Another Reason Why I Love My Job
"It's Simply(?) What We Owe"
It was a typical day at the "World Of Nutrition", people coming and going, questions being asked & answered. Then, I saw a new face, a very sad face.
"Hi, I'm Janet, may I help you?"
"Hi, I'm Doris and I really, really need help!"
Doris, indeed needed help. I determined in that second that it was more help than I could possibly give. I joked & smiled and said "at your service."
Her eyes were empty and had no lustre. Her cheeks? Sunken in. Her teeth? Rotting. Her clothing? Cloth draped over flesh which was hanging off of her bones. She looked at me and said, "I don't want to die". I responded, "O.K. don't die".
"I'm a drug addicted alcoholic. I've lost my job and don't have a lot of money, maybe vitamins can help me to get better."
I thought to myself, "I don't think so!! But let me give her some hope."
"O.K. let's start with cleansing your liver. Silymarin (Milk Thistle) is great for that. Also, your antioxidants are important to build up your immune system. Liquid predigested protein is great for energy, so that would also be helpful". I was putting the bottles on the counter while I was talking & explaining. Even with the discount I was giving to her, we were at about $50.00.
"O.K. I'll take that"
I rang it up and told her the total.
"I only have $5.00 but I'll come back with the rest."
The situation was too sad and pathetic for me to be upset.
"Fine! I'll see you later". Of course, I never expected that there would be a later.
About two weeks later Doris re-appears with seven dollars. Her appearance had deteriorated even more. She said that she felt a little more hopeful.
"You must be almost finished with the vitamins that you already bought, so, let me give you some more & you can pay me as you go along. Maybe you'll get your job back."
She reluctantly accepted. One of my employees who had been watching this unfolding drama, said to me, "Don't you realize that she's just taking advantage of you?"
Hmmmmm! "Advantage of", 1.) to impose upon 2.) to use for one's own benefit 3.) exploit 4.) profit my 5.) deceive.
For me to believe that I was being "taken advantage of" I would have to believe about myself that I am "naive", that is, 1. childish 2. un-schooled 3. inexperienced 4. guileless 5. un-suspecting 6. gullible 7. unsophisticated, etc. etc. etc. It would be almost impossible for me, after having experienced over seventy years of life, to use those descriptive words in a personal resume'. Actually I was profiting by enriching my own life by acting the way we were originally designed to act. I was simply paying what I owe.
Next, Doris brought her son in. Actually, he brought her in. She was getting too weak & needed physical support. Her son? Same senario. Rotted teeth. Addictions. A bag of bones. His purpose in coming to the store other than physically supporting his mom?
"I just wanted to thank you for helping my mother. I love her very much!"
"It's what we owe each other. I'm sure that you & your mom would have helped me in similar circumstances."
Doris hugged me and said, "I want you to know that I know that I am trash! I know that I am a dirt bag when people call me that. I know that I made the choices that brought me to where I am. I know that I really only have myself to blame! But, I want you to know that you are the first person who saw what I really am but still treated me with kindness and respect. I want to say Thank You for that"
I replied, "I just have to correct something you said, 'that I know who you really are'. All I know about you is what I hear, see & feel. I know what you've done. I've seen the fruitage of your actions. I do know from experience, personal & other, that what a person does or how they act isn't necessarily, who they are!" "To know who you are I'd have to be able to read your heart. That, Dear Doris, is out of my realm!"
I didn't see Doris or her son for about a couple of months and assumed.......
Then, one afternoon I was looking outside of my store and saw a "piece" of car parked across the street. It was dented-rusted-cardboard & paper in the windows. I watched as Doris' son got out of the car and pulled a good size child's wagon out of the back seat. Then? He took a milk crate and put it in the front of the wagon. Then? He lifted his mom, Doris, out from the car & sat her on the milk crate with her feet in the wagon & holding her with one hand, crossed the street to our store. She was too weak to walk and he was to weak to carry her all of the way.
I was overwhelmed by what I was watching and opened the door for them. He then picked his mom up in his arms to bring her in. He said, "my mom wanted to come and say 'Good-Bye', and Thank You' ".
"I'm dying, Janet".
"I know, Doris. There is a God who cares and who knows your heart. I love you Doris, and your son."
"I love you too."
"I love you too."
We hugged. We cried. Dan carried her back to the car with his last, I'm sure, drop of energy. He put the wagon in the car. We all waved, "Good Bye".......
For Now.
Am I relating this to say that I did a wonderful thing? No! The wonder that fills you when you "pay what we owe" in itself, fills you with wonder.
Hmmmmm! Wonder.......1.) a person or an event causing astonishment and admiration 2.) marvel at 3.) marvelous 4.) beautiful 5.) excellent 6.) the feelings aroused by something unexpected.....etc. etc. etc.
Indeed, this "unexpected event" that I experienced with Doris was astonishing, beautiful, excellent, and something to marvel at, for the three of us.
There is a Biblical admonition that states, "Do not be owing anybody a single thing, except, to love one another."
Hmmmmm! Simply pay what we owe. Sounds easy enough.
Hmmmmm!
-Janet
posted by Janet & Tabitha @ 10:01 AM
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