The Rock Gift

Gifts are given for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and celebrations. Some of the best presents are ones given “just because” with no special reason or occasion. Gifts may make us laugh while others may bring tears. I received a rock that touched my heart and brought happy tears.

Grandson Rowan and Granddaughter Eden enjoy making crafts. They often enter the house and say, “What are we doing today? Can we make something?” There is a cabinet in our living room which holds the craft supplies. Crayons, markers, paint, construction paper, glue sticks, popsicle sticks, play dough, wire cleaners, straws, pom poms of various sizes, googly eyes, and much more. Sometimes we follow a pattern for making a craft. Other times, we use our imaginations and create interesting projects.

A few months ago, Rowan and Eden painted rocks. We set up a workstation on a table on the back porch. Paper towels, wet wipes for cleaning hands and the occasional paint splatter that landed on the porch couch cushions, paint, rocks that had been rinsed to remove the dirt, paintbrushes, and stickers were arranged on the table. Rowan, Eden, and Mimi were ready to paint beautiful designs on rocks of different sizes.

We worked intently until giggles broke out when the paint went somewhere other than the rocks. Making sure we wore our “paint clothes” was a must during this project. We love to dip the brushes in the paint and mix the colors. Then, we rinse the brushes and watch the water swirl in the cup.

After the rocks have been painted and placed on a paper towel to dry, we clean the area and find another activity until the rocks are ready to be placed into our flower garden. When every rock is dry, we place them in selected spots. Then, we walk to the sidewalk and look back to the garden. We want to make sure everyone can see the beautiful shapes and colors as they walk by.

Recently, Rowan and Eden entered the house for a visit. Laughter filled the home while everyone talked at the same time and shared about their day. As we headed to the playroom/office to find a game or activity to play, Rowan asked for wrapping paper. Rowan is very creative and I figured he was probably going to create something with the paper.

After finding some wrapping paper, Rowan left the room. Eden and I began to play with the dolls. A few minutes passed and Rowan returned.

“Mimi, close your eyes and hold out your hands.”
“Okay, what are we doing?” I asked.

“You’ll see. Mimi, I have a surprise for you.”

I closed my eyes, held out my hands, and felt his sweet hands place something in my wrinkled hands.

“Open your eyes, Mimi. It’s for you.”

My eyes opened and I was holding a wrapped gift from Rowan. I opened the paper and there was one of the rocks. I thanked him for the beautiful rock.

Rowan wanted to give me something special and one of his favorite rocks was the gift. A precious memory flooded my thoughts. When I was a young girl about Rowan’s age, I forgot my Mama’s birthday. When I remembered, I immediately went to my room and found my favorite doll. I wrapped it in a paper towel and gave it to my Mama. She loved it.

Rowan showed love and kindness to me. I showed love and kindness to my Mama.

God gave us the gift of salvation through His Son Jesus. We are loved and cherished by God.

Do you have a special gift story? Share your story in the comments.

Blessings and love,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson

Share

How a Famous Author (and friend) Save the Day

A road trip to see a famous author, who is a sweet friend, brought laughter and joy to a special event. We never know what will happen with the Henderson family. God always gives us something to bring happiness and joy. Today’s blog is about how a famous author (and friend) saved the day.

Alan and I enjoy attending book signings and author events. Sometimes we know the person and other times we learn about new writers. Often, lunch is served and everyone has an opportunity to fellowship with other readers.

Recently, we were blessed to attend a presentation and book signing by author Nancy Naigle. She’s written many great stories and some of her work has been turned into movies. Alan and I met Nancy years ago when we went to see her speak at an event in South Carolina.

We became friends and now, every time Nancy visits the area, we make sure to attend her events. Nancy enjoys laughter and we often share giggles about the simplest things in life. The first time we met Nancy, a person was giving away Vidalia onions after the presentation.

Although we never found the Vidalia onion person and didn’t get any of those special offerings, the three of us joked about how we met on that onion day.

