And if you can’t give blood, maybe you can give to help the needy be fed.
Right after posting the thing about the need for blood, I read this appeal from Denise Holland at Harvest Hope Food Bank:
Two weeks ago, one night about 9:30 pm, returning from Walmart, I walked back into my house sobbing because my heart was completely filled with many emotions. My husband looked at me confused, asking what is wrong as a trip to Walmart normally does not do this.
I sat down and told him the following very true, very moving story…I hope you will feel moved and called to action.
Upon finishing my shopping, I got in a long checkout line in the non-food section. I was there after 9pm to pick up a few last minute items for a children’s activity at church. I was behind a young couple, with a small baby sitting in the infant portion of the buggy. They caught my attention. I was struck at how much the young man with his wife reminded me of my own grown children. A nice appearance, the young man had on athletic type shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops, the young lady had on jeans and a hoodie, the baby was clean and dressed in a little onesie. As I stood there, I noticed a little more. They were wearing very simple wedding bands, and the dad kept putting his hand on the back of his wife and child’s mother, saying “are you feeling ok?” “Do you want to go sit in the car?” She did look in my opinion pale like she did not feel really great. I heard her reply very nicely to him, “no I am fine” and smiled back at her husband.
Well naturally I started playing with the baby, making silly old lady sounds and faces to get the baby to smile and laugh. The baby’s dad (obviously a little girl by the pink onesie) occasionally touched the little baby and bent down to kiss her neck of which she just giggled and smiled. At one point he looked back at me and I said to him, “that little girl certainly loves her daddy’s kisses”. He smiled and said yes. The couple then gave their attention to counting the items in their buggy and began a sorting process counting out 10 jars of baby food, separating them in rows in the buggy. Then it struck me that all they had in their buggy was jars of baby food and several canisters of baby formula. The mom and dad appeared to be in low conversation like they were worried and checking twice everything they had. I continued to play (at a respectful distance) with the baby.
While I stood there, I prayed “Lord this could be my children” and I felt in my heart that they were concerned about the amount in their buggy…
To read the rest of Denise’s story, click here.
It’s a bit long, but here’s the upshot of it: The young husband is about to go away to serve in the military, and he and his wife were trying to stockpile plenty of food for the baby, as the Mom’s transportation options are limited. When they got to the register, they couldn’t afford what they had selected (nothing but baby food), so Denise paid for them.
But there are many stories like this in our community, and while she’s got a really big heart, Denise can’t help them all out of her own pocket. So help out Harvest Hope.
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Okay, so I went to give, and had to select a title from the extremely long drop-down menu–I could be “Atty.” or “Atty and Mrs.” but not “Atty and Mr.” or more accurately “Atty and Prof.” …..Throughout, note that there are only “and Mrs.” for Bishop and Captain, and even Dr…hello–it’s 2012….
Thanks for posting that, Brad.
How about Dr. and Esq?
@Kathryn – That’s what you’re upset with? That you can’t include your pompus titles? How about Mr. & Mrs. and be done with it. Some people think way too highly of themselves.
@Kathryn,
Instead of donating cash, my wife and I buy extra when we go to the supermarket and take it to our local Harvest House or other organizations that collect food for people in need.
@SDII– I am not looking to include any “pompus” titles–I have no “pompus” title–in proper parlance, I can be referred to as Ms. My Name, or Mrs. My Husband’s Name–which eradicates my separate identity, or as No Title, Esq. ….it is just anachronistic that they went to so much trouble to create an extensive menu of options–all the military titles, with and w/o a Mrs. but not with a Mr….
In the event, I chose not to be entitled.
@Kathryn – I now understand how you came to be so worked up over all this. I’ll say a special prayer for you this evening and hope you overcome this difficult time.