Thursday, 15 May 2008
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being saved
i cleaned out one of my suitcases the other day and found an old library card.i remember this one time i checked this book out at the library for a book report on otters. a report that turned out smashigly well might i say, complete with handdrawn pictures, and yarn for the sea urchins i used.
fast forward 3 weeks, when, to my dismay...i would find the book on the floor - 4 days late! .
"omg, am i going to jail? did i just break the law? will i be beaten? what will happen to me???"
as tears stream from my eyes, my mom chuckled but did her best to keep her consternation to be sympathetic to what i saw as a VERY serious situation. she told me to hop in the car saying "maybe it's not too late." i was quiet throughout the car ride (a rarity my mom says)....looking out the window wondering if this was my last day to experience freedom. as we pulled into the library, my palms were sweaty, eyes darting, back limp.
i slowly opened the car door...."go on" my mom said..as if i was walking the plank. i nervously walked up the ramp, went to the front desk and softly spoke "i am returning this book. i am very sorry. it is late." the librarian, who at the time looked like a giant behind the desk, calmly opened the cover...slid out the card and confirmed, the book was 4 days late.
i squinted my eyes, waiting for the chopping block to be pulled out...and she said...
"normally, it's 10 cents a day when a book is late..that's a whole 40 cents...."
i gulped. where in the world would i find THAT kind of money??
"are you going to do this again?"
softly....i said..."no ma'am."
she continued..."you look like a nice kid" she then reached over to a small jar she kept under the counter, pulled out 40 cents and put it in the cash register.
just realizing what she just did, i looked up at the giant/librarian with my swollen eyes and said a big "thank you." and off i ran - to make sure she couldn't take it back. i turned the corner and i happily skipped back to the car to my smiling mom. everything was good again.
grace and salvation is everywhere - when was the last time you were saved?
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Comments (5)
That's a good, pondersome question (is pondersome even a word???)!!! Probably back in March for me, when I thought I was having some serious physical problems, and the doctor merely said, "You pulled a muscle from weight lifting too heavily..." A great relief!!!!!
that was sweet. I think I get "saved" by others sooo often I don't even take note anymore! I can honestly say this...I don't know WHEN the last time was...but it was probably in the last month. Help happens a lot in my life! Definitely need to appreciate those people more!!!
That is a beautiful story you shared! Thank you! It would appear that the Giant Librarian practised grace on a regular basis, for she was well prepared to meet the need of the little boy who you were then! Even kept a jar of nickels handy!
I've just got home from a seven-day Alaska cruise aboard the Motor Ship Ryndam of the Holland America Line. At the beginning of the cruise, I borrowed a wonderful book from the ship's library, 'Amazing Grace,'the Story of William Wilberforce and the Remarkable Campaign to End the Slave Trade. I finished the thrilling story on the second last day at sea and then completely forgot where I had set it down. In great trepidation I approached the clerk in the Ship's Office, expecting to be told I would have to pay the full cost for a new book. But again grace prevailed when she informed me there would be no charge to my account.
In New Westminster, BC, where I live, my local library has a policy where seniors are not charged library fines.
Once again, GRACE!
That is beyond sweet of her. And I can just imagine a small boy feeling so relieved after having had grace poured down on him.
Oh, the love.
Great story.. so cute and sweet!