Bargains ~ I’m so
often searching for bargains that, although he has yet to either accuse or
verbalize it, my husband may be convinced I am a (dare I even say of for fear
I’ll be repeated?) a “hoarder”? Goodwill has become my place of relaxation and
if (I hope, I hope) I happen upon a bargain (or two or three, or even four),
well then, I can think of dozens of ways I can use it (them), but frequently
not just for me. Therefore there’s good justification in that it’s not selfish
at all! Yesterday was just such a day, and while I must admit, THIS was quite
selfish, THE BARGAIN was still not purely selfish and has turned out to be
something even I had not bargained for! J
As usual, I
carefully perused the shelves, but this time, I went out of my usual order.
Instead of heading directly to the inspirational books, I looked in the office
supplies. Careful to choose and place in my cart a couple of the smaller-size
99-cent notebooks (that had I gone to one of the larger chain stores I could have
purchased for $2.49 each - I know because I had recently priced them), I went
on with a smile on my face, to the area where I generally find the better
supply of books to my liking. Indeed I did find one that had a previous
bookstore sticker on the back “$20.00” but at Goodwill, because it was a
paperback, it was 50-cents, a beautiful, informative coffee table worthy book
titled, “YOUR JEWISH HERITAGE”. Being happy with my so-far successful trip, I
pressed on to another books sales area, studied the shelved books row upon row,
bending this way and that to be sure I didn’t miss any titles, I might want,
pulled out my cell phone to compare pictures with a book I picked out but
realized I already had, put it back, pressed on, and THERE! THERE IT WAS- a huge
book, laying face down on a bottom shelf. When I turned it over, I may have
gasped aloud as I saw, JOHN-90 Days With The
Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore! Ever
since I’d had DAVID-90 Days With A Heart Like
His written by her, I’d secretly wanted to have this book about JOHN,
secret even to myself I realized as I held it in my hands this day!
The book appeared
in mint condition so I never thought to look inside and this has become the
absolute best part! Not just is Beth Moore’s presentation all that I had
envisioned it would be, but there, on the first few pages, is some very precise
handwriting in response to the questions posed by the author to enrich personal
interaction. Oh, my! Do I read these? Never a question in my mind; however,
questions galore filled my mind now! For all intents and purposes, the book was
“trashed.” Why, and by whom? The answers show such devotion and intent on
following the Lord and His Way. Filled in faithfully for a few weeks by, I
assume a young college girl, who got busy with an active daily life, and then,
as has happened by so many, myself top of the list, good intentions went awry
and the rest of the book is as clean as when it was brand new.
The book contains
a date of the past decade, allowing me to figure the approximate age of this
now young woman, and do some imagining of what her life may have become. Did
she, unlike her penning answers to the questions in the book, finish college?
It appears obvious she was a relatively new Christian at the time of her writing;
did she remain faithful or was she caught up in the drug culture? Did she
become a successful career woman and /or a homemaker, happy with a husband and
family? As I sat there with her book in my lap, I prayed for her. I determined
that not only was I given the gift of such a book, but also in the bargain, I
had received a precious new gift, someone for whom to pray that I will likely
never know, but God does! She is in His
keeping, always has been, but now she is also on my radar and my SIMPLE FAITH
says God is hearing my pleas on her behalf. How great is that!
I believe I will
hoard this one in my heart!
M Sue 9-9-16