At the latest event, a delicious lunch of garden greens with a hunk of chicken salad on top was served. Yummy warm bread accompanied the main course. Slices of decadent chocolate cake were served for dessert.

There were eight people at our table, including Nancy’s mother Bettie. During lunch, we chatted, shared which stories were our favorites, and enjoyed getting to know each other. A delightful time.

After a few bites of food, Nancy reached over and touched my arm. “Melissa, just want you to know a spider hanging from the chandelier and it’s getting ready to fall into Alan’s salad.”
I immediately glanced over to try and see the culprit. The light hit the tiny spider at just the right moment. The spider held tightly to a thin translucent string of web as it inched down towards Alan’s salad.

Everyone at the table became alert when I shared, “Alan, there’s a spider about to go into your salad.” I thought Alan would discreetly dispose of it with a napkin. But, of course, nothing goes quietly around us.

Before speaking a word, Alan clapped his hands together with a “SLAP”, and the spider was gone. The sound was loud enough to cause everyone at our table, and probably in the room, to pause to see what was happening.

Alan had acted before thinking the spider might have landed in his lunch. Oh, well… After getting rid of the spider, Alan decided he wasn’t hungry anymore.

There were giggles and remarks about how the salad now had more protein because the spider was in it. My salad was fine so I continued eating. Alan did enjoy some of the warm bread.

Thank you to our author friend, Nancy Naigle, who saved Alan from eating a spider. 😁

Nancy’s new story, “And Then There Was You” is available at retailers. Visit her website at www.nancynaigle.com

Have a blessed day! Watch out for spiders in your food.
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson

Share

Oranges in the Trees

“What are we doing today at Mimi’s?” This is a question I hear often from Rowan and Eden and also, the neighborhood children. School is finished and summertime activities have begun at Mimi’s house. Warm weather is here and that means bubbles, water balloons, splash pads, science experiments, and more ways to have fun.

Last week, I found instructions on how to make a bird feeder with oranges, granola, popcorn, and peanut butter. You may wonder why I would choose such a sticky and messy activity. The laughter that filled the house and the smiles of Rowan and Eden were great prizes even as we made a huge mess in the kitchen.

Bop had purchased two oranges at the grocery store. One for our project and one to eat. Always being safe first, I cut the orange in the middle which gave a half for each child. With paper towels ready for clean-up and the kids standing where they could see everything happening with our project, we were ready for the activity to begin.

“Mimi, what are you doing? Why do you have an orange?” Five and ¾ years old Rowan spoke first.
“Mimi, orange?” Two years old Eden spoke next.

I began to explain how we would make granola from the ingredients and then, fill the orange halves. But, first I had to scoop the “pulp” out of the orange. What an experience! This particular orange was filled with major pulp. The more I scooped with the spoon, the more juice squirted all over the kitchen counter and onto our clothes and hands.

Giggles started. We all laughed at the mess Mimi was making.

Next, we needed granola bites and popcorn to be ground up a little bit smaller. Bringing out the blender, Rowan immediately asked if he could push the button. Eden knows blenders are loud. “It’s too loud, Mimi.” She spoke before I had plugged in the machine.

“No worries Eden. Rowan can push the button. We’ll cover our ears.” Eden instantly placed her little hands over her ears even though the machine wasn’t turned on yet.

When I added a couple of granola bites to the blender and secured the top, I told Rowan to push the button. He smiled and placed his finger on the pulser. With a few taps, we had granola to mix with the peanut butter.

All ears were uncovered and the blender was put in the sink to wash at a later time. Now we could mix the rest of the ingredients to make our homemade meal for the birds.
Reaching our hands into the bowl, we mushed and squeezed the peanut butter and granola together.

The giggles started as we noticed the icky and gooey mess sticking to our fingers. “Mimi, how are we going to get this stuff off?” Rowan inquired.

Eden looked at me and started to stick a little finger in her mouth so she could taste the bird treats. “Wait, Eden, wait. I’ll get you another snack. This one is for the birds.”
With a grin, she proceeded to wipe her messy fingers on her shirt.

