Over Pies

/ Jessica

A few nights ago I heard lots of kid voices on the gravel road in front of our house which is  highly unusual.

I mean, we hear our share of frogs croaking, birds singing, and coyotes howling, but there are hardly ever kids on this dead end country road.

They came to the door with a flyer and said they were having an upcoming fish fry and pie auction at their church a few days later and were inviting people in the area to come.

We set the flyer out so we wouldn’t forget, and yesterday we ventured a mile up the highway to their church called Friendship Church.

We’d been there two or three times several years ago when we were trying on churches, so to speak, but it was so long ago that this was a new experience for us.

I’ve got to be honest here, the “how are we going to walk into a room where we don’t see anybody familiar” butterflies were making some serious racket in my stomach.

It’s kind of unnerving, you know? To walk into a place where everybody already knows everybody else. It does makes it pretty easy to pick out who is new.

But, maybe that’s a good thing because we were greeted with lots of smiles and warm welcomes. In fact, one of the ladies even recognized us from the time we were there like 5 years ago.

The kitchen was a buzz with meal preparations and after everyone was seated, chit chat filled the room.

As weird as it sounds, in a room full of virtual strangers, I was almost transported back to when I was a kid at my grandma’s Iowa farmhouse.

When we got together, the adults in our family used to sit at the kitchen table and tell stories that filled the whole house and meals with laughter.

Last night I realized that it didn’t really matter if we knew anyone or not, just being there was enough.

For the pie auction, Little Bit and the kids took turns carrying the desserts through the sanctuary to show each one to the potential bidders while the auctioneer was busy calling out the dollar amounts.

While waiting in line for his turn, Little Bit spotted something on the table that he really, really wanted:

A pie.

Ok, this is a really, really huge thing! My boy has never even eaten pie! Like ever!

So, with money in my back pocket, this momma set out to get him his first ever fruit-filled confection.

Well… I lost by $5.

After the last of the desserts sold, everyone was gathering their things and getting ready to head home.

I was standing near the pulpit when a kind gentleman I’ve never met before approached me and offered his lovely raspberry masterpiece.

What?? Me?? My response was “Let me give you some money for it,” which he refused to take.

So, there I stood, dessert in hand and a lump in my throat. Then, a sweet gal I don’t even know came up to me with her arms outstretched.

I about fell over when I looked down and saw her gift! It was the very pie that Little Bit had wanted so badly.

Seriously? Who does that? Who is soooooooo kind that they buy something and hand it over to someone else? Someone they don’t even know?

Evidently they do.

Suddenly as I started to thank her, I felt the lump in my throat make its way to my tear ducts.

With extreme gratitude about to  spill down my cheeks, the only words I could seem to muster were,

“Who cries over pies?”


95 thoughts on “Over Pies”

    • The pies were homemade bliss! The people were beyond kind and Little Bit was sooooooo thrilled when he saw me holding it. He even tried them both when we got home! It was really something to see such kindness in action.

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  9. Ah – what a wonderful story. I would have cried too. Often we forget how many wonderful people there are in this world. The news should tell some of the heart warming stories instead of so much of the awful things in this world. I bet those pies were delicious.

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  10. Wow! The sheer beauty brings tears…but what I want to know is…are they gone yet??????????????????????????? I think there is nothing better sometimes than the kindheartedness of strangers found in small towns. <3

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  11. What a beautiful story, and beautiful gestures from two strangers. Gifts given with hearts filled with love. I’m choked at the kindness, genuiness and the lovliness of two truly beautiful people.
    It’s like I always say … never lose your ‘ness’. It’s what makes *you* so incredible.
    Thank you so much for sharing your story with us all.
    Sending oodles of love ~ Cobs(ness) ~ xxx

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    • Oh my, yes. I’ve never heard of the raspberry one and it is really good. It’s light and just a bit tangy. You should see the crust on the blackberry pie. So crisp and flakey. Definitely a treat!

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    • Church bake sales are the best, aren’t they? Love the idea of tried and trusted family recipes being made with love. You would have loved that table full of scrumptious desserts. Yum.

      They surprised me with their kindness. That’s one amazing thing about kindness, simple gestures can sometimes knock us off our virtual feet. :) Thank you for reading. Hey, how’s your dog?

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    • Oh my goodness, I don’t eat pie either, being GF, but I stuck a spoon around the crust and right in the middle of the raspberry one. Mmmm!! So good. Little Bit even tried them! Thank you, it did mean a lot.

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    • Hey, friend. Your goosebumps bring a smile to my face. Sounds like me… I agree, it is a wonderful community. Kindness radiates around most of the people here. What a gift it is to live here.

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