Encounters

My initial thought while reflecting on this past week, was to call it, “A blast from the past,” but that wouldn’t fully be accurate. You see, I was reunited with people from my past, but then I crossed paths with someone I didn’t know. The word, “encounters” seemingly popped into my mind, which was a more accurate depiction of my experiences.

For certain, God has made this week one of many encounters, from those I haven’t seen in months, to those I haven’t seen in 20 years as well as a conversation with a stranger. With everyone, my heart felt the same…filled with great joy and happiness, unconditional love and my light beaming from within. That’s a whole lot of God’s love being poured unto me and flowing through for sure!

On Monday, I returned to work. Yes, yes, I know I am a teacher, but I have chosen to keep working with my students who qualified for summer school and other students who have been put on my roster. No, no I won’t have much time off before starting the regular school year in August, but I do know the impact my presence makes in the lives of both young children and those who are my colleagues.

My family and I had just returned from a vacation. I had missed the first two days of work and had some serious catching up to do, mostly with the jet lag, lack of sleep and getting back into a routine and getting everything organized.

The site selected for summer school is the same school where I was first hired on as a teacher and spent the first 9 years of my teaching career at. Being there is bittersweet, nostalgic, I guess you can say. I felt like I was coming home even though I know this place was no longer what I called home, yet it still felt like home.

I do believe there is a time and a place for everything in our lives, one where we may circle back to for God knows which people and places have yet to serve a higher purpose in my life. Many continue to serve as a mentor or teacher, others have yet to learn and gain more from me.

Evidently there is something much greater in store, something for me to learn, understand, appreciate, and expand my awareness in. Even though I don’t know what God’s ultimate purpose has been by bringing all the people he has back into my life, one thing has been crystal clear. Without a doubt, my heart has been overflowing with great joy with every person He sent my way!

God’s love!! His unconditional love!! Being surrounded by, even if it was only for a moment in time, set off an explosion like that of fireworks on the Fourth of July!! My heart, really, truly, happy, and grateful for these gifts which God has provided!!

Some of the staff working summer school, this is where thy work throughout the regular school year. As for the rest of us, we work at different school across the district. It’s so wonderful to reconnect with other teachers whom I haven’t seen since last summer and be together again in one location.

Regardless of the amount of time I’ve known and been apart from my colleagues, be it months or 20 years, they’ve kept me alive in thought, in spirit and in conversation. I am a living, breathing, important, valuable, and very special person in their lives. By me knowing them, and them knowing me, we’ve made the world a better place for our love and respect for one another. Our hearts have been forever transformed in unique and beautiful ways.

Those who know me know I am a hugger! I am a very touchy, feely, hands on kind of person. I believe in the healing power of touch, and for me it comes in the form of a hug. It’s a part of who I am and that’s my first instinct of what to do. You are safe! You are loved! You are appreciated! You are worthy! You are a child of God! You are a friend of mine!

Shifting gears now to the woman I didn’t know who crossed paths with me at Kohls.

With my shopping trip coming to an end, I made my way around the back towards the shoes on the other side of the store. As I walked around, a woman inquired about my shopping cart and asked where I did find it. I told her it was the only one I had seen when I came inside. She needed a cart, as I noticed I saw her in the bedding area, picking out a comforter or perhaps some sort of set. I told her she could have my cart, and really, it was no big deal. The woman was very hesitant and felt bad for me giving up the cart as I unloaded the clothing items I was going to purchase. In a conversation, I learned she has a bad shoulder, and it wouldn’t be a good idea for her to carry that weight around (which I completely understood)-no worries!

One by one, I took the clothing items out. I found a few sweaters for myself and everything else was toddler and baby clothes. Both the woman and the daughter took notice of the baby clothes. First the mom mentioned I am too young to be a grandmother. I told her I am 50 and have two granddaughters. She then proceeded to tell me she was 61, which I thought she looked great for her age, looking physically fit and taking care of herself. What I couldn’t see was what was on the inside.

I felt something more, but I didn’t know what it was. Maybe she was worn out, stressed, overwhelmed, or has a lot of things going on in her life know nothing about and trying her best to hold it all together. She also seemed to have a difficult time accepting my compliment, perhaps lacking self-confidence, self-esteem, making it hard to believe and more difficult to accept the compliment I attempted to give her.

The woman had a daughter with her (well, I think it was her daughter anyway). My guess is she was in her mid to late teens, but no older than early 20’s. It really was hard for me to tell for sure what her age was. I knew the girl was standing there, but I hadn’t noticed or maybe didn’t even look close enough to see, she was a girl with special needs. Her speech delay and facial features let me know there was something much more special about this girl.

As I had part of the clothes removed and in my arms from the shopping cart, the girl said something to me, but I didn’t hear, nor understand what she said. I asked her to repeat what she said. It was at that moment I became more focused, present, and tuned into the girl. I was better able to understand her as she pointed to an outfit that was green, and asked if it was for a boy. I smiled and told her it’s for girls. Sometimes girls wear green and that’s okay.

I finished gathering the remainder of the clothing items in my arms and started walking away. Only a short distance after, I turned and smiled, said bye to the girl and have a good day. Her mom prompted her to respond back to me and she did, she repeated what her mom told her to say. A farewell smile and I was on my way.

As I look back on this experience, I wondered many things about this encounter. I hope our crossing paths brought a ray of light, hope, a knowing, a validation of sorts to be reminded it’s going to be okay, that she is loved, she is seen, even complete strangers care more than you might have ever known.

Even though I don’t know her story, we are all worthy of receiving God’s love and His grace. This woman needed something more to believe in. I hope she saw God’s love flowing through me onto her. The gesture may have been small and seemingly insignificant but in her world, in her realm of things, I know she appreciated that moment of outreach and support more than I will ever know.

God, I am grateful for these encounters, the countless way in which you have blessed my life abundantly!!! So many people in one week, WoW! What beautiful and Heavenly alignment, for everyone has shown great respect and appreciation for the person I am, and the pieces of me, the memories they’ve carried with them, keeping me alive and well this day.