“God’s grace offers endless hope and comfort." ~ 2
Thessalonians 2:17
The cold that had seemed bearable at
first now numbed Esther’s face and limbs.
Or maybe it was because her circulation had slowed with age. Homeless at 58, Esther spent much of her days
walking the lonely Cleveland streets.
She glanced in the Laundromat’s steamy windows. They owners wouldn’t mind if she stopped in
for just a minute to warm up. Not many
customers today; just a young woman and a small boy.
Once inside she savored its warmth. “Thank you Lord!” she murmured knowing
tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to anyone. So
much work needed to be done here. Esther
straightened some newspapers and gathered up trash, savoring the joy that comes
with of being useful.
A small voice brightened her sullen mood. She turned.
“Can I get a candy bar, Mama?”
The little boy gazed hopefully up at his mother. To say that his eyes were blue was like saying
the sun was yellow.
“Not today, baby.
I’ve got just enough change to dry our clothes. Maybe next time, OK?”
“Then Mama, can we go play in the park?” the boy probed.
The woman glanced outside as the sun’s rays struggled
through dense grey clouds. “Maybe for
just a few minutes, then I have to fold our clothes.”
Esther watched them cross the street to the park where small
children were playing on various, play equipment. As the woman pushed her child on the swings, Esther
lost herself in memories of monkey bars and lightning bugs; hot wheels and
gumballs.
God how she missed those days; the inspiring and hopeful
ones. A smile warmed her cheeks as she
considered their clothing wrinkling in the dryer. There was work to be done.
Opening the dryer door, she picked out the clothes of a busy
little boy – grass stained and well worn. Her gnarled fingers caressed Lego pajamas as
her heart flooded with yesterdays of bedtime stories and bubble baths.
“Thank You, Lord, for this precious little boy. Tuck him safely beneath the shelter of Your
wings," she prayed, as she folded the last T-shirt and stacked it neatly atop
the machine.
Next there were nurse scrubs to fold, brightly colored, the
name Jasmine printed on the collar. A
working Mom who probably crammed every house chore into the weekend. Esther shook out the wrinkles, folded one leg
over the other, then folded them neatly into thirds.
Sudden movement outside caught her eye. Jasmine and her son were crossing the street
hand in hand. Esther folded the last
pillow case and added it to the stack. She
fished a candy bar from her handbag and set it lovingly on top. As
mother and child reentered the laundromat, Esther made her way across the shopworn
linoleum, out the back door, and into the morning’s light. The Lord’s work was done!
Lord, today I just want to take a minute,
not to ask You for anything, but say Thank You for blessing me with Your mercy
and grace. Amen
