The Police Blotter: the kindness of strangers...

Lately, my mind has been filled with thoughts about Thanksgiving.  

Reading the local newspaper made me realize...

that a lot of folks around here are starting to embrace

thoughtfulness,

kindness,

helpfulness.  

I guess that is why I enjoy this little place,

tucked away in its own little, green valley,

It's big enough to not know everybody...

but it's small enough

that when you are in...

oh, say...

the grocery store...or

the library...or 

at the pool...

if you have a complaint about someone...

1.  Make sure the person to whom you are speaking to is 

not related, 

has not dated, or 

is not in some way connected to your target. 

(do you know Mrs. S?  Really? How? hmmmm. 

oh, never mind--what a doll! such great hair!!)

You can always turn your head politely to the side 

if you need to roll your eyes at yourself.

2.  Make certain that you look around a bit...complaints about others 

tend to travel faster in the air 

than discussions of corn prices...

know your audience.

3.  Without fail, treat every person as if they were your friend.  

Because...

They probably will be some day.  

Yes, I made the poor choice of complaining about someone here in town.  

Yep, I will admit it.  

Someone I didn't know very well (really, I am ashamed to admit this), 

was criticizing my child's 4H record book 

(I KNOW! Like the war to end all wars).  

**Okay, she was pointing out a section

 from years before 

when my child was like in 3rd grade and had gotten tired of writing...**

so...I wrote a few things in her permanent record-

SO, YESSSSSS

THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED!!

(and it's not like I tried to disguise my handwriting)

Never mind that this woman OBVIOUSLY did her teenage daughter's project record-

(not an excuse...just sayin'...ahem)

So this lady was singing loud and glorious praises of 

another family and its perfect mother...
and how they have perfect 4H record books...
PERFECT.

(Now, this mother is not my favorite person...

but God loves her.)

I became very jealous and spiteful...

(Of course! you think she's perfect but...)

So I told a little story on her. 

OH. WOW.

YEP.

I knew better.  But (tee-hee) my fleshly lust was fulfilled!

See?  She's not perfect 

AT. ALL.

The story goes downhill--

Needless to say, at the next public 4H thingy...

her children were giving me dirty looks.

So, I pulled this mother

(who is not my favorite person,

but God loves her),

aside and APOLOGIZED.

PROFUSELY.

I learned my lesson.

I was jealous of her.  

I had envied her.

And I had wanted to put her down a notch or two.

As I begged her forgiveness,

(trust. me.)

an audience gathered and commented...

she forgave me...but

it was shaming and put ME in my place.

I knew better.

And I did not deserve her forgiveness.

Next on my list...

as I drove frantically home...

was to apologize to the poor lady who actually told me that little story.

I called her and we started talking...

I started explaining what had happened...

SO. EMBARRASSING.

(just WHEN will I grow up-seriously?)

meanwhile, guess who showed up on my poor friend's caller id?

Yep.

the offended mother

(who is not my favorite person,

but God loves her).

I praise God that my friend,

who trusted

me 

with that little story...

also

FORGAVE me.  

Because I didn't deserve it.

Hmmmm...

Just like God. 

He knows I'm human and bumble around a lot...

I offend Him daily.

And I know better.

He loved me before I even knew of Him.  

He forgave me when I asked...

even though I continue to fail Him...

He still forgives me.

I don't deserve it.

But He loves me with His pure and holy love.

He is love.

He loves you too.

So yeah, I love this place.  

And, I've grown up a bit living here.  

I am a work in progress.

All Americans need a sense of place. 

That's what makes our physical surroundings worth caring about.

Ed McMahon

So, before my humiliating story, 

I was about to expound on the goodness, and the kindness of the folks living here.  

I don't want to skip out on that!

These thoughtful deeds should be seen and admired by others...

outside our bubble.

A person reportedly drove through smoke on Interstate 90 and could smell fire.

Sure enough...there WAS a barn on fire.  I would have been fooled a bit by the smoke, but...you!  You were clever. 

A door reportedly appeared to be propped open with a rug on Third Avenue.

So kind and thoughtful: a rug is unobtrusive, not like a chair-so obvious-that's what I would have done-what a mistake that would have been!  Live and learn.

A Pearl Street resident reported that her home was burglarized in September but the thieves may have re-entered her home and returned some of the items.

Now, who does that?  Really?  The kindness of strangers...don't underestimate people.

A man's vehicle reportedly was struck while he was in class and a note was left on the vehicle on East  Avenue.

I just hope it wasn't this one....I want to believe it was a helpful note. =)

A woman reportedly was wandering around a house and telling the family they are going to freeze to death.

I don't know about you, but this is touching.  This kind woman took time out of her day to help.  Hopefully, the residents heeded her warning and kept warm.  

Live bullets reportedly were found lying in the roadway on Water Street.

Ammunition gets expensive.  I have a son in 4H Shooting Sports and he has to supply his own ammunition.  And to do it anonymously was really big hearted. :: sweet ::  

A cow reportedly was on the side of the roadway on the Highway.

Even the livestock are starting to get caught up in the holiday spirit.  The last time I 

personally saw a cow on the road he had more than 100 of his friends along for a

s l o w ramble.  How considerate of you to keep the highway clear, random cow! 

That best portion of a good man's life, 

His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.

William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)