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Totally OT: a mixed blessing
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Wow…here’s the situation. We have been very tight on money recently, and I have money allocated to get my kids new fall clothes (obviously a necessity, at ages 5 yrs. and 6 months), but not for myself. I am in an awkward post-pregnancy phase, but was just going to have to make my regular clothes work the best I could until I finish losing the weight.
My neighbor just showed up at my front door with three bags of clothes and shoes….all in my size. They are from her mother. Her mother is dying of Alzheimer’s and is so far gone that she doesn’t wear her clothes any more, just gowns. So her daughter is clearing out some of her things. It is crazy….she wears a size 10/12, as do I, and a 7 1/2 shoe, as do I. (What are the odds??) And the stuff is all beautiful, high-quality, and young-looking…not old-lady stuff at all.
I really, really need the things. I am in need of new shoes but there is just not really money for them right now. And here are nine pairs of beautiful shoes in my size. There is a beautiful, long, lined winter coat that fits me. There are pajamas and skirts and capris. The daughter really wanted me to have the things, so I took them and thanked her profusely. I really am incredibly grateful.
But as I sit here looking at all this stuff, I just feel so strange about it. I feel like I’m profiting off someone’s misfortune. This beautiful lady whom we have gotten to know and have watched go downhill so quickly will be passing soon….can I do this? can I really wear her clothes??
Sorry, just had to share. I guess there’s not much to say. I’m just really feeling so mixed about this right now.
I love when that happens and I have done and received many times. I love getting others used things and giving to someone when it’s not for us anymore. I am so glad you got this gift and that the Lord found a way to bless you.
I’m sure it is a blessing to the daughter to be able to help. There isn’t much she can do for her mother, but she can help someone find a use for the things her mother loved. Wear them to remember the goodness of God who brings comfort and aid in the midst of pain. Wear them to honor a good woman and a thoughtful neighbor.
What a wonderful gift! It is good that she gave them to you before she passed. My father passed away and it took my mother 4 years to give his clothes to someone that would fit into them.
On the other side I have been in the same situation and I always think of the verse that says he takes care of the birds of the feild and how much more he will take care of us. Not to worry about the clothes you wear or the food you eat. 🙂
I have not had to buy clothes for several years for my kids. It wasn’t until this year that I purchased clothes for them. We have been blessed by many people that have given us brand new hand me downs. Including shoes. The funny thing about it all is This year my husband went out and bought my son a pair of really nice shoes only for them to fall apart in less than 3 weeks. I had to laugh because all the other ones held up so well we never had to complain about G-d’s blessings. LOL… Enjoy wearing them.
P.S. I did love seeing the friend wear his clothes It brought back fond memories of my dad everytime we saw him wear something he owned. The funny thing was one day he was wearing a shirt and we all pinpointed it out that it was dad’s and he swore it wasn’t. We all had a good laugh because he picked up my dad’s taste that even we were not sure if it was or wasn’t… Have a good laugh and most of all enjoy all your blessings.
I could tell you several instances where G-d has blessed me with what I needed at the time I needed it…
Count it all JOY!!!
Questa7, PLEASE don’t feel like you’re somehow profiting off someone else’s misfortune. That is a perfect scheme of the enemy to steal the joy that God obviously wants you to have because of this unexpected, but much needed, blessing. Our family is so very blessed to be able to buy all our clothing and shoes whenever we need them, but this has not always been the case. I had a wonderful friend whose dd was one year older than mine. Every fall, she passed down her dd’s clothing to us–always Gap, Gymboree, high-end stuff in good shape. It was such a blessing! My mom and I wear the same size shoes, and she used to give me her shoes when she decided she no longer wanted them–we’re talking brands like Nine West, Cole Haan, and Kenneth Cole. She could afford it, and I couldn’t; so I wasn’t about to turn her down when she was offering! When we couldn’t get hand-me-downs for the kids, we shopped at children’s consignment stores and Once Upon a Child.
Now, I am so thankful that God has blessed us financially, and we are paying it forward. We give all of dd’s outgrown clothing to a good friend of mine whose dd is 2 years younger. We also donate dh’s and my clothing to a local benevolence ministry when it’s time for new stuff for us. I am so thankful that God met our needs for so many years through generous people.
Think about it this way: that lady’s clothing wasn’t being worn AND it would have probably been thrown away or donated to Goodwill if her daughter hadn’t wanted to bless you. My grandmother died last December, and we are finally able to sort through her clothing and give it away. As the family of the person who died, we don’t feel at all like someone is benefitting from our loss. We know that Memaw would have thought us completely silly if we just left her stuff in closets and dressers!
Be thankful for your gift, don’t let the enemy steal your joy, and one day when you’re able, you’ll be on the opposite side, blessing someone else who’s walking in the same shoes (pun intended) as you are right now!
Blessings,
Lindsey
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