“It’s hard to be seen at your worst. Perhaps that’s why our deepest tears are often shed alone. We’re afraid friends will tire of our struggles, so we keep them to ourselves, especially the ugly ones that we can’t quite manage to put behind us,” Larry Crabb wrote these words in his book Connecting. Edna Ramsey shares a story about the people of our Cathedral Community. It is a story of friends who don’t tire of the struggles of others, who open themselves up to accept us at the worst time in our lives and who extend their hands to care for and stand beside us when we are most in need. Be blessed as you read!
One Garage Sale So Many Blessings
By Edna Ramsey
When a person has a garage sale it is usually to declutter their house. This garage sale was different in so many ways. First, God heard our prayers when we asked what we could do for a family in need. He answered by giving us the idea of a garage sale: “Be a blessing”.
I’m not one for planning and this one would have to happen fast. Immediately the St. Elizabeth Guild started to work. Some of our members are in St. Martha Guild as well so they recruited that guild to join, a friend of one of our members told a friend from the choir and they said let's pass the word and so it went…
A Blessing.
Within a week my garage was full, computer room was full, hallway full, and family room filling up.
A Blessing.
Now came the fun part, pricing all of our treasures. A group of us met and spent the morning marking items, buying items, and remarking about items and enjoying each other's company and friendship.
A Blessing.
I told my neighbors that weekend there would be a lot of cars because of the garage sale. I Told them the reason for the sale and again an outpour of items for the sale and donations were given.
A Blessing.
I told my friends about the sale items and donations were given.
A Blessing.
Early Saturday, we started setting up the sale in a misty morning that soon turned into a beautiful day.
A Blessing.
And what a sale we had! People started early and never stopped. We thought we would end at 2 and we stayed until 4.
A Blessing.
Some people wanted lower prices and I told them the reason for the sale. They dug deeper into their pockets and gave more.
A Blessing.
A sweet little girl found a pretty pink and turquoise jacket. She was so excited she just held it close and twirled around.
A sweet Blessing.
A young man rode his bike to the sale. First time he had a little money and bought his mom a lemonade jug. Second time he bought a few items to trade for what he wanted. A cookbook for his mom and a picture of the blue angels for his dad. We had to follow him home as he couldn't ride and carry everything. The third time he came he again had no money but wanted to trade game points for DVD player and games. We told him he was such a good customer he could have them.
A Blessing.
A parishioner experiencing homelessness had just gotten an apartment and was in need of many household items. We were given a list and we filled most of it.
A Blessing.
As we were packing up, we were able to give to two elementary schools small items for their school stores. All clothes went to the Russell Home. A few baby toys went to a church preschool. The Blessed Trinity Catholic Church was having a garage sale the next weekend, so we gave to them.
A Blessing.
And a fellow parishioner showed up with his pickup truck to help make all the deliveries.
A Blessing.
In the end we were able to give our family in need a very generous donation.
A blessing for them and a blessing for us.
All from one garage sale.