Let me share something that I witnessed last week; it's an experience that I wish I hadn't been present for, but certainly it was one hard to ignore and easy to learn from. I had stopped at a big chain fabric/craft store last week, in the early afternoon, for an item that I can't find elsewhere. I encountered an irate customer there who had stopped to buy an advertised sale item only to find that the store had depleted their stock of that item shortly after the doors had opened for business that morning. The clerk was apologetic and offered other, like items, also at a discounted price; but she wouldn't even consider a substitute. She was angry, boisterous and downright rude in her behavior toward the clerk. I was standing in line to be helped, with others; those of us who were waiting exchanged pained glances, it was embarrassing and awkward to be in the presence of this raging customer. But then, she said something that struck me...
to the core: "I won't spend a penny more than I need to" she bellowed, "what I am working on is for charity, not for myself, so the cheaper the better!"
"Please, God,"
I prayed to myself on the way home
"show me every day the joy associated
with giving abundantly and freely to those in need.
Remind me that You love a cheerful giver
and let me offer my very best at all times
so that only glory is returned to You."
Amen.
Life is Good!
21 comments:
Wow! very powerful; we should be giving our best!
Oh, dear . . .
I remember a blog post that Nancy, Near Philadelphia wrote a while back. It had to do with "charity quilts" and how that label needs to be changed. Her alternative is "mercy quilt", a term she now uses for all such gifts. I now have a difficult time when I hear the former term.
AMEN!!!
Wow. Your description made me feel the discomfort of witnessing the hissy fit but that last statement...oh, that just makes me sad.
Woe! Well, one never truly knows what one is thinking or honestly can afford is for us not to judge BUT she did bring everyone into that nasty conversation when she said her thoughts out loud. I could only hope she was having a very bad day and isn't THAT person.
WOW!! How terrible. Wonder how the person receiving the 'charity' would look on it if they'd been privy to the outburst. UGH! Sad
When I work on "charity" quilts I sometimes say a few prayers, hoping they catch in the stitches and travel to the person who will receive the quilt. I am going to pray for this woman ... she needs a LOT of prayer. Let's hope she reads your blog and GETS A CLUE!!
Huge sigh of dismay
(but, unfortunately, not disbelief)
So very sad . . .
p.s. I, too, remember Nancy's post and have since adopted the term 'comfort quilts'
Sometimes we do need to 'button up', it just doesn't do to say what we are feeling. Hope she was having a bad day, unfortunately, she made it much worse because her anger and probably her remorse- will be with her much longer than the time her outburst took.
The groups I belong to no longer use the word Charity quilts either, we now make community quilts, to be given wherever there is a need.
Cheerio, from Australia.
Amen and Amen!
Blessings!
DD
I look for the best price for my fabrics and supplies when quilting ... regardless of where the quilt will ultimately end up (we're retired and on a fixed income ... and as we all know, quilting isn't an inexpensive hobby/obsession). But wow ... that was just so sad.
pity the poor recipients of her "charity"....
How very sad. Unfortunately I've met many people like her, sigh.
Oh that hurts my heart. I think she doesn't get the point of giving. blessings, marlene
A group I used to belong to had a member whose mantra was "It's OK it is only for charity" I got so angry one day I spoke up and left the group Later she became the chair and 2 years later the group folded so maybe others came to feel it was not the place for them and needed to be somewhere more "charitable"
I can imagine how difficult it was to witness that's woman's outburst and her stingy attitude. However, you turned it into a good reminder about cheerful giving to your readers. And that's a good thing (smile and thank you).
Ouch!--Such a lesson here.
That's a challenging lesson, I run a food bank from our church, and I often need to remind myself not to buy the cheapest line of goods to donate. I always think I can get more for my money but would often not choose those items for myself so why should I buy them for other just because they are in need? Thanks for the reminder.
AMEN!
Wow... What a lesson.
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