Enough To Share
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series III, Cycle C
Keith and Lois volunteer in the hospital thrift shop. Keith runs the register while Lois and her team of eight work to price and hang clothing and other items. Another team of five take calls to pick up and unload merchandise in the back.
People have been more than generous to the hospital thrift shop. A beautiful organ was donated in memory of a patient. It was sold for 800 dollars. A diamond ring was auctioned off for 975 dollars at their annual fund raiser. A rare painting was sold in a gallery for 3,000 dollars.
Upscale stores donated outfits for the fashion show -- only to donate the clothing afterward to be sold during a silent auction. Last year the shop gave almost a million dollars to the hospital, enabling it to start a burn center. Two years ago three MRI and CT scanners were purchased. Only three years ago an auditorium was built because of thrift shop business. Yes, the thrift shop is doing well.
When Lois, who is the auxiliary president, proposed the hospital start a thrift shop five years ago, she wasn't sure people would take to the idea. But an empty Army barracks at the back of the property seemed to invite the idea. The board agreed to try the thrift shop -- run strictly by volunteers -- for one year.
It was an amazing beginning. Lois went door to door explaining the idea and asking people to keep the shop in mind when it would finally open. She tirelessly called every contact she had in business to donate an item or a service. She scouted out stores to donate a register, numerous display racks, and clothes racks. It took three months of working long days with twenty volunteers before opening day.
Items poured in: some very desirable and some not so desirable, which were politely turned away. Only items in good condition would be accepted which meant only items in good condition would be sold. Business was brisk from the first day, due in part to thousands of flyers, donated by the hospital print shop, posted in store windows and on car windshields.
Hospital staff, people from the community, patients, and visitors would come and visit the thrift shop. Some bought much: some bought little. The racks were constantly changing with many new items coming in daily.
One day, a young mother came in just before the shop closed. The other volunteers had gone. Keith looked at her with interest as she browsed through the baby clothing. On her hip was a beautiful little boy, dressed in a warm, light blue playsuit the color of his eyes. Keith walked up to the girl and asked how old her adorable baby was. Four months. The baby looked at Keith. "He's just about the most beautiful baby I've ever seen. Do you mind if I call my wife over?"
Lois practically ran over. She oohed and ahhed over the baby and finally the mother insisted Lois hold him. "He's a very good baby," she said shyly. She was obviously proud. Lois followed the mother as she shopped along the carefully marked racks, holding her new tiny friend, Alex.
Lois eyed the mother. She was beautiful herself. Tiny but with a look that said she was very strong.
"Excuse me for being so bold," Lois said, "but would you ever have any use for an evening gown? We got a violet gown in yesterday and it's a size two. That's about your size, isn't it? There will be only a few who could ever wear it and it would just go splendidly with your eyes. Do you want to see it?"
Lois was so excited she walked right to the back and, holding Alex, grabbed the gown. It had a high neck and low back. It was covered with tiny violet beads and clear sequins. "We have a dressing room right here in the corner if you'd like to try it on. Go on, go ahead." She handed the large pile of baby clothes to Keith.
The young woman was clearly hesitant. "I could never afford it. Really, I don't need to try it on."
"Oh, just try it on. We'll pretend we're having a fashion show. Speaking of which, our annual show is coming up. Why don't you model it for us then?" Lois was just bubbling with enthusiasm.
The dress seemed to have been made for the young woman. It brought tears to Lois' eyes. "You should see yourself. You are just so beautiful. You'll have to save it for a special occasion." Keith came over and told her that after Lois she was truly the most enchanting young lady he had ever seen. He winked at Lois.
The young mother smiled and blushed profusely as she looked at herself in the mirror. She did look exceptional. She looked at her reflection for a long time. The young woman frowned, changed, and handed the dress to Lois. "It's beautiful. It would be fun to wear it. My twenty-fifth birthday is coming up. But I could never afford it. Thanks for the thought, though." She reached for Alex.
"Oh, honey, I don't mean to be pushy but you'll never find a dress like this again. Even if you walk up and down Rodeo Drive for a month. You can't pass it up!" Lois was confused. The dress could not have been any more perfect for this young lady. It had fit like a glove!
"Well, I just came in to see about your baby clothing. I need quite a bit. You see, Alex is one in a set of identical triplets. It was a rare thing, the doctor said. I better get going. I really, really appreciate your help. And it was fun to try on the dress, but I couldn't spend money like that." She turned away.
Keith handed her the bag. "That'll be four dollars. You just came the right day, young lady. We didn't even have a chance to put up our 75 percent off sign. All baby clothing is on sale tomorrow!" Keith's expression didn't change as he spoke matter-of-factly. "We have a ton of stuff in the back and we're hoping to get rid of some of it with the big sale we're starting tomorrow. Why don't you come back tomorrow and see what else we got in? You'd really be helping."
The young lady smiled and she grabbed the large bag. "I can't -- I'm just passing through town on my way to see my grandmother. My husband is watching Alex's brothers. Thank you for everything. I felt like a fairy princess today." She took Alex and shyly gave Lois a hug.
Keith and Lois watched as their young friend carefully put Alex into his car seat. She put her package in the trunk and was on her way.
"Whew! I'm glad she's not coming again tomorrow!" Keith said.
"What?" Lois practically shouted. Her eyes flared with anger. "I thought she was a lovely girl. Such a good mommy. Why would you say such a mean thing?"
