Thank you for all your kind responses to the BULLY FOR YOU posts.
I remember seeing a Monty Python sketch years ago in which a man kept saying "my brain hurts." I remember laughing at it, but I don't know why it was funny. Maybe it was the way he said it.
I didn't write MOVIE WEEKEND today because I've been busy trying to hire a new yard guy (Original Yard Guy hasn't been here since the end of June so my yard is a jungle). I think I have found the man for the job. He's not as cute as Original Yard Guy, but sometimes we have to make sacrifices.
I also didn't write because my brain hurts. My eyes are tired. My head hurts.
However, I had a lovely experience yesterday. I went to an appointment, which went very well, and on my way home I stopped to have lunch at a restaurant I usually don't visit. A woman with three young children was sitting near me. Two boys and a girl. The servers came out and announced that the little girl was there for her eighth birthday. The servers asked the customers to join them in singing happy birthday to her.
Many of us joined in the song and applauded her. I caught the little girl's eye and said happy birthday. She said thank you. Her eyes were beautiful, filled with hope and love and goodness.
When I left, I went over to the table and said, Normally it's not okay to take gifts from strangers, but since you're with an adult I want to give you a birthday present.
I gave her some money and told her I hoped she would buy at least one book. She jumped up and dashed to my side to hug me. I felt I was in the presence of pure love and gratitude.
Then they said that one of the boys will have his birthday on August first, so I had to give him a gift, and I couldn't leave out the third child.
The lady who was with them turned out to be their great-grandmother. She said she has permanent custody of the children because their parents abandoned them. A year ago the children were homeless and foodless and alone, she told me. I was impressed that she was so calm with the children and corrected their behavior if she thought they were too loud. They weren't badly behaved at all, though.
Love and intelligence shone in their eyes.
She said I had blessed her life by giving something to the children, but, really, the children blessed my life. They hugged me and thanked me over and over again. As I left, they called out, Thank you, Janie. We love you.
I had tears in my eyes as I walked to my car. I felt so overwhelmed I could hardly think.
God has blessed me. I wouldn't have had enough money to give gifts to those children if Willy Dunne Wooters hadn't helped me.
We live in a circle of life and love. The circle--the image of perfection. The image of endlessness.
No sharp corners for me.
I'll try to write MOVIE WEEKEND tomorrow. I know how lost you are without it. tee hee
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
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| Faulkner died July 27th, 2010. |
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| The Hurricane was born July 31st, 1986. This photo is not meant to indicate that she is an ass. Rather, she enjoyed a visit to a donkey sanctuary several years ago on her birthday. |
Did you get their names? Auntie Janie?
ReplyDeleteJust the great grandma's. She reminded me of Carol--dignified, kind, intelligent, focused on family. Carol is a great grandma, too.
DeleteThat was a sweet story. But I wouldn't be me if I didn't think, "It would have been hilarious if they told you it was one of the boy's birthday early August and you said, 'Sucks for him it's July, peace out ya old crone.' Then you made it hail with your pocket change."
ReplyDeleteThat's what I would have said if I was a horrible person, which I am not, which is why I say, "good job and may your soul rest well knowing how good a person you are."
I know you're a nice person. You just have a freaky sense of humor, maybe even freakier than mine.
DeleteI'm so glad you cared enough to do that--it meant so much to them!!
ReplyDeleteThey were irresistible. Those kids all had such beautiful brown eyes. They glowed. I felt like I was with Middle Child's children when they hugged me.
DeleteHi, Janie,
ReplyDeleteWhat a heart warming story. I LOVE IT! Children are such a blessing. And God bless that great grandmother! But what happened to the grand parents if the parents abandoned them? Such a sad thing especially for a woman of her age to raise children.
Such a kind offer on your part.... Spreading joy and love is truly a wonderful thing....
I didn't ask about the grandparents. Great Grandma said she was the only one who would take them. I was happy when she said they all love to read.
DeleteAh, Janie, that is the sweetest post. I'm glad I read it, even though my brain hurts, too! One of my boys used to say his brain was stuffy. It still is, by the way.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Cherdo
Favorite Young Man has had problems with congestion for a long time. Maybe it affected his brain.
