Mark 12:41-44 NIV
I think about this parable often. Sometimes it lifts me up and sometimes it makes me deeply sad.
And sometimes I see it in different ways.
How my family never valued me, and though they had every ability to help, chose not to.
Or scolded me if they did.
But you can’t force someone to care.
They *worked* for what they had.
Because how did you expect me to help you when you would one day need it? Isn’t that what family does?
Maybe they are happier without me.
Because there have been so many coworkers and strangers and others who were so unexpectedly kind.
And it is so hard to see the good in the world when you don’t have it from family.
But I remember – I remember all of them.
So here is to them.
To Tepper Pharmacy – for fronting me two weeks of medications until my prior authorization kicked in over a decade ago with the note “Merry Christmas”
To Alicia – for telling me we are not stupid and we are not crazy.
To my boss Jim, for letting me borrow his extra car for the weekend when mine broke down. And for covering my medical premiums when I was out on leave. For giving me leave. They were a small company then – he had no need to.
To the homeless veteran under the bridge who when I offered him $10 looked at me with concern for me and said “are you sure?” And I said yes.
Realizing now that maybe a year or two later a customer gave me a $10 tip – when I was making $9.75 an hour. I told her she didn’t need to but she insisted. It was the same amount – $10.
To every boss and coworker who has lifted me up.
When I asked for recommendations for a job application from coworkers I hadn’t worked with in years I got so many more than I needed. Thank you. I broke down in tears from that. I want you all to know.
To Hussein, for convincing me to stay at a job I found very stressful but loved the work.
To the other managers who held it together there. And my coworkers who worked so hard.
To Laura – for just being kind.
Those are the things that keep me going.
Laughs and Lobotomies 