Kindnessgirl

The last day or two have been very blue around our house. My attempts to rest while I’m on my vacation from the store haven’t exactly worked out. It seemed other things crept in, some good, some draining.

It was one of those days where Lucy tantrumed ALL day long. Our weather proof jackets were slippery so every flailing, throw-back-of-the-head ended up with me holding her by one arm while she slid down my body. Lovely, I know. The boys fought through the afternoon and then I ended the night at a meeting where I huddled in a back room trying to get my kids to cooperate.

Grouchy, abhorrent children aside, a dark cloud rolled in to hang over our house. This dark cloud of course being money, actually the lack of…. budgets, our little house going up for sale in the dead of winter, property taxes, insurance payments…you get the idea. Recycle Christmas was great, representing 70% of our gifts but somehow the joy of giving the other 30% got derailed and headed straight for Christmas disaster. This left everyone feeling low.

In the middle of the Christmas crisis, I got a kindness call which is a weird rescue of sorts. It always puts whatever troubles I have into perspective. On my way to the call, I stopped to pick something up and saw a nail place close by. I decided if I couldn’t afford hair highlights this Christmas, I certainly could afford a quick eyebrow wax. I walked in and a lovely Asian women asked me to sit down.

Me: How are you today?

Woman: Oh just terrible!

Me: Oh dear, I’m so sorry! What is wrong?

Woman: It’s been a terrible year.

Me: Do you think it can get better?

With that she rips the first strip and then the second, then she hands me the mirror.

I try not to gasp.

Woman: No, I don’t think so.

I try to listen sympathetically while I look at what is left of my eyebrow- oh my God, I look like a cancer patient!

Me: Well, this is not good. (her life, not the eyebrow.)

Woman: You like? (while she holds up the mirror)

Me: Yes, thank you. (I lie, what good is it now? and besides, she looks troubled)

Me: Well, please tell me your name, I will light a candle for you when I get home. I’m so sorry things are not good, but I am going to hold onto hope for you that maybe it can get better okay?

Woman: Yes, thank you ma’aam. Thank you miss….

So if you come across a woman with 5″ roots showing and pencil thin eyebrows looking a little blue, it’s probably me. The good news is that hair and eye brows grow, candles hold prayers, there are good girlfriends who listen to tearful phone calls about my vanity, kindness reigns and money is just money, it can’t hold you at night.

p.s. check this guy out- i love this post and call to action!