God has given me, including disabled family members with good attitudes.

More for Sale

I have a few more things to post tonight. Just remember it will be better weather for baking before you know it. Fall entertaining is just around the corner

Entertaining Simple Additions Set

Autumn Colors

7 piece set

Sunflower Gold, Eggplant Purple, Cranberry Red with long platter in Olive Green

3 square bowls, 3 squares small plates, one long platter

$49

Pampered Chef Stoneware Deep Dish Baker in Hunter Green

NEW! Never used $28

Pampered Chef Stoneware Pie Plate in Cranberry

Gently Used - which just means you have a little less seasoning to do on this one.

$15

Quick Sale

Local Readers:

I have a few household items for sale  -  Please take a look over the list. Send your friends!

Beaded Pate Knife and Olive Fork

New! Set of 2, Colors: Blue, Green, Red, Turquoise, with Silver swirls

$15

African Wrought Iron Dancer Candle Holder Pair

Gently Used. Came from South Africa with me.

$12

Some would call them tan, beige or ecru, but I say it's off-white or warm white. This couch is 80” W, 40”D and 32”H. The cozy, comfy, oversized chair measures about 50”W, 40”D and 32”H. The matching ottoman is about 40”W and 30”D. It's in very sturdy condition, no wear, just needs cleaning. My home is smoke-free and child-free home, and pet free.

$300 for both or $165 for couch and $165 for chair and ottoman.

Keurig K-Cups Caribou Daybreak 24 pack

$10 each or best offer (I have two of these)

Keurig K-Cups Green Mountain Breakfast Blend 24 pack

$10 or best offer

Keurig Carousel 27 K-Cup Holder

Gently Used

$18

An African Kind of Day

Yesterday I stopped by the church office to drop off a note for my friend Alemnesh who is trying to start an orphan home in Ethiopia – one of the pastors is heading over to see her at the end of the week. I wasn't expecting to get into a conversation with the pastor, but I did. It included a big hint that I should join Alemnesh as the admin person for this project. My heartstrings felt the tug.

From there I went to a bank to deposit a check for friends that live in East Africa. I had never been in this branch, on Franklin and 26th. As soon as I was in line for a teller I was immediately transported to the Barclays Bank I went to each month to pay my rent in Nairobi! I searched the room, I was the only white person in there: customers, tellers, security – absolutely everyone was black. I suppose that would scare some people, for me it feels like home.

I could hear conversations in other languages and ones in accented English. Some were African America, others Somali and some were from other African countries. I overheard the two large dark men at the next window asking their teller where he was from. “Liberia? Do you speak French?” one man asked. “Because we speak French.”

My teller had another guy walk up while he was helping me. That teller asked where he was from. He replied, “Ethiopia” before the other guy corrected, “which branch are you from?”

When I commented that it felt like Africa in here to the two tellers at my window, the customer on the other side of my laughed knowingly. He must have been East African too. As I left, I said the my teller, “Amesegenallo, ” one of the only Amharic words I know (thank you). I heard him comment that was perfect pronunciation.

As I drove off to my next errand I wondered if I should be considering Ethiopia more seriously. I just feel I need to finish school and get a good job. I feel torn.

Looking for just the right renter...

Room for rent in no ordinary house. I'm looking for one more person to share my home. It's cozy and warm on the inside, situated in the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in the entire US. (We don't live in the 'burbs.) Your own room. Shared space with two other mature women. Garage parking, shared. Laundry on-site. Shared utilities. Big yard. Wonderful neighbors. A sense of community.

$550 + utilities + deposit. We're looking for the right fit to continue having a comfortable home. Sorry, no pets or smokers. Available June 1. Comment or send an email if you are looking or know someone.

What does my Public Relations Writing Class have to do with Orphans?

My current class is called PR Writing. I love it. So it may be no surprise that I am also doing well and getting positive feedback in the class. At the start of the class we were asked to choose an imaginary small business or non-profit to write all our pieces about.

I had my friend Alemnesh's orphan home in mind. It seemed the perfect thing. She left in April to begin laying the ground work for her home in Addis Ababa. Hopefully when she does get closer to getting the whole thing off the ground I will be able to tweak the items I've written to use in a number of ways.

Since I have been steeped in Ethiopian orphan facts, media coverage of orphan issues and general orphan statistics, I am far more aware of the pitfalls of adoption. One article I read highlighted a particular family that first promoted adoption from Liberia, then adopted several children from Liberia, and finally had failures with some of their adopted kids. It was definitely written to paint Christians in an unfavorable light. The story was bad and sad. The article's author was also on a NPR show recently. She told other horrific stories of failed adoptions and heavily insinuates that Christians are driving the market for adoption needs. In other words, if Christians didn't have the “fever” to adopt, there wouldn't be so many orphans in the world.

When I lived in Kenya in the 90s I learned that Kenyans call children orphaned if even one parent is lost. They will refer to a child who has lost both parents as a double orphan. I have since noticed that this may actually be the prevailing way developing countries all talk about children missing one or both parents. Certainly this gap in understanding skews the numbers we find on the Internet about how many orphans there are in the world. However, I don't think there is a need to say any group is bad if they are trying to promote care for vulnerable children. I do not think that we are driving a market for orphans.

My heart is wrenched thinking about hundreds, even millions of children without a mama to care for and love on them. During my adolescent years I often said out loud to my mom, “I would not have survived today without you!” I meant it. My mom was strong for me in ways I knew I couldn't be as a child. It all comes to mind with Mother's Day around the corner and so many stories swirling around in my head.

I hope that you have good memories of your mother this weekend. But I also hope that you will think about those without a mother. The amount of “double orphans” in the world today is about 3,500,000 – the size of the entire Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.

Think of them, pray for them, be grateful for what you had or have. If you want to know more about my friend, Alemnesh's ministry, leave a comment or drop me an email.

The Impact of a Positive Word

Probably more than I realize, I have been in a kind of person slump. Maybe it's the kind of thing people going through other kinds of transition face. As much as I don't buy into all the usual self-esteem jargon, and I do believe we need God-esteem, there is something to being downtrodden.

Twice in this class I'm taking, the teacher has genuinely complimented me with a specific word of encouragement. Last night's word was so powerful that three hours later when I got in my car to go home the thought of the words had me crying so hard I couldn't safely pull out of the parking lot.

This is a PR writing class. In some ways you could call it “Journalism 101” because it's basically the same kind of writing. She said to me when we sat down for a one-on-one evaluation of my last three pieces, “I really see you doing this kind of work!” She looked again at her comments written on the page. Before she said anything more she looked up again, “And you have never worked in this field?” My defense: high school journalism class. I was on the staff paper for all three years. It was taught me well back then, so I've retained it.

Today I can hardly think about her words without tearing up again. It is so significant to told by an unbiased person that you are really, really good. When your friends tell you that, it feels like they say it out of bias. I still struggle with how to put all my talents together in a way that makes me money and doesn't stress me out at the same time. But today I'm living on a little encouragement. After all, I did say I was going to school to get a piece of paper that says I know how to do what I already know how to do.