DeleteAwwww!!!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm not a fan of singing happy birthday to my tables, because I feel too awkward and uncomfortable. But as I'm thinking about it, when we sing to the tables, we remind everyone who heard that life goes on and somebody made it so far. Who knows? Maybe there will be a person as kind as you who does such an amazing thing for a strangers birthday.
I like how you added the comedy with saying your daughter isn't an ass, like might have been otherwise indicated.
She just called and we had a lovely chat. She still isn't an ass.
DeleteWay to pay it forward!! Days like that with random connections you never forget. They lift the soul. Lifted mine, too. :)
ReplyDeleteSeeing Ian on your blog makes me feel good.
DeleteThis is good stuff!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteA lovely story.just perfect for a rainy morning in Wales x
ReplyDeleteI hope it's rainy and cool. When it rains here during the summer, it gets hotter because of the humidity.
DeleteMy first blog to read back in blogland and I'm in tears. Thank you, friend.
ReplyDeleteI've missed you so much. You are exactly what I need.
DeleteAwww, that was nice of you.
ReplyDeleteNo, it was nice of them to be so sweet. They made me feel good.
DeleteA great grandmother! God bless her and give her the long life to see this through.
ReplyDeleteI thought about you because there were three children. I was surprised when she said she was the great grandmother. She didn't look old enough, but maybe the children are keeping her young. She was so loving with them, but she had rules, just as you do. It was obvious that she makes sure they know how to behave.
DeleteWell happy birthday to that little boy today. What lovely kids to have come from such sad circumstances. I wish them many more Janies in their lives.
ReplyDeleteThey were so happy and enthusiastic. Thank God their great grandmother came to their rescue.
DeleteOh, Janie! What a beautiful story! I will say a prayer for those lovely kids.
ReplyDeleteRobyn at Life By Chocolate sent me to see you, so I followed. So glad I did.
Thank you for joining us, and thank you for praying.
DeleteOF COURSE when I saw the title, I had to come here. Glad I did, and you are a softy.
ReplyDeleteI'm a softy because I have a fat belly, boobs, and butt. It makes me huggable.
DeleteThis post made me tear up. What a beautiful moment you all had! After reading your post today I can honestly say hold onto this post. It's a reminder of the goodness that is truly Janieola!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stephanola, but it wasn't about me.
DeleteSuch a heart warming interaction with these children. It makes up for all the unruly kids we encounter.
ReplyDeleteThey were angels.
DeleteSounds like you made on girl a happy girl, it is sad when parents abandon their children but it is good that their great grandmother stepped up to the plate and took them in and is showering them with love
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine has custody of her granddaughter because her daughter (the mother) suffers from such severe postpartum depression.
DeleteHow very kind of you to give a piece of happiness to these children :)
ReplyDeleteThe world needs more people like you, Janie :)
I think the world has the right number of Janies and needs more Baibas.
DeleteThese kids will not forget your kindness, Janie. What a wonderful gesture on your part and 'life-lesson' for them.
ReplyDeleteThey made me so happy.
DeleteHi Janie - how fantastic for the 'new' little family, now being cared for so specially by their great grandmother. The kids will remember for ages and probably years - and use your example later in their lives ...
ReplyDeleteFantastic story and so good Willie Dunn Wooters can help you ... the Hurricane must be an amazing daughter .. fun photo! Cheers Hilary
The children seemed very close to one another and showed respect for their great grandmother.
DeleteThe presence of pure love and gratitude... What a wonderful experience, Janie.
ReplyDeleteYou bet, Blue.
DeleteDear Janie, your story of the three young children and their great-grandmother is a modern good Samaritan story. And it does so illustrate the saying that "what goes around, comes around." The good that we do with and for and in the Universe moves through it and ultimately arrives back within our own heart again. It's that dragonfly and the reed in the Orient story! Peace.
ReplyDeleteI am so blessed because I had money in my purse when I wanted to give it away.
DeleteHow sweet! Thank goodness those kids are now with their grandmother and are able to experience such love. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful story! Elizabeth Seckman suggested I ask if you need any more for your bullying posts? I have a few poems I have written to raise awareness. Just let me know if you do. My email is dragonballzfan4ever@gmail.com. Again I love the story!!
ReplyDelete