It's a weird title, I know...but bear with me here...
I've noticed God whispering to me lately. It's that "still, small voice".
There are two things I believe He has been speaking to me recently. The first is relatively simply summed up: to practice generosity. The second is less obviously stated...more on this later.
These gentle promptings might sound silly or insignificant, but I think He is showing me areas I need to work on in my life, areas I really didn't see as a problem before. They're subtle, small things. Actually, as I am writing and considering it, I actually think He has been speaking one thing to me, I've just viewed these things as though they were separate issues...but they are not really.
I was out this weekend "yard-saleing".
I'm a pretty good bargainer. It was difficult for me at first, but I quickly learned how to ask for lower prices. There was a period of several years in my life when, had it not been for kind people selling their used kids clothes to me at dirt cheap prices, I'm confident we could not have afforded to clothe our kids. I am equally certain that friends and family would have been more than willing to help, had we shared our need. However, it's not the same having someone give you a bag of hand-me-downs, as it is to pay something [even just a little something] to obtain those necessities. If you've ever experienced this, you know what I mean. I love a freebie as much as the next person, but it is a helpless feeling when you are dependant on the charity of others to provide for your children. [Just to clarify, the kids were never in rags and it's not as though we were starving or anything...just on a very tight, thinly stretched budget.]
I'm a pretty good bargainer. It was difficult for me at first, but I quickly learned how to ask for lower prices. There was a period of several years in my life when, had it not been for kind people selling their used kids clothes to me at dirt cheap prices, I'm confident we could not have afforded to clothe our kids. I am equally certain that friends and family would have been more than willing to help, had we shared our need. However, it's not the same having someone give you a bag of hand-me-downs, as it is to pay something [even just a little something] to obtain those necessities. If you've ever experienced this, you know what I mean. I love a freebie as much as the next person, but it is a helpless feeling when you are dependant on the charity of others to provide for your children. [Just to clarify, the kids were never in rags and it's not as though we were starving or anything...just on a very tight, thinly stretched budget.]
Of course, occasionally someone is grievously offended by such a question. I got the "eye rolls" and the laughs or angry, sharp retorts of "I have them priced very reasonably...I'm not giving them away!" So, I also had to learn to differentiate between the "get rid of it all" sales and the "I don't want this crap, but I know it's still worth almost as much as what I paid for it originally" sales and the "let's clean up and make some money for that _______ we always wanted" sales.
It's all very scientific. ;)
When someone was terribly upset by my low offer for their goods, I would smile, and respond with, "Oh, I know it's worth what you are asking, I'm sure someone will pay that. I'm bargain hunting today, though...thanks anyway - have a great afternoon." It's amazing what a smile and thoughtful response will do to diffuse an otherwise hostile yard-saleing situation. ;)
Anyways, short story long [as per usual with me], I was yard-saleing on Friday and every time I wanted to ask someone for a lower price, I heard that whisper. "No, pay them what they are asking," the voice spoke. So I did. I did not offer a single person a lower price yesterday. I either paid what the items were marked...or left them. A few items were not marked, so I either offered a price or asked...but never bartered. I only bought a few things.
Can you guess what "treasures" I found?
Here are some clues...
How many can you guess right?
#1. 
#2. 
#3.
#4.
#5.
#6.
#7. 
#8.
Did you guess?
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Ok...here's what I found...
#1. a beveled mirror.
[I'm in the middle of packing - and all my "decorative stuff" is put away...so, my salt and pepper shakers became props today...]
#2. a decorative tray...
[I have a re-purpose project in mind for this little gem...]
[I really like the circular etching in the center of the platter.]
I really like these clear plastic drawers. They aren't fancy, but they are great for organizing and storing just about anything. I find them often at garage sales for pretty cheap and like using them in the kids' room, because unlike other furniture, they are lightweight and the edges are curved plastic, much safer for the kids to be playing with than straight edged wooden drawers. I also like the neutral white...other plastic "kids" furniture is often brightly multicolored...which maybe the kids like, but it's too much for me...and let's be honest...they don't really care what their furniture looks like, they are more interested at the toys inside the drawers.
#4. a complete Stampin' Up! "Ornate Floral" Alphabet set...
I can hardly wait to monogram stuff with these!
#5. a Crayola watercolor paper pad for the kids...
#6. a Dover "stained glass" coloring book for the kids...
#7. a large glass jar with lid...
AND finally...
#8. a shadowbox picture frame...
