Special Delivery - Zen and the Art of Little House Travelling

[The following was shared with me and I was told I could share it with you.  Thank you Ann for sharing this beautiful story.  I hope you also enjoy.]

by:  Ann
https://zenandtheartoflittlehousetravelling.com/2016/10/13/special-delivery/

This post is a bit of departure from my travel and Egg stories so I hope you will bear with me.

Yesterday, I went to our tiny local post office and there being a que, I waited outside in the little vestibule. The woman ahead of me, motioned me in, saying we’d move the line into the opposite corner. I thanked her and made small talk about window of sun we were enjoying in a day of rain. I mentioned I was there to pick up vacation mail, that we were just returning from camping in Minnesota. She told me her Grandkids lived up there and I smiled and told her I hoped they were enjoying the beautiful Fall colors and were ready for that night’s freeze warning.

She nodded, politely, and that was the end of our conversation as she went to fill out paperwork and I up to claim my mail. Here, you have to know a little back story on the postal clerk. She is a small woman, she has the air of forlorn attractiveness and is small in stature–probably in her mid fifties. For all the years I have gone to that Branch I have known her to be a little surly but good at her job. Each time I meet her, I work to try and make her smile but I have rarely been successful.

Enter yesterday. Remember the lady who had been ahead of me in line? Well, I am facing forward at the desk and I sense an energy shift in the room. The woman from line now seems to be lit from within and she crosses the room to whisper the words: “She needs to be told she is loved.” I laughed with the words; “I think we should all say that to each other every day.” She nodded as she turned away and the light faded. It was as if she had never said a thing to me. A doorway had closed. She had no idea that she had even spoken to me.

Today, after speaking with a friend about this angel encounter, I went to the local bakery and told the owners of my unusual experience and asked for help picking out some cookies (they laughed, knowing just which clerk I was speaking about). I picked up some lemon cookies but the bakers thought gooey butter cookies were a better choice.

So, after buying the cookies, I said a little prayer that the Post Office would be empty and the clerk at work (because, let’s face it, it’s a little kooky to walk up to a clerk and tell them you love them so I needed a little space to get the words out).

Well, There were no other customers. I walked up to the counter and said; “I was told you needed to hear the words “I love you.” And in the inimitable way a middle aged black woman can, she said; “Unnnnmmm hun”. (Clearly thinking I was some kind of lunatic). Persevering, I lifted my sunglasses to look her in the eyes and continued with; “I am here to say the words “I love You” and I am not the only one. There are angels right behind me waiting to help you. All you need to do is ask. So, if you were asking for a sign, this is it.” I smiled at her and I was turning to leave as she looked in the bakery bag and gasped. In a long excellation, she whispered; ” Gooey Butter cookies.” And I could see tears as the doors closed behind me. I will probably never know why the gooey butter cookies were important but it just goes to show many hands work in every miracle.

So, I am left hearing the words of Shakespeare in my head:

The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.

And this my friends, is a true and unvarnished encounter with an angel. God truly does work in mysterious ways. Let’s just all try to shine a little brighter for our neighbors whether angels intervene or not. Peace out.