Today I was able to be a part of the Holiday Marketplace at Bare Bulb Coffee. Aub and I were there for over four hours hanging out and visiting with the people who came in to browse or shop.
During the afternoon I made the acquaintance of a young expectant mother who had a table set up with her wares. She has a home business as a rep selling bags for a reputable company. She was always the first of the vendors to speak to people, and she had a way of engaging folks who dropped by. She had the most attractive display. It was cheery and full of the holiday spirit. And all those bags! I was in bag heaven. (Have I mentioned my bag obsession? Thank goodness for the GW Boutique and eBay!) Watching the young woman visit with people, I thought of Daddy. He would have described her as “eat up with personality.” And that was her to a “T.”
As people who are in close quarters for a period of time do, we wound up in conversation. In hearing her story, I was taken aback. It was not what I was expecting at all. She sells the bags to supplement a school she runs and owns in Honduras–for any and all children. A bilingual school, it is a step above the public schools there and gives the children a head start to make life better for them and their families. She sells the bags for the children. I had to sit and let that soak in. So many who sell as reps for companies like this sell for the incentives or commissions so they can help their own families. And there is nothing wrong with that at all. But this young mother of one and one on the way, a military spouse, sells these to help her mission of helping children in another country–so many of whom are there on scholarship. Bless them all.
At one point she apologized for sharing so much of her story. She said she tells it fast because there’s so much to tell, and she worries that she shouldn’t go on and on about it.
Oh sweet girl. Do not apologize.
When you have a passion like hers, it pours out. Beautifully and wonderfully so. It flows like a bubbling brook, cool and refreshing and full of life and sparkling goodness. And so hers did today. About this school. About the people there. About her students.
I was reminded of a couple of things today. Daddy used to tease Mama that she drew people to her to tell her their life stories. His eyes lit up as he teased her about it. It was truth. And she loved hearing people’s stories as did he. I am glad I got to hear the fascinating story of this young missionary in Honduras who married her husband who was stationed there and wound up living in this same community as I do. Coincidence that threw us together today? Maybe. But I don’t think it was coincidence that I asked the right questions that led her to share her story. I am thankful for the time and space to learn about her journey.
The other thing is the way her passion poured out of her–what a thing to see! I wonder what pours out of me when I’m under the spell of what lies in my heart. Anything good? Is it about my past sadness and loss? Or is it about the laughter echoing in my head from something silly my children were sharing a few minutes ago? Or is it something else entirely?
What pours out of you? What can’t you wait to share with others? I need to do an inventory and fall housekeeping of my heart to rearrange what is there. I want to glow and beam with a story I can’t contain. It looks good on a body, that’s for sure–that passion of doing what your soul is called to do.
Yes, that’s the good stuff. And today I am thankful for the reminder. Sharing stories is good. Sharing your passion is priceless.
I Might Need A Nap 