Happy Thanksgiving, Sojourners! I hope and pray that we all will reflect on all of the blessings God has bestowed on us during the past year. Certainly, times have been hard for many of us - but we're still here; able to make it yet another day.Today, a story that my mother has often told is on my heart to share with you. I have heard this true-life story many times during my 50-something years, but for some unknown reason it is laying heavily on my heart to share with you today.
One day, a young woman walked into the neighborhood drugstore. It was not her first time as she was a regular patron. Picking up a bag of chips here or a bottle of pop there, she would purchase something to nourish her body with the change in the bottom of her pockets or the pennies and nickles found on the street and gutters while walking to the store.
Patrons would often look at her in disgust, whisper, and snicker at her tattered clothes, uncombed hair, and unsightly holey shoes. As with days before, she ignored the whispers, sneers, and snickers. She would never speak and most folks in the neighborhood weren't even sure she could speak, attributing her outward appearance and her mute voice the result of being "a little touched" or "off in the head".
On this day, however, there was a young man in the store who was obviously challenged in the home-training department. He was rude and obnoxious to the other patrons in the store. Yes, he truly thought that he was, as the young folks say "all that and a bag of chips" knowing not what to let come out of his mouth. The patrons, however, ignored him as they went on about their business.
Not to be ignored, the young man decided to attempt a verbal attack on the young woman. Thinking his signifying would surely garner an abundance of laughter from the other patrons, he loudly said "Damn girl! Why don't you go put on some better shoes!"
At that moment, the young woman, the one who never spoke, the one in the tattered clothes, uncombed hair, and holey shoes turned to the man before walking out of the store and said "Don't you think if I had better shoes that I'd wear them?"
Be Blessed Today, Sojourners! Be Thankful that You Have Better Shoes to Wear!
Much Obliged...
Very Much Obliged to you for hearing me ~ ~
SjP
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