Forty Cents Left Over

I found myself in a government office not long ago taking care of some government business required of law abiding citizens.  Fortunately there were no pending deadlines that cause long lines so my wait was reasonable.

An tiny elderly black woman sat down beside me who had come in with a relative.  She was modestly dressed and prim at the same time and carried herself with dignity and grace. I was glad to share the wait with this sweet lady.

It was also payday for the employees of that office, and upon opening her check one employee exclaimed, "Thank you Jesus I have money left over after paying the bills!"  (For those from other parts of the US this kind of outburst is common and widely accepted in the south.)

This prompted my new friend to start talking, "That's right.  God makes sure there's always just enough.  I remember paying my bills and having forty cents left over and I was soooooo happy because I had something to put in the offering plate on Sunday. People made fun of me because I was so happy to have that forty cents left over, but I knew I was blessed because God was taking care of me.  There was always just enough!"

Today was bill paying day.  After more bills came in yesterday I knew it would be tough to cover everything, but you know what?  There was just enough.  In fact, there was  six dollars and thirty seven cents left over!

$6.37.  Wow.  Probably the exact same amount adjusted for inflation.  You know, I'm very thankful for it, also for a faithful God, and for a valuable reminder from a dear lady.  Betcha know where that money is going Sunday morning!

Of Words and Wounds

I re-learned a word today.  It's actually one I've known a long time but have pronounced incorrectly pretty much all my life.  The word is 'poignant'.   Learning its correct pronunciation took on an added dimension for me today.  

Poignant is an interesting word with several nuanced meanings:

1.  keenly distressing to the feelings: e.g. poignant regret.

2.  keen or strong in mental appeal:   e.g. a subject of poignant interest.

3.  affecting or moving the emotions:  e.g. a poignant scene.

4.  pungent to the smell:  e.g. poignant cooking odors.

Take definition #1.  I experienced that kind of keen distress today.  Mid afternoon I found myself in a state of shock, covered with blood (wearing church clothes no less) and pretty much unable to function.  The whole fiasco was of my own making.  I take full responsibility for the events that led to having to break up a blood bath dog fight and getting injured in the process.

Definitions #2 came into play shortly thereafter.  It was a poignant concern that my wounds get medical treatment and the sooner the better.  Dog bites are no laughing matter.

Definition #3 has defined the rest of the experience and what follows are some poignant lessons from the day.

1.  Proverbs 27:10b.  Better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.   I was already eternally grateful for the family friend who dropped everything to take me to the ER today. Even while I was still in shock his stories helped give proper perspective to the situation and take my mind off the whole thing.  

2.  The curse of sin is alive and well on this earth.  We've lived with enough shelter and peace in this culture that we find ourselves shocked at the capacity for horror that lies hidden in both our own hearts and the precious animal friends that live on this earth with us.  Men like our friend (see #1) who have been to war are more aware of it and somehow manage to live fruitful productive lives despite having been exposed to that.

3.  God is always in control.  Apparently I lost my watch in the incident. I always thought it only told time but today it protected the most vulnerable part of my arm.  It stopped forever when it stopped a dogs teeth on that part of my wrist. That's a dent dead center in the middle. You can't see it but there's a bit of blood next to number "7" between  the pushed down face and where the crystal used to be.

And how did anything as poignant as the pronunciation of poignant come up in all this?  Honestly I don't remember. It was late on the way home.  That's ok -  it led to some good conversation and despite all the negative poignancy about the day the lessons in the school of hard knocks were learned well,  and the kindness and care from both near and far are deeply felt and will be long appreciated. 


The correct pronunciation of poignant may be heard in this  youtube video.  It's worth learning!

Something Else Going On . . .

I'm living a double life.

For the record this isn't my only blog.  I actually have another one,  http://notsewnew.blogspot.com/.  The title is the same as my smaller, less well known etsy store by the same name.  You get to see my heart here at beemusement101.  Notsewnew shows my hands.

That being said I should probably explain that name. 

1.  My maiden name is New.  I was a New girl for 21 years till I married.  I'm still a New by birth and family, but am a Horton now by marriage. In that regard I'm not New anymore.  I'm not New by age either.  Youth has come and gone and I'm older and wiser.  I think wiser is a pretty good trade off since I don't have quite the pep I once did.

2.  I like to sew. Don't have as much time for it as I used to, but like it nonetheless.  So much so that my sewing room is obscene.  Seriously. 

3.  I really like old stuff, stuff that's not so new.  Old sewing stuff, old farm stuff, old bottles . . . if it's rusty, chipped, stained or even broken, I like it and can often find a new life for it.

There you have it.  The story behind the name.  And the link.  See what my hands have been up to while my heart ponders the mysteries of the universe.