HarleyChick FM2 RLBFJAMES's blog: " LOVE TO WRITE ..MAKES THE MIND RELAX"

 You're helping them up.  

Note: This is not the topic of this blog, just thought it was a thought provoking quote. *smiles*

Here is my story...

I'll never forget the time when I invited a customer of mine to join my family and I for Thanksgiving, as she didn't have anywhere to go, her family lived in southern California (which at this time I was Married n living in Az.) and she wasn't able to travel.

Ms. Ruth was a soon to be author with a best seller in the works ;) She'd been working on a book for over two years and was told that it was going to be amazing!!! for sure a top seller!!!

She was a very sophisticated woman in her late 50's who retired early, she had exquisite taste and admiration for fine art, her house had plenty to see and she had a love for playing bridge.

When I arrived to work that morning, she was on the phone discussing her plans to stay at home for Thanksgiving. When she hung up I felt it in my heart to ask her to join my family and I for Thanksgiving, but she declined and mentioned something about going to a neighbors house if she decided to have dinner. So I immediately felt a sense of relief that she had a place to go and that I didn't have to do any spring cleaning before having her over. Off the hook, right?

So the night before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Eve, she calls and tells me that she has had a change of plans and would love to join my family and I for Thanksgiving and of course I tell her that we'd love to have her, but inside I was thinking, Oh man!!! I just wished that she would have let me know sooner than later. O.K. so now I'm concerned, will my house be clean enough? will the table setting look o.k.? Will she like the menu? Oh my, what have I done!!! ;)

So praying while cleaning, trying to make sure everything looks perfect, checking over the menu and so on, trying to relieve some stress about the whole situation, I remembered she is a buddist! Oh my!!! how do buddist celebrate Thanksgiving? I haven't a clue!!! what if our family traditions don't sit well with hers? hmmmm!!! what to do? do I call her and ask her? do I cancel?

Well after driving myself crazy with concern again for what seemed like forever but was only a matter of 5 minutes, I took a deep breath and just accepted the fact that it is what it is and she will either love it or not ;) That we were going to celebrate like we always do. *smiles*

She arrived with the traditional greenbean casserole in a gorgeous crystal bowl trimmed in real gold. It sure stood out among all my stoneware bowls on the table, but really helped to dress up the table *smiles*

As we sat down to eat, my Daughter n Son reached out for her hand and Ms. Ruth looked a little puzzled but took it and smiled as she saw all of us holding hands as well. My hubby at the time began to give thanks and she bowed her head, then smiled when he was done. I'm thinking this is going great so far, yesss!!!

Now was the time when we go around the table and each person takes a turn giving thanks for something that they are most thankful for during the year. As we began taking turns, I could see Ms. Ruth was enjoying this but then when I turned to look at her again, she was weeping. It seems that she was touched by the stories of thanks and when it was her turn she was most thankful for the invitation to join us for thanksgiving, with both of us weeping now, we smiled and began to enjoy our meal.

After a delicious dinner we had desert while watching a wonderful movie and again she weeped. It was that kind of a movie ;) very touching *smiles*

When she left that evening she HUGGED me with such love and appreciation, thanking me over and over!!! my heart was smiling big time!!! I was so glad that she had a wonderful time, thank you Jesus!!!

I didn't hear from Ms. Ruth the next week during the time of her regular house cleaning and just thought that she might be busy and to give it a couple days, then I'd call her to see if all was o.k.

I remember the phone ringing, picking it up I was stunned to hear her daughter's voice on the other end. She began to tell me about a terrible accident, which I remember hearing about a car going over the embankment but I never expected it to be someone I knew!!!

Ms. Ruth died instantly, didn't feel a thing. My heart ached for days, replaying Thanksgiving dinner over and over in my head, remembering her smiles, her tears of joy and feeling her enormous HUG!!! *smiles*

I will never forget Ms. Ruth and I will always be thankful to the good Lord above for giving me the opportunity in having Ms. Ruth join our family in celebrating Thanksgiving.

Have A Wonderful Heartfelt Thanksgiving Everyone,  filled with lots of opportunities!!!Love ya all Ride Safe Harley