Vendor Writing: The Angels Amongst Us

The Angels Amongst Us

BY JEFFREY, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

It’s 5:30 a.m. Plenty of time before the sunrise. Not yet time to be on my post. Thanks to the support of those buying The Contributor, enjoying coffee with my favorite creamer.

As a small child of 6 or 7 years old, yes, five decades past, I remember being in a poverty stricken household. Back then you could buy bubble gum for five cents. Inside you would also get two or three really cool 2 by 3 in. stickers.

My parents had no money to buy my school lunch. I can’t imagine the hurt this would have given them. So, I would sit and watch the others enjoy their meals. One day I had a couple of stickers. I can’t remember how it happened, but I sold them for enough to buy my food. Well, talk about the lights being turned on! I told my mother of the events of the day. There was to be no supper that night either except for some biscuits she was able to make. The lights in the house were also off. Something had happened to my dad’s job. We lived in Illinois, but our stove was gas, so there was some heat in the house.

I can’t remember how, but I was able to get enough change to buy several packs of bubble gum and went to school the next day fully loaded and started selling stickers like crazy. I had lunch again! I remember going home, handing my mom the money so we could all enjoy a great feast of chicken noodle soup, and beans and cornbread the next night as well. My dad got a couple bucks as well for gas money to get to work. I don’t remember for sure. I was only a first grader.

This went on for several days and my new enterprise was doing quite well for our family. My father was a very proud man obviously and never thought of asking for help. Well, you know how it goes, all good things must come to an end. Parents of the children complained to the school principal. My mother was called into the school and I was ordered to stop and close up shop.

Going to school the next day wasn’t exciting at all! No lunch money again. I remember going into the cafeteria and sitting down with no lunch tray. One of the people working in the cafeteria came and brought me a tray of food and asked if I would be willing to help them in the cafeteria instead of going outside to play right after the bell rang. We used square divided trays where the food was spooned upon and were washed daily. I readily agreed to do so. What happened next was something I will never forget. I was asked if I would simply stand by the opening where the kinds would throw in their trays as they headed out the door for recess. If I remember correctly, the lunch was 50 cents. As most kids that get handed money do, they get complacent. Those who paid with a dollar would get back 50 cents in change. In a hurry to eat and go to the playground, they would actually throw the trays at me through the window. The sound of quarters landing on the stainless steel sounded like wind chimes in a hurricane. As I looked at the tear filled eyes of a wonderful lady working in the cafeteria all I remember was the nod saything, “Those are for you!”

So that was how the youngest of five was able to help get a family fed and back on their feet. I don’t remember how long it lasted. My father obviously began to get paid eventually. The electricity was soon turned back on and he was able to bring home a roll of quarters for school lunch. Yes, there are angels amongst us. Some are dwelling inside a human and are willing.

I am reminded of my great grandmother stretching her hand toward a fuzzy black and white television set with tears rolling down her face doing exactly as a televangelist by the name of Jimmy Swaggart had instructed her to do praying for her family.

Not very long ago, a very honest man that was going to a large church shared with me that most people were in agreement that they would no longer “enable” bad behavior by supporting anything except what the congregation of the people approved of. From this group is a small number of amazing people. They would gladly buy a Contributor anyway. Some were polarized by the Holy Spirit inside their cars as they would talk to me. Some would not support with money but asked what they could do for me. My responses would vary. It was clear where they stood.

I still pray that the scales over their hearts become softer. Should their sons, daughters, nieces or nephews cross my path, I will never cease to do the right thing by changing their course. It’s past the hour to only pray. It’s more than OK to be the answer to that prayer. With discernment you won’t enable poorly. You will enable richly.

Time to lay down the pen. The sun is rising. I won’t take my eye off the ball. Badges on! Game on! Time to engage!