This blanket is more than just a mere store bought, machine made blanket. Not because I made it by hand (seriously hand stitched the whole thing together), and not because I love the colors and it works great keeping our family warm...but because it has a story and offers my kids a life lesson about DOING GOOD & being charitable.
It all started back in high school. There was a shopping center that I frequented when I got my license. It was on Ming Avenue and offered me the opportunity to shop at a store that I would eventually have a deep LOVE FOR...TARGET!
Every time I would drive into the parking lot, I would notice a homeless lady...living in the bushes in the shopping center plaza. She had a shopping cart with her things store inside and nothing else that belonged to her. She always looked desperately sad and lonely...and for some reason, seeing her...time after time...always pulled at my heart strings.
In the same shopping center was JoAnne's fabric store and one day (this was months down the road of seeing the same lady in the same parking lot), as I was leaving Target...I had a thought, "I'm going to make her a blanket". Now...at the time, I did not sew, did not have a sewing machine and had no idea how to go about it...but I went in the store, bought the supplies and left with a mission on my mind & heart. I was going to show this lady some LOVE, by helping keep her warm that winter (as it was approaching fall already) with a blanket for her to keep for herself.
So, I went to work, at home...cutting and sewing and stitching and it was coming together to be quite a blanket. I had impressed myself by the time I got it finished,and even had the though, for a brief second...that I might want to keep it for myself.. I even did quilting like stitches throughout the blanket, to keep the filling I put inside for extra warmth, in place.
I folded it up a few days later, after I completed it...hopped in my little red 1984 Fiero and drove myself to the Target Shopping Center in hopes of dropping it off to her.
Unfortunately she was gone and I was never able to locate her again.
I was absolutely devastated! Why had I waited so long to make her this blanket? Why had my conscious not got the best of me before that? Would she, though she didn't even know me or the fact that was going to do a good work for her, ever be able to forgive me for not offering her such a gift sooner?
The moral of my blanket story? I waited to long! When I saw her the first and second time, it should have registered to me to do something for her. Why did I let my heart stay so hardened for so long...and then finally give in and make a gesture in the right direction?
Would I, if I were homeless, hope that someone would be kind enough to offer me a blanket to keep warm with during the winter months? Would I be delighted to find out that they not only bought it for me, but made it with their limited knowledge, time and loving heart? ABSOLUTELY!
Will I ever wait that long again to help someone that I see in need. NEVER!! Will my kids be like me and hopefully be willing to help those who, sometimes, cannot help themselves? I definitely hope so. The world is way to full of hard hearts and selfish feelings. Maybe if we put ourselves in other's shoes (especially those who have NOTHING), we might make a change for the better...
ONE CAN HOPE!
Until then...my kids get to snuggle up with the blanket and I get to wonder what happened to that lady and how come I was never able to offer her the gift of my time & love. Maybe it was just so I could learn not to wait so long to show KINDNESS to someone who needs it most!
Post Title
→A Gift Of Warmth...UNDELIVERABLE! Why This Story Means A Lot To Me...And Is A Great Lesson For My Kids TOO!
Post URL
→http://gallerygirlss.blogspot.com/2011/07/gift-of-warmthundeliverable-why-this.html
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