**THROWBACK POST**
December 15 2011:
Today’s theme: Patience …
Theme of the Day – Patience
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Tag Archives: patience
Post Office Gift by Camilla Downs
November 18 2016:
The Post Office Gift
As Paige entered the post office she was greeted with a line extending nearly to the door. Internally she breathed a sigh of relief knowing she would be using the self-serve kiosk. With only one person waiting ahead of her, she contentedly stepped in line behind him.
He turned to face Paige and with contempt said, “It may be awhile. This lady is having problems. She’s been up there for ten minutes.” He was referring to the customer using the kiosk. Paige spent a few seconds taking in the situation.
The woman at the kiosk seemed to be looking for something and holding her arms up in confusion. Paige could sense the woman’s overwhelmed feelings penetrating the already flat energy within the foyer.
Without hesitation, Paige approached the woman and asked, “Can I help you?” With a slight hint of desperation the woman said, “I can’t find my postage.” Having used the self-serve kiosk an absurd number of times over the years, Paige had become intimately familiar with it.
She knew exactly where the postage was dispensed. If you’ve never used the kiosk before, you wouldn’t know that you cannot visually see the postage once dispensed. One must bend down, placing one’s hand inside the dispenser box to pull the postage from the dispenser. It does not release and drop on its own.
The woman was quit relieved and delightedly thankful. She moved on and the long waiting, irritated man moved forward to take his turn. His frustrations mounted so that he could not get his credit card to work in the card slot.
Paige gently approached and asked, “Can I help you?” He pushed his card towards her and said, “Sure, give it a try.” The card once again did not work, yet, most likely due to having been tried repetitively. Paige felt he simply needed to go back one step and come around again to the payment screen, yet, his frustrations had grown too large for his patience.
After confusingly hesitating a couple of times to thank Paige for her help, the man decided to leave. He seemed to be torn as to whether to throw in the towel, expressing his thanks, and giving it another try.
Paige felt a wave of peace and compassion flow into her entire being as she knew in another time, another place, she had stood in both the man’s and the woman’s shoes.
She was also aware of times in the past when she had been deeply lost in her own thoughts and worries; times when she didn’t even notice that another being was in need of help.
After getting her packages posted, she departed with a joyful, peaceful heart with the hopes that anyone watching was inspired to spread loving kindness in their own way and their own time.
2016 Camilla Downs
Camilla’s Gratitude List: Week of January 1, 2012
January 1, 2012, Sunday, I am grateful for:
My friend Cathy Johansen and her son for inviting Thomas over today. We are testing how it goes with Cathy’s son being a “big brother” to Thomas.
Alone time with Lillian.
January 2, 2012, Tuesday, I am grateful for:
A surprise day all to myself.
Kat McLain for inviting Lillian to spend the day with her.
The transaction at Costco that cost me $5 less than what I was expecting.
The kind and enthusiastic cashier at Trader Joe’s.
Time spent chatting with my friend Glenna Smith over yummy tea.
Kona Gold for such an awesome and comfy space to have tea and a chat with friends.
Kindness.
January 3, 2012 Tuesday, I am grateful for:
Date days with Thomas.
The awesome therapists at Advanced Pediatric Therapies.
Our car.
Patience.
January 4, 2012, Wednesday, I am grateful for:
Shelter.
Food.
January 5, 2012, Thursday, I am grateful for:
Walks with Thomas and Lillian.
The Sun.
Lillian’s depth of beauty.
Kindness and joy expressed by Thomas.
A wonderful evening with beautiful friends {Cheri Hill, Clare Dreyer, Rachel Flower, Kimberly Phipps-Nichol, Kymberlee Simantel, Glenna Smith, Linda McLean} celebrating Rachel’s birthday.
January 6, 2012, Friday, I am grateful for:
Kat McLain for telling me to tear up the check I had written to her for Thomas visiting her two days this week . . . and telling me to write it for one day and to give it to her when I could.
Date days with Lillian.
Dr. Rick Winkelman, the optometrist who gave me samples to last me until I can come in for my annual check up in February.
The cashier at Walmart who told me not to worry about it when she accidentally input that I had given her $36 for my $34 dollar bill instead of $31. I was going to put the rest on my debit card; but couldn’t because she incorrectly put in the $36 instead of $31. I even offered my business card so they could contact me so I could pay the difference and they said no.
Hugs from Thomas.
Hearing Thomas and Lillian laugh.
Our house.
January 7, 2012, Saturday, I am grateful for:
Days with no appointments, no school buses and just plain nothing to do.
Walks with my kids.
Parks.
Nature.
Movie night with my kids.
Being asked by Thomas and Lillian to tickle them before bed and the fun and laughter that follows.
Quiet.