All In One Hour
Every morning, I drop my son off at daycare and my daughter off at school, and then I make my way in to work. This morning I was scheduled to drop off my car at the repair shop at 7:30 AM.
A few houses down to right of our house, and just across the street, I was able to drop my son off at daycare at 7:00 AM. My daycare providers are a husband and wife team who happen to have five – yes, FIVE - children of their own. Their beautiful family includes four growing school-age girls and one little boy, just a year younger than mine.
I’m sure you can just imagine what weekday mornings must be like at their house. Getting all of them up, giving all of them breakfast, rushing each one out of the bathroom for the next one in line, packing lunch and finally making sure everyone is pressed and dressed with books in hand and in the car on time.
And here I come - throwing my little helpless munchkin into that mix.
This is where my son spends most of his waking hours. He is smiling when I drop him off and he is smiling when I pick him up. I thank God for my son's care givers who make it possible for me to work and provide for my family without any cause for worry.
A few houses down, and to the left of us, I was able to drop off my daughter, so she could get a ride to school. In this house live two girls: one teenager and a ‘tween my daughter’s age. The mom is studying to be a PA (Physician’s Assistant). But in the midst of their hectic lives, this morning they had the door open - waiting for my daughter when we pulled up. As a matter a fact, they asked why they hadn’t seen her more often in recent days. I told them I had not wanted to impose, with all that they have going on. All the while I was thinking inside how unselfish of them.
After the drop-offs, I sped down the block thinking about getting to the repair shop on time. Suddenly, my car slowed down and my heart became heavy…with gratitude. My neighbors have busy lives and children of their own to get up early and rush out of the house. But lovingly, they welcomed my children into their home this morning with smiles and open arms.
To top it all off, when I got to the repair shop my co-worker was there waiting for me, to drive me to work.
This journey began at 7:00 AM and ended at my desk at 8:00 AM. I received all of this neighborly love in just one hour. I am so grateful for my neighbors, how do you feel about yours?
~Mitzi
~~~
Mitzi is a wife, mother, baker and a closet poet. She lives on Long Island with her husband and 2 children. Her daughter is a fiesty 11 year old and her son is a curious 2 year old.She starts each day with any kind of spiritual reading she can get her hands on.
Previously posted on : http://www.jumptandem.net/2011_12_01_archive.html
