What is wrong with you, Maw Maw?

I had the most obvious sign that I am “embracing” FULL GRANDPARENTHOOD, when my hubby at I were dining at Fisherman’s Market on Saturday.

A little ways from our table was a large group of adults and children. It appeared as if they had just come from a ballgame since the boys had ball uniforms on. Everyone except one boy (approx. 10 years old) were sitting at a long table. Behind their table this one lone boy sat with his back to everyone. Everyone was eating, including this little boy. He didn’t look back, and didn’t interact with this group. I FELT SO BAD, that he was being ignored while everyone else talked and laughed and enjoyed their “group fellowship”.

The other table was comprised of obvious parents, grandparents, and other kids. But none of them were having anything to do with this one little boy! Grrrrrr!!! He didn’t appear disabled or handicapped in any way. Was he being punished? Had he struck out in the game? Was he sick? I didn’t know, and I didn’t care!! I just didn’t like the obvious (in my opinion) mistreatment of this young man! It BOTHERED ME GREATLY!

I was facing this group, while my hubby couldn’t see any of what was going on. I described the situation to him and he thought I was fretting over nothing! And maybe I was – but I just couldn’t get past it. It really disturbed me and literally ruined my lunch!

Suffice it to say that hubby knows me well and so when I got up to go the restroom he gave me strict instructions to leave the little boy alone. I obeyed and felt better when before leaving I witnessed an older grandfatherly man that was with the group go over to the little boys table and talk with him. I don’t know for sure – but I think he was in a “time out” situation.

What I find so profound is that the mother in me wasn’t bothered by this situation, but the grandmother in me was!

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What a sad, sad way to live…

Yesterday was TRASH day and so everyone’s trash in the neighborhood was at the curb awaiting pick up. While Kash and I were out for our morning stroll I noticed a young man (approx. in his 20’s) driving an old beat up compact car with no muffler. We walk an interesting “higher end housing” path thru the neighborhood that’s approx. 1 1/2 miles. The first time I witnessed this young man his car was idling, his driver’s door was open and he was rifling thru someone’s trash. (They had more than just normal household trash at the curb). I didn’t think much of it the first time I saw him, but as we continued to stroll thru the neighborhood we kept running into him driving up and down streets checking out everyone’s trash!!

My 62 yr. old brain said, “is he homeless”? “Does he live out of his car?” “Is he trying to feed his young family by searching for salvage?” Or, “is he trying to support a drug habit”? As a compassionate Christian, I wanted to ask him what he was looking for or maybe just witness to him.
But then I got what I would refer to as a “check in my spirit” – DANGER, DANGER, DANGER…beware.

So was the Holy Spirit leading me to speak to/witness to this man or was it the Holy Spirit when I heard “be careful, this man could be dangerous. He could have a weapon and you have your young grandson with you”?? I hate that when I don’t get clear and precise directions as to what to do – because I want to do the right thing. But I also don’t want to be stupid and endanger myself or my family.

I felt so sad that it appeared this young man was trying to making a living by “trashing”. It is rumored that alot of drug addicts do that in our city and so I chose to exercise caution even though I really wanted to reach out to him.

I said a prayer that God touch this young man and went on with my day. What would you have done?