Consider Yourself SERVED!

I've mentioned my dear friend, Janet, before. She's one of my very favorite people on this earth, and one of my most important friends. Well, she has a very fun,witty, and inspiring blog (you'd be wise to become a regular reader), and on this blog she is holding her very first giveaway. To enter you must submit, or post, a story about a time when an act of service someone offered changed or effected you. Go here for all of the details on how to participate...and I really think you should. It's nice to go over these experiences in your mind, but writing it down makes you feel warm all over. It doesn't hurt that you may also win a really sweet prize by participating. Be sure to spread the word about this fun and inspiring giveaway. I can't wait to read your stories! You can read mine below...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was one of those days. I was heavy with child (8 1/2 months) and so tired. I know that I've mentioned my pregnancy rash on here before, but I don't think you KNOW how bad it was. I'd had two other babes and being 9 months pregnant is uncomfortable enough. Add a rash all over your belly, arms, and legs that your doctor can do nothing about...ugh. The rash would wake me up in the middle of the night because it itched so bad! I don't wish it on anyone; to say it was miserable doesn't quite cut it. My husband had just started another quarter at school (working on an MBA at night after a full day's work) and that meant I was flying solo at least two full days a week. My patience was very thin those last few weeks of pregnancy. My poor kids. I felt totally overwhelmed...and big...and weepy...and guilty for not being patient enough. Suffice it to say, I was feeling very fragile.

This particular evening I HAD to get out of the house. It was raining (surprise! rain in Washington in January!) and generally I would avoid going places under such conditions because I was trying not to carry Kelly into stores anymore and the girl's little legs can only carry her so fast. I'm sure whatever errand it was could have waited, but I couldn't. I needed some distraction, something to break up a long evening without my husband. My kids were not at their best - how could they be with such a mess of a mom?

We headed to Target, made our purchases, and headed out to the van. I unloaded our goods and then lifted Max out of the cart and put him in his seat. When I walked around the back of the van to get Kelly out of the cart, the cart wasn't there! My little girl was about ten or fifteen feet away in a runaway cart! A lady had to slam on her brakes to keep from hitting my little runaway. I dashed after Kelly in all of my huge-bellied glory, with my heart racing and my stomach in my toes. I grabbed the cart and turned to wave at the lady who had slammed on her brakes to say "sorry and thank you", but when I did, I was met with the most disgusted look she could muster and a disapproving shake of her head. I wanted to sit down and sob. What did she think - that I had pushed my child across the parking lot for a fun ride? I felt like she was saying with that look and shake of her head, "Here she is about to have another and she can't even keep it together with the ones she has." And that is exactly how I had been feeling. I wanted to chase after her and explain, or yell at her for being so insensitive to someone who obviously had her hands full. Mostly, I just wanted to cry for a long, long time. I decided I would go home, get the kids to bed, and do just that.

I had just gotten Kelly out of the cart and was strapping her into her seat, trying my best to keep the tears that were stinging the corners of my eyes from falling, when a lady with very kind eyes approached me. With a sweet smile she said, "It looks like you have your hands full. Can I take your cart for you?" Suddenly I felt a huge weight lift from my chest; physically, I felt it. I don't know that she was prepared for the gratitude that came spilling out of my mouth, eyes, smile, arms, legs, rash-ridden belly...I was oozing gratitude for this lady and her sweet smile. Oh, I needed that smile. Suddenly I felt like I didn't have to do everything on my own, and that was HUGE. I think that I thanked her 4 or 5 times in the time that it took for her to take hold of the cart and walk toward the cart return.

It changed how that day ended for me - instead of going home and sobbing, I felt lighter than I had in weeks. I was able to laugh it off and even change my feelings toward the disgusted woman in her car *. This experience made me vow to always be aware of what I can DO to help others. I know that one day I'll have a free hand or two to help a mom in need...and I will be sure to do it every time. We just never know how much a small act of service can impact a person. I will forever be grateful for the woman with the kind eyes and smile who returned my cart at Target.

*I have to add that I don't blame that lady in the car for her rudeness; she was probably just scared to death that she'd almost hit a little girl in a runaway cart and reacted out of fear. At least that's what I choose to believe :)*