Monday, May 14, 2007

KINDNESS OF STRANGERS


remember when stamps used to be 25 cents....and a pop was never more than .50...well now a stamp is nearly as much as what a pop used to be and we are all paying through the nose.
today i had to go to the post office to send off some bills and a change of address form. the lines were enormous. everyone having to get the new stamps...everyone getting off work and swarming to the post office...
i got in one line, then noticed another line for just stamps....i switched lines and waited in that line for 5 minutes before i realized you had to have cash. i asked the woman in front of me if the machine took credit cards and she replied that it was only cash...she asked me then how many stamps i needed - giving me $1.35 for stamps. then the rest of the folks in line got in on it and provided me for stamps enough (39 cent and one cent) enough to send off my bills. it was such a beautiful outpouring of kindness on a busy sticky day at the post office. i was so tempted to decline their generosity - my face turned red as i tried to say "thank you" enough times...it made me realize again how hard it is to accept free grace. it is hard for me every day to receive the free love, forgiveness, and mercy that God continually offers to me...but i must. there is no life outside of Him. so this afternoon, i took the stamps and sent my mail...thanking God for the kindness of strangers and FREE grace.

3 comments:

kylee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
kylee said...

whenever you feel you can free yourself time, you must write a book. The way you explain, phrase and tell stories and what you are learning or reminded of, is beautiful. beautiful, I could read it all day, all the while nodding my head in agreement, raising my eyebrows towards my laptop, saying "ohhhh" or genuinely smiling.
thank you for writing so that I may read, and often times be drawn back to our Lord in understanding and thanksgiving.

i will call you tomorrow telling of my weekend plans.
love

geparker said...

beth
i don't know if you will read this as it's from an old post and i just discoverd your blog. you have a talent for storytelling - causing the everyday to be vivid and personal. Your analogy gave me goosebumps and watery eyes.
gp