Over Cookies

/ Jessica

Do you like cookies? 

Mmm. Me, too, and until yesterday, I had no idea the gifts that could come from some oats, cinnamon, raisins, and honey. 

One of my really good friends is having some rough days. She lost her momma on Tuesday and said her goodbyes on Friday. In four days, her life flipped upside down. 

I’ve pretty much been at a loss for what to do, so I did what I always do, I started cooking. 

Three casseroles, some pork chops, a chocolate cake, and two bags full of cookies later, I was on my way to her house to drop it off. 

We live about an hour apart and I left my rural area to get there. Where I take her exit off the highway, there are three lanes that turn left. I was sitting in the middle lane, several cars back from the red light. 

Then, I saw him. A man was standing on the side of the road on my left and one car up. There weren’t any cars behind that car. 

He held a cardboard sign, and honestly, I have no idea what it said. I just watched him. He was staring into that car beside him. Head held high, all vulnerabilities laid at his feet, and just staring. 

Then, he turned his head to the left and looked down. And, my heart broke. 

I can’t even imagine what that’s like. To be looking right at somebody and to not be seen. When I step into those imaginary shoes, my tears just run. They’re running now.

Well, there’s something you probably ought to know about me. It’s a lesson I learned about five years ago on the radio. A gal said, “If you get the urge to do something kind, just do it. Don’t question it.” Since then, I try live my life that way. 

The light turned green and traffic started moving. Suddenly, I looked at my seat full of food, glanced in the mirror to see if it was safe, rolled down my window, and hollered,

“I don’t have any money, but I have cookies!”

You should have seen his face! Pure joy! It was that kind of happiness that can’t be duplicated or faked! 

And, it’s like the timing was perfectly orchestrated. There was no car on my left, he was able to step across safely, and instead of the car behind me blaring their horn, they waited.

When I arrived at my friend’s house, I started telling her what happened to her second bag of cookies and in that moment, a tiny  miracle happened: 

A smile spread across her face. 

I mean, this is someone who has spent a week in the grips of grief, has had her momma yanked away from her, who hasn’t slept in four days, and there she stood, SMILING. 

Over cookies.  

54 thoughts on “Over Cookies”

        • Thank is extremely thoughtful and kind! Thank you so much! I can’t wait to read more of your posts! I love your About section and that you wrote your book about your cat. :) We love cats! We have two and just had a sweet stray show up last week.

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          • Thank you. My posts are very eclectic, to say the least. I write about what my stream of consciousness is thinking when i sit down to do a post. I never really know what I’ll end up with???
            I will soon have to do some revisions on my About page, I think, to bring it up to date. I hate making any changes for fear I’ll make technical mistakes and screw everything up.
            I do love cats and all animals, for that matter. One of my favorites are alpacas and I have a few posts about the alpaca farm near me. I used some of the alpacas in ZuZu’s book. Twyla and Ginger , the baby chips, are her good friends.
            I’m sure that little stray will show up in your posts soon. Have a great week end. Clare

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  7. You’re right Jess, I needed that kleenex. I knew there was a reason I loved you so much, you are one of the kindest people I’ve met … and I haven’t even met you. But I feel as though I’ve known you for years. What a wonderful gift you gave … to the man on the road who probably was shown the first ray of sunshine and to your friend who badly needed to smile. Beautiful. :)

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    • I feel like I’ve known you for years, too. My whole life, really. I knew you’d get teary because ever time I read it, my cheeks are wet. I wish you would have been with me, Miri. To see his face when he looked away and down. Such defeat. It was crushing… Then, on the flip side, to see extreme joy on that same face. Took my breath. It’s sooooo true: you just never know when a kindness will affect somebody or how. Cookies. :) I love you too, soul sister! You just get me. Mush and all!

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