Miracle (n.):
1. an event that is contrary to the established laws of nature and attributed to a supernatural cause
2. any amazing or wonderful event
3. a person or thing that is a marvelous example of something
4. short for miracle play
5. (modifier) being or seeming a miracle
Today, my family and I held a tag sale. As I said before, it was very much last minute. On Thursday, we decided it was going to happen and began picking things out around the house and pricing items. On Friday, we hung signs and priced items (though most of the day was spent working) and then packed up the car in the middle of the night. This morning, at 8 AM, we drove our goods over to our aunt's house and unloaded everything in her driveway. We had our first customers shortly after the tag sale opened for business.
I started this blog by defining miracles because what I saw from strangers today was just that. I made up signs telling people that the money from this tag sale would help pay for books for my first semester at seminary. And people were interested. People traded their quarters for my knick knacks, and before they departed they'd leave me with their blessings - "Good luck!" was a favorite, "It is a wonderful thing you're doing," or something similar was another; one woman told me, "It'll be hard work, what you're doing, but it's the best work you can do." I really mean it when I say that support in spirit, even a quick blessing, is one of the most amazing things you can give to someone. And while each of these interactions was an amazing or wonderful event, there were a few instances today where I met people who really were marvelous examples of God's love between strangers others, this is one that especially touched my heart:
These two girls, who must have been about ten years old, came during a lull in the tag sale. Right away, they came to the table where I was and looked at the miniature figurines I had pulled out of a box in the basement and bought all of them at 25 cents a pop. They noticed my signs and the article from the paper on the table and asked me about school. I told them, "I want to be a pastor. I'm trying to raise money to help with supplies for the fall semester." They gave me big smiles and went off to deliberate over the other items that we'd managed to dig up out of the dark recesses of cellar. These girls had brought about $20 to the tag sale, and they picked up some keychains and chotchkes that caught their eye, and some craft supplies for their mom. They came over and made a second purchase, then went off and mulled over the tables and blankets full of items some more. They picked up a charcoal drawing I had done of a ballerina, priced at one dollar. They came over to the table and said,
"We'd like to pay $5.50 for this. To help you with school."
Well, when you're ten years old, it takes a long time to earn twenty dollars - that's a lot of washed dishes, walked dogs, and room cleaning. And I know they could have bought at least two ice creams each off the ice cream truck. Instead, they gave everything they had, and they didn't expect anything in return.
I offer a word of thanks for these two amazing girls, whose love is overflowing; their goodwill and kindness - what they may have thought was just a small, nice thing to do - means so much. Thank you!
Until next time, peace & blessings!
-Maddie-
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