[I'd like to point out a couple things about this picture. First of all, the dust...I got lazy toward the end and opted not to clean the frame before I photographed it. Secondly, I'd like to explain why the lack of motivation - may I call your attention to the center of the image above? See that chubby little arm and those perfect little fingers? They were wiggling and reaching and grabbing the entire time, she would cry when I put her down, so I chose to take pictures while holding her...my arms are actually sore as I type...it's amazing the energy that is required to hold a squirming baby.
So...cute baby, dirty dusty frame.
That about sums up my caption on this one.]
One more game and then I'll get to the conclusion of my story...
Guess how much I spent?
Go on, take a guess...
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Did you guess?
Come on just take a guess...
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Ok...sooo my grand total for all these items: $5.50!
Woo-hoo!
Alright, enough with the games and back to business...
At one particular sale, I made a purchase - and headed back to my truck. As I drove away, I realized that I had never even looked the man in the eyes. I was so busy scoping out the "stuff" and in a hurry to scout out the next sale...that even as I gathered my items...paid him...and as he bagged my things for me, not once did I look at his face. I mean, I glanced at his face. But I couldn't have picked him out of a line up. I remember he wore a hat and his hands were dirty...not like filthy dirty, but almost as though they had become "stained dirty" over the years.
I continued down the road feeling convicted.
When I spotted the next sign and pulled my vehicle over, I eagerly glanced over the items in the driveway. And then I heard it again...that voice..."Look in his eyes."
I browsed through the sale casually as I headed toward the back of the garage where he sat in his lawn chair...anticipating a customer. I looked at him and smiled. "Hello."
"Hello," he replied.
"How's the sale going? Have you had many people stop by today?"
"No...not too many actually."
"Yeah, well, the weather isn't really cooperating." [It was a bit windy, overcast and cold that morning.]
"No...nope. It seemed like it was gonna clear up earlier, but I think it might not now." His voice was relaxed...disappointed and maybe a little weary even.
"I'm sorry. I hope it does clear up for ya."
I looked through the assortment of vintage dishes on the table...and glanced across the rest of the garage. He had an antique rocking chair, and kitchen table...some ladies shoes and vintage women's clothing. My guess was he may have been doing the sale for his mother.
I spotted the little silver tray and walked back over toward him with it. I handed him my change, looked him in the eye, smiled and thanked him and then wished him a productive sale. When I arrived back in the truck, the voice whispered again, "I love him."
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This I needed to consider for a moment.
I realized that God wanted me to be less involved in my "shopping" and pay attention to the things He loves. While I was busy looking for a bargain, He was trying to get me to pay attention to people. I thought He was trying to teach me generosity and purge my selfishness a bit...I think His real message to me had nothing to do with money or stuff. He wanted me to take my focus off of the stuff...off of the deals...off of the very thing I had set out to do, and redirect my agenda to meet His own. He wanted me to love these people.
It's weird how God involves Himself in every moment - in things like "yard-saleing". At one time in my life, I believe He used it to humble me...and to provide for me. And this weekend He wanted to use me to provide for others...and to love them, even if in a simple way, of smiling and sharing friendly conversations.
Sometimes I just don't pay attention when the Holy Spirit is trying to teach me something. But when I am still enough to hear those soft encouragements...and attentive enough to recognize His voice...I realize that He is speaking.
I think especially as a mother of small children I have developed a sort of necessary tunnel-vision. I become so focused on my kids, and the immediate tasks at hand [because I must focus on the kids...and I only have very small windows in which to accomplish a task before someone has a minor crisis and demands my complete attention], I forget to look around me too. Oh, to be sure, mothers must also master the delicate art of multi-tasking...but it's often within the scheme of the duties that present themselves as a consequence of family, or career. We tend to easily overlook simple and less demanding and noisy responsibilities.
It's easy to forget to acknowledge the cashier when your toddlers are fighting over who gets to put the groceries on the conveyor belt, and grabbing candy bars begging to buy a handful because they are "starving". It's not uncommon to nod at our youngsters and throw in an uh-huh while they carry on and on and on about why "this monster truck car can beat that monster truck car when they are crashing into the other guy and doing a double back flip", and never really hear their heart behind the story they are telling us. We become busy and preoccupied...and simply finding a quiet moment to call a friend and say, "Hello...how are you?" takes planning and effort and let's be honest...quiet moments are rare - and sometimes we are just plain stingy with them. We need to shop and hurry back home before lunch and naptimes or else kids will have meltdowns...and we forget that God loves the person standing next to us...and we don't have the energy, time or even the thought sometimes to smile and say hello, to start a conversation...to love them.
I learn a lot when God and I go yard-saleing together.
A few fun treasures from garage sales: $5.50
Snacks to keep the kids happy: $2.00
A reminder that God sees, cares and desires to be involved in even the little things...priceless.
Joy.
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