Well, it is a Saturday morning, my time to be a little lazy, catch up on some of the shows I have recorded this week. Maybe finish a book leftover from the night before, or the weekend USA Today. Often, my little Poodle/Scottish Terrier Shaggy and I take long walks, then veg out on the couch together.
This particular Saturday, I had the house to myself with my boy's off at the beach with their cousin's youth group (along with my Aunt). Long, lazy hot summer days, perfect for reading and relaxing. Shortly after making a huge blender of my famous breakfast power smoothie, back on the couch...book in hand, I am interrupted by the doorbell!
It was a mother and daughter I have come to recognize and know over the past eight months to a year or more. I only know the daughter's name. I'll call her Liz to protect the innocent. When we first had baby kittens, I showed Liz and let her pet them. She is an adorable 3rd grader, with an amazing poise. They are Jehovah's Witness (or is it Seventh Day Adventist?). They visit me about once every six weeks. They're as sweet and polite as can be. It doesn't matter to them that I attend church with my family and have different beliefs from them.
My husband has repeatedly asked me why I don't tell them not to come back. My Mom has said just ignore them and they will go away. As always, I let Liz read a verse or two to me. In the beginning, her Mom said she was practicing her reading. I can tell she has gotten so much better. We always exchange pleasant comments asking about each others families. I asked her a few questions about school and her summer.
I believe the reason I can't be rude to them, is because I know that my boys do things like this with their youth group. I wouldn't want anyone to be nasty and rude to them. I have to admit, when i was growing up I did my share of selling/knocking on doors (Church as a kid, Krispy Kreme doughnuts for cheerleading, World's Finest Chocolate for school fundraisers, even in 2008 the election, knocking on doors - and so many more things). The long and short of it is I remember the time's when people were rude to me, or just impatient.
Basically, I am polite to Liz and her mother because I would want the same for my boys, when they knock on someone's door. I do subscribe to the belief that treat others as you would like to be treated. ("Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" - Golden Rule - Matthew 7:12)
I may not have the same beliefs as the young Liz and her mother, but I do need to treat them with kindness. They have the right to believe whatever they so choose. I do, as well as do you. Does it make me a better person if I slam the door in their face and scream at them to get off my property? Or what if I argue over and over with them, to a little girl who is only seven or eight years old? And instead of treating them with just dignity, I am rude? What exactly does that prove?
So, I let little Liz read her verse, after she excitedly tells me about going into the third grade. How she was looking forward to school this year. She told me she couldn't wait to see her friends. She gave me a huge smile, as she asked me how I was doing. I told her and her mother I was a bit under the weather. She smiled at me with a great glowing smile and said she would pray tonight and all week that I would get better soon. Considering she called me by my name (well, "Ms. Alana"), and has remembered it every single time she's been here since the first visit...I have no doubt she will indeed pray for me.
I wished them a fond farewell, as I thanked little Liz for her verse (in Psalms) and her prayers. Told them both thank you and to travel safely today, and that I hoped it wouldn't rain on them, and that I was sure I'd see them soon...
Perhaps, my Saturday wasn't starting off too bad after all.
Smoothie Recipe:
1 cup fresh fruit, cut up (today was fresh peaches
3/4 cup plain organic yogurt (or vanilla) - add more or less, if desired
1/2 cup - 1 cup frozen fruit or fruit mix (pineapple, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, etc - your choice!)
2 tsp Polaner All fruit jam - strawberry (or your choice)
2 Tbsp local honey
3/4 cup ice cubes
1/4 cup 1% milk (or fresh fruit juice)
splash of vanilla flavoring
***optional
2 droppers of GNC brand Echnichea (liquid)
1 1/2 droppers of GNC ginkgo biloba (liquid)
Blend together until smooth, add more ice and/or milk/juice as necessary to reach desired consistency - should have almost entire blender full. I freeze remainder in individual serving sizes for daily portions.