The bird feeder treat was ready to spoon and place in the oranges. Bop had prepared the oranges with teeny holes in each side. We filled the oranges and gave them to Bop to hang in the tree.

A fun and simple, or maybe not so simple, activity that brought laughter and joy. A bit of a mess, but sometimes fun involves making a mess.

Later in the day, after the new bird feeders were filled and hung, Rowan, Eden, and I looked out of the playroom/office window. Downy woodpeckers enjoying the treats we had made for them.

Every day, we look for the birds. We’ve also had bluebirds visiting our homemade feeders.

What a joy to have fun projects! We learn and laugh together. Sometimes we get messy and that’s okay.

Have you enjoyed any homemade creations lately? Share with us. You may inspire others.

Blessings and giggles,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson

Share

Super Exciting News for Readers

I am super excited to announce that I have a story in the new anthology “Charleston Light: Stories Inspired by Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse”. The book contains eight novellas written by authors who belong to the South Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

The inspiration for each unique story in this anthology came from the Charleston Light lighthouse on Sullivan’s Island. My husband (Alan) and I attend church on the island and enjoy learning the history of the island and the people. The writer’s group toured the Charleston Light lighthouse area and agreed this would be great material for stories.

My story is “Second Time Lighthouse Love”.
After two years, widow Lana Pierce continues to grieve the loss of her beloved husband Stan. When the older woman finds a mysterious notebook left on their favorite bench, she wonders if this could be a secret message intended for her. Is another “forever love” possible?

One of the extra special ideas came when the writers discussed how proceeds from sales of the book should be handled. As a group, the decision was made to donate all proceeds to SOUL (Sanctuary of Unborn Life). Dianne Miley, a chapter member of our group, and anthology contributor, is the Founder of SOUL. This faith-based non-profit group provides support, mentoring, and housing assistance for local pregnant and new mothers in need. More information about SOUL can be found on their website. www.sanctuaryofunbornlife.org

Now for more exciting news. I am putting together a launch team for the book. Would you please consider being part of this launch team? There are several ways to help.

Read my short novella for free and write a review and post it on Amazon, Goodreads, and Bookbub. Hopefully, you will enjoy the story and want to purchase the entire book.

Pre-order the anthology ebook. The ebook is $2.99 on Amazon now. The normal price is $4.99, which is still a good deal.

Share this Preorder on your social media. Tell your family, friends, and yes, strangers, about the book.

If you decide to be on my launch team, please read the story by April 14th. All reviews should be posted by April 17th. Amazon will not allow reviews until April 14th.

If you are interested and available to read my novella, please email me at ahenderson312@gmail.com. I’ll be happy to send you a free pdf of my story.

Perhaps you would like to purchase the ebook without being on the launch team. Here’s the link to pre-order.

https://a.co/d/6H2R4lc

Have a blessed day and look for lighthouses,
Melissa Henderson aka Mimi

Share

Eagle Message

“Are we going to church today? We missed last Sunday.” My husband Alan inquired.

“I’m kind of tired this morning. But, there’s no excuse for not attending. Yes, we’re going.” I responded.

When I woke on a recent Sunday morning, exhaustion from holiday preparations and gatherings had begun to catch up with me. The previous weeks had been filled with busyness, laughter, love, and joy. Now, things were beginning to quiet and my schedule was returning to the normal routine.

My body was tired from the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Each activity has been a blessing. Sharing time with family and friends had brought fun and laughter. Wrapping presents, giving presents, opening those gifts, and then, enjoying delicious meals together helped create precious memories.
Church events included singing favorite hymns, meeting new people, and sharing time with family and friends. Meaningful sermons and Bible study helped remind us of the true meaning of the season.

Yet, I was tired and the urge to stay in bed and snuggle under the warm blanket was pulling at me. Pausing to give thanks to God for His glorious day, another feeling tugged at my heart.
The need to attend church service and give thanks to God for His love and glory began to energize my body and give me the strength to rise and shine.

