You might remember that we have been having trouble hiring a maid. We interviewed a few but we couldn't find anyone. Our last maid was a nasty piece of work that quit because we told her she was using too many paper towels.
So we find this nice woman who interviewed great. The only problem was that she was having an operation and couldn't start for about a month. So we agreed and did all the stuff ourselves which is a pain in the ass. We get very little free time and spending that cleaning kind of sucks.
So she started today and did a good job. She has a bunch of clients and wants to start her own business by hiring cleaners and training them and starting her own company. We were very impressed.
Today it is freezing in Brooklyn. It is supposed to snow. This woman had only a thin coat to wear in the snow. Lisa took one of her parkas and gave it to her. She was so grateful. Lisa didn't want to make it a big deal. She just wanted her to be warm as she goes from one client to another.
The lady started to cry. She said "Nobody does this."
Well my wife does. And she doesn't want anyone to say anything about it. It is what you do. When you can help someone you do.
Number 10,985 why I love her.
24 comments:
Shocked to see the number so low, to be honest.
Good on her.
She is an angel.
Now quit embarrassing her by telling people about her charitable works.
And quit making the gnarled ol' lumberjack tear up, you bad word bad word.
Generosity of the heart. Doing good for its own sake. Doing good when no one is watching. Wonderful people do that. Lisa Dolan is a wonderful people.
That is religion in my book. Knowing your bride, I could see and hear her doing it.
Salt of the earth.
Corporal works of mercy never go out of style.
Nice.
I do things for people when I can, but, today for example I was afraid, and I just walked away.
There was a couple struggling with the digital NJ transit machine. The train was approaching, the bells, signaling the street arm coming down, started tolling. They would have to wait maybe another hour.
I could have offered to help them but I thought the guy would not take it kindly. So I got up from the waiting bench and I walked away, because even thought I wanted to, I could not help them.
Hi Ruth Anne.
Hi Lem!
You are blessed, Jim. May God continue to grant blessings upon you and your new maid.
Lisa is a wonderful person. You are a lucky man.
Sums up everything about lem.
Have a good weekend my friends. I've got company arriving later today and figure I'll be busy--so everyone keep warm. Geez...25 below tonight. That'll getcha. Good night for sitting on the couch in front of the fire.
P, chin up, okay?
Doing good with no expectation of reward, fame or public acknowledgement. Just because it is right. The sign of a true heart.
LOL Palladian!!
Hope you and Lisa are both snug and warm in your house and able to just sit out the snow storm. Get some good books and a nice cuppa tea.
Hey pal a man needs a maid.
The wife just hates to do the housework when there are so many more productive things we could be doing.
I keep telling her people are not sympathetic when you complain about the problems you have with your maid. But she just doesn't believe me.
We didn't open the store but we had some big on-line sale so we are pretty happy.
Your maid encountered a real blessing of a woman, one all too rare.
That gift will bear fruit for others, in ways you'll never know.
Being warm may be just enough to keep her going, for one.
Trooper I gather you hire a "maid" in the same sense that Judi and I do. In our case, we are fortunate that we've known the woman, a single mom (divorce)and her two boys, for well over 20 years now, as they've been born and grown up. Originally she baby sat our dogs, like old Ikey-Boy in particular, years ago who hated 95% of the human race, but adored children under 8 or so, but could learn to love you if you had guts and tried you tried hard enough. She has a knack for dogs, a kindred knack, and raised and buried a hybrid wolf I gave her long ago..."Shadow" was a fantastic dog, wolf or otherwise, and raised 2 boys from infancy until he passed at 14.
As for the "maid" part: It's not that we couldn't do the house work, it is that we'd rather not if we can hire someone who needs the work and does it better than we could. At the time we were both vocationally busy 80+ hours per week or more. My better half, Judi, is a lot like your wife...which is why she understands me and my ways on helping out here and there. I first fell in love with Judi's mom, and found that Judi is exactly like her, and helps far more people one way or another without seeking credit than anyone I know...your Lisa sounds exactly like Judi and there's not higher compliment I can give.
which is why she understands me and my ways on helping out here and there.
Lisa's heart of mercy, operating in combination with TY's reworked muscle, make quite a pair. It's blessing to have a partner who understands, supports, and honors that kind of generosity when it is offered to others. In such things, both individuals remain unique and distinctive, with their own gifts to offer, yet become one.
Next thing you know, you two will be making short mission trips to places like Macon, Ga, to feed the hungry.
How long are you going to hang on to maid-help who is already talking about setting herself up in the providing maids business? Avoid ambitious help like the plague! But help without ambition is likely to do a lackadaisical job. There's no way out!
short mission trips to places like Macon, Ga
This one makes me laugh. Who knows what's next? I still have visions of Lisa making and selling dresses in some warmer, southern clime, while offering a side collection of Hawaiian Shirts designed and endorsed by Jim.
Several years ago (10?) when we were still involved in church and SonM was a yute, he took part in a church sponsored "mission trip" to New York City to help with summer Vacation Bible School at the Flatbush Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in Brooklyn (3 miles from Lee Lee's, according to Google, with the earliest legible grave marker in the churchyard dating back to 1754). The leader of the group was a high school teacher who'd previously been vocal (and snide) about homeschoolers in general and in particular about our choice to do so, as he believed a limited and unrealistic view of life was being provided. At that time, our son was into photography and had taken his digital camera (expensive in those days) with him. When the leader told everyone they needed to lock all their valuables in the brand new 15 passenger van where "they'd be safe", sonM refused to hand over the camera, saying he'd prefer to take his chances and keep it with him. According to his side of the story, this was respectfully but clearly conveyed; and I believe it probably was, since he tends toward an aspergerish commitment to truth and bluntness. The leader, however, perceived this response as an act of defiance against the wisdom and authority of superiors and a threat to call his parents was made. That threat did not have time to be acted on, as soon after, the van and all the valuables locked therein was discovered to be missing from the church parking lot. Vanished, gone, disappeared without a clue or trace. He proceeded to further annoyed the leader when he countered the placating assurances issued that the police were working on the matter and it would soon be found, with the belief that it was probably already in a chop shop and would never be seen again. It never was, and he still delights in that story, as the pictures he took were the only ones available to use for the slide presentation put together to show the congregation and prove the worth of the venture. That must have stung even more than the Van That Never Returned, as no credit or acknowledgement was given, (other than the enjoyment and appreciation of the viewers-as he has a good and fun eye). It's my guess doing so would have looked too much like winning!
We left that fellowship soon after for other reasons. Sometimes the mission field is closer to home than it appears.
One theory is that the van was last seen with Lee Lee's Valise sign painted on the side, being used to deliver clothes, but I think that's just a rumor.
But in all seriousness, MamaM, that is one heck of a story. Some people, am I right? Sounds like you have done an excellent job raising your children. Well done. There is no higher calling.
Adults do NOT like to be corrected by kids, especially those who work with them as a career. You can tell a lot about people by their reaction to correction. When that correction comes from a "subordinate," it reveals even more. Bravo to SonM for sticking to his guns.
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