"Because, my quick-tempered, pushy, beautiful wife," Keith said, "then she won't have a chance to return that dress that's at the bottom of her bag...."
People have been more than generous to the hospital thrift shop. A beautiful organ was donated in memory of a patient. It was sold for 800 dollars. A diamond ring was auctioned off for 975 dollars at their annual fund raiser. A rare painting was sold in a gallery for 3,000 dollars.
Upscale stores donated outfits for the fashion show -- only to donate the clothing afterward to be sold during a silent auction. Last year the shop gave almost a million dollars to the hospital, enabling it to start a burn center. Two years ago three MRI and CT scanners were purchased. Only three years ago an auditorium was built because of thrift shop business. Yes, the thrift shop is doing well.
When Lois, who is the auxiliary president, proposed the hospital start a thrift shop five years ago, she wasn't sure people would take to the idea. But an empty Army barracks at the back of the property seemed to invite the idea. The board agreed to try the thrift shop -- run strictly by volunteers -- for one year.
It was an amazing beginning. Lois went door to door explaining the idea and asking people to keep the shop in mind when it would finally open. She tirelessly called every contact she had in business to donate an item or a service. She scouted out stores to donate a register, numerous display racks, and clothes racks. It took three months of working long days with twenty volunteers before opening day.
Items poured in: some very desirable and some not so desirable, which were politely turned away. Only items in good condition would be accepted which meant only items in good condition would be sold. Business was brisk from the first day, due in part to thousands of flyers, donated by the hospital print shop, posted in store windows and on car windshields.
Hospital staff, people from the community, patients, and visitors would come and visit the thrift shop. Some bought much: some bought little. The racks were constantly changing with many new items coming in daily.
One day, a young mother came in just before the shop closed. The other volunteers had gone. Keith looked at her with interest as she browsed through the baby clothing. On her hip was a beautiful little boy, dressed in a warm, light blue playsuit the color of his eyes. Keith walked up to the girl and asked how old her adorable baby was. Four months. The baby looked at Keith. "He's just about the most beautiful baby I've ever seen. Do you mind if I call my wife over?"
Lois practically ran over. She oohed and ahhed over the baby and finally the mother insisted Lois hold him. "He's a very good baby," she said shyly. She was obviously proud. Lois followed the mother as she shopped along the carefully marked racks, holding her new tiny friend, Alex.
Lois eyed the mother. She was beautiful herself. Tiny but with a look that said she was very strong.
"Excuse me for being so bold," Lois said, "but would you ever have any use for an evening gown? We got a violet gown in yesterday and it's a size two. That's about your size, isn't it? There will be only a few who could ever wear it and it would just go splendidly with your eyes. Do you want to see it?"
Lois was so excited she walked right to the back and, holding Alex, grabbed the gown. It had a high neck and low back. It was covered with tiny violet beads and clear sequins. "We have a dressing room right here in the corner if you'd like to try it on. Go on, go ahead." She handed the large pile of baby clothes to Keith.
The young woman was clearly hesitant. "I could never afford it. Really, I don't need to try it on."
"Oh, just try it on. We'll pretend we're having a fashion show. Speaking of which, our annual show is coming up. Why don't you model it for us then?" Lois was just bubbling with enthusiasm.
The dress seemed to have been made for the young woman. It brought tears to Lois' eyes. "You should see yourself. You are just so beautiful. You'll have to save it for a special occasion." Keith came over and told her that after Lois she was truly the most enchanting young lady he had ever seen. He winked at Lois.
The young mother smiled and blushed profusely as she looked at herself in the mirror. She did look exceptional. She looked at her reflection for a long time. The young woman frowned, changed, and handed the dress to Lois. "It's beautiful. It would be fun to wear it. My twenty-fifth birthday is coming up. But I could never afford it. Thanks for the thought, though." She reached for Alex.
"Oh, honey, I don't mean to be pushy but you'll never find a dress like this again. Even if you walk up and down Rodeo Drive for a month. You can't pass it up!" Lois was confused. The dress could not have been any more perfect for this young lady. It had fit like a glove!
"Well, I just came in to see about your baby clothing. I need quite a bit. You see, Alex is one in a set of identical triplets. It was a rare thing, the doctor said. I better get going. I really, really appreciate your help. And it was fun to try on the dress, but I couldn't spend money like that." She turned away.
Keith handed her the bag. "That'll be four dollars. You just came the right day, young lady. We didn't even have a chance to put up our 75 percent off sign. All baby clothing is on sale tomorrow!" Keith's expression didn't change as he spoke matter-of-factly. "We have a ton of stuff in the back and we're hoping to get rid of some of it with the big sale we're starting tomorrow. Why don't you come back tomorrow and see what else we got in? You'd really be helping."
The young lady smiled and she grabbed the large bag. "I can't -- I'm just passing through town on my way to see my grandmother. My husband is watching Alex's brothers. Thank you for everything. I felt like a fairy princess today." She took Alex and shyly gave Lois a hug.
Keith and Lois watched as their young friend carefully put Alex into his car seat. She put her package in the trunk and was on her way.
"Whew! I'm glad she's not coming again tomorrow!" Keith said.
"What?" Lois practically shouted. Her eyes flared with anger. "I thought she was a lovely girl. Such a good mommy. Why would you say such a mean thing?"
"Because, my quick-tempered, pushy, beautiful wife," Keith said, "then she won't have a chance to return that dress that's at the bottom of her bag...."