Throwing back the covers on the bed, I rose and smiled. “Yes, we’re going to church.”
Alan was enjoying a bowl of cereal with milk when I entered the dining room. His smile greeted me as I began preparing my toast and chocolate milk.

“Today is a beautiful day. The sun is shining. I bet the wind is a little stronger on the island, but right now, everything is calm here.” Alan and I often notice the difference in temperature and wind between Mount Pleasant and Sullivan’s Island. When we cross the connector bridge to head to church, the atmosphere changes.

Completing the morning routine, we were dressed and ready to go to church. As we rode, I commented how I was glad we were going to be at church today. “I can always take a nap later in the afternoon. But, this morning, I need to be in God’s house and give Him praise.”

We arrived at the church parking lot. After finding a parking spot and exiting the vehicle, I gazed at the sky and let the warm sun kiss my face. Right as I looked up, a beautiful bald eagle flew over our path.
In awe and excitement, I said, “Look, look, an eagle. A message from God.”

“Thank You Lord. You know my Daddy loved eagles. If I had not been here for church service, I would not have seen the glorious and majestic bird. The reminders of Your love are always present. You always know best.”

My heart was full of love as we entered the sanctuary. I continued to praise God for the blessing of seeing the eagle. If I had chosen to stay home because I was tired, I would have missed seeing the eagle and the opportunity to thank God for that eagle.

How can you thank God today? Have you felt a nudge from God? Did you follow His lead?

Have a blessed day,
Happy New Year,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson

Share

“Pretty”

“Turn round Mimi. Turn round. Pretty. Pretty.” Two years old Eden spoke and smiled as she turned around and around in a circle. She was wearing a skirt and loved watching the skirt move when she twirled. Eden wanted me to “turn round” like she was turning. I tried. Finally, I said, “Mimi can’t turn like you. I get dizzy.”

Each time that Eden moved her body, the fabric on her little purple and white skirt lifted. She giggled and announced, “Pretty. Pretty.” The more she twirled, the more she laughed. At one point, her movement showed that she was dizzy, too.

Eden and I continued to laugh. She wanted me to see her move. “Pretty. Pretty.”
I commented. “Yes, Eden, you are pretty. Very pretty.”

As the bond between Eden and Rowan grows, the love between brother and sister is evident. When Rowan is sad, Eden tries to cheer him with laughter and hugs. When Rowan and I view videos of Eden, he says, “She’s so cute. I love her.”

There are times when Eden likes to wear Rowan’s clothes. When Rowan arrives here from school, he often changes into “play clothes”. Rowan and Eden have a drawer of clothing at our house. Eden has learned to look for Rowan’s clothes and then, she wants to wear something of his. We laugh as she chooses shirts and pants that are too big for her. That doesn’t matter. Rowan is changing clothes and she is changing clothes, too, just like big brother.

A basket of hats, earmuffs, and scarves sits on a shelf in the hall closet. Sometimes, Rowan, Eden, and Bop and Mimi like to play restaurant. Bop adorns a hat and scarf and pretends to be “Mr. Periwinkle” or some other made up character. Mimi and Rowan are the restaurant people. Eden is a customer, too. She puts on a hat and scarf and one glove. The glove quickly turns into a puppet.

Bop and I continue to be amazed and filled with joy at the imaginations and creativity of these children. The mind of a five years old boy and a two years old girl are fascinating. Every day is a new adventure.

We are thankful to be able to share in their lives. And, yes, when Eden wants Mimi to “turn round, turn round” so I can twirl like her, I will gladly twirl, just a lot slower than Eden’s twirls.
Yes, Eden, you are “pretty, pretty.”

Eden and Rowan are two of the biggest blessings God has provided. The opportunity to see the simple things in life from their perspective allows us to remember to find joy in every moment. When sad times come, we can rest in knowing God is with us and those sad times will pass. When good times come, we can give thanks to the Father for His endless love and mercy.

Today is a good day. Today is a great day to “turn round, turn round” and enjoy the laughter of young and not so young.

How are you finding laughter today?

Blessings,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson

Share

Leaping Lizard Under the Cushion

Yes. Leaping lizard under the cushion. How could this happen? A normal evening of household chores turned into a momentary frightful experience.

Being a Mimi to Rowan and Eden brings many unexpected surprises and joys. Those two sweet children sometimes ask to take toys from our house to play with at their home. Bop and I always say “Yes, if it’s okay with Mommy and Daddy. Be sure to bring the toys back.”
Sometimes a teddy bear stays at their home and other times, a bear or doll baby will make the return trip in the car to the home of Mimi and Bop.

Having fun items to play with and make unique creations is fun. From modeling clay to blocks to bubbles and more, there is always something special to do at our home. Bop and I enjoy playing as much as the kids love to play.

After Rowan and Eden have left to return home, clean up time begins. Glancing in each room, I often notice paper, crayons, markers, stickers and other things we have used for making pictures. Another room sometimes has toy cars, plastic dishes for playing restaurant, baby dolls and a toy stroller so Eden can be the Mommy, and plenty of dinosaurs and sharks for Rowan to be a paleontologist and a scuba diver. Yes, the imaginations of children are inspiring.

On a recent evening, the house was quiet as the children had left for home with Daddy and Mommy. Bop was taking the trash bag outside. I noticed the couch cushions were crooked. Deciding to lift them and arrange the cushions and pillows so everything would look nice, I reached down, pulled up a cushion and…

I screamed. “Yikes!!!” My high pitched scream and what I saw caused me to jump back. There, sitting under the cushion was a lizard. The thing looked real and actually wiggled when I moved the cushion. Then, I realized the creature was yellow and not a real lizard.

Sweet Rowan had hidden a squishy toy lizard under the cushion. I’m not sure when he hid the lizard, but the thought of how long the toy had been hiding under the cushion made me think. When was the last time I had looked under the cushions?

After I calmed my breathing and knew the lizard was not real, I began laughing. Bop had no idea that I had been scared by a toy lizard. The evening continued and I shared the story with Bop.
We both laughed and shared how happy we are to live near our grandchildren.

I’m thankful that the lizard in the photo above was not the one under the couch cushion.

God gives us the gift of laughter and the ability to find joy in everyday moments. Have you laughed lately? Share your story in the comments.

Have a blessed and laughter filled day,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson

Maw Maw or Mimi?

Granddaughter Eden will be two years old in a few months. She has a personality that makes our family break out into laughter every day. Eden is learning many things from big brother Rowan. She watches his every move and truly believes she can accomplish anything Rowan attempts.

The young ones in our family have called me “Mimi” for many years. Peyton, our great-niece who is sixteen years old now, was the first one to give me that special name. When she was beginning to speak, she chose to call me “Mimi”. My heart melted every time Peyton called for her “Mimi”. Then, Paige, who is now fourteen years old, was born. She also calls me by that precious name. Next, was Ryder, who is eight years old. I am “Mimi” to him, too.
Every time they say, “Mimi”, my smile gets bigger and my heart fills with joy.
Ashley and Daniel, who are Momma and Daddy to Peyton, Paige, and Ryder, call me by that special name, too.

Fast forward and Rowan was born to our son Mike and daughter-in-love Christine. Rowan began calling me “Mimi” as soon as he could talk.
He is now five years old and I continue to be his “Mimi”.

Eden has listened to Rowan say my name. “Mimi, watch me. Mimi, look at this. Mimi, can you play?” As Eden has heard Rowan and others call for me, she has created her own way of getting my attention.
“Maw Maw”. Yes, a new name. I’ve tried several times to show her how to say “Mimi”. But, I have been “Maw Maw” for a while now. I love her reaction as she calls for “Maw Maw” and then giggles.

Recently, Rowan and Eden were here for a visit. Eden said, “Maw Maw.” Rowan quickly told her that I am “Mimi”.
Eden looked at me and gave a huge grin. “Mimi. Mimi.”

Eden knows how to say “Mimi”