Breaking Bread and Breaking Beans...

We all have them, and for some it is much more than others, the endless to do list the piles of laundry waiting when we get up and when we go to bed, dirty dishes, dusting, bill paying, appointment books that overflow at work (thank you Jesus) and of coarse hungry children wondering what's for supper tonight...it's the endless time consuming time eating monsters in our life. These things make us say things like:

"I'll get to that in a minute."

"Not right now."

"I don't have time today, maybe tomorrow."

"Shhh, honey can't you see Mom's busy."

"I'm sorry I was so busy with XYZ I forgot."

I am a Salon owner in a small town (small, like in a wide spot in the road small) but most days we are very busy...sometime back last year I received a phone call from an elderly lady and she needed a haircut, but she didn't walk well and she wanted to know if I could come to her house...I'll be honest with you...I was busy and didn't really want to stop my busyness.....

But I did, and from that one home visit developed a very special friendship with a
97 year old women...I have heard that some find her a little harsh at times, but I have never seen that side of her, now when I go to cut her hair she wants to feed me lunch....visit...talk...and slow down.

A few months back I went to cut her hair and we talked about the garden Husband and I had, I made the comment about all the beans he had planted and offered to bring her some when they were ready, after a short visit I went back to work in the wide open mode...later that day while working on a costumer I received a phone call from this sweet Lady and she said "I know your busy but I've got something on my mind I need to talk to you about when you get a free minute give me a call back."

I hung the phone up and joked with my co-worker that I was almost afraid to call back...what did she have on her mind?

Later I called her back and this is what she said:

"I've been think'n about what you said about those beans, about how many your Husband put out...I know how busy you are and thought if you would pick them and drop them off at my house on your way to work I could shell them for you and you could pick them up on your way home, I know it's not much but maybe that will help you out."
I was so touched and moved to tears that after I had left her home this sweet women had sat and thought about me......

She wanted to break beans for me.....
After I closed the salon that day I sat at my desk for awhile and thought about all the busyness that had went on that day and many other days, the laughing and rushing around, the conversations that had passed between women almost as a competition between each one on who had more to do and all I could think was...

She wanted to break beans for me....
I understand we all have lots of things on our plates, but God really showed me the importance of slowing down that day, one simple act of taking time to make a house visit has given me a friendship with someone that I wouldn't dare trade, she thought about me even when I went on with my busy day there are so many others out there just like her that if we only take the time to slow down we can see that they only want to be a part of our lives....so slow down a little and break bread with someone that needs you and maybe just maybe they'll help you break beans! Blessings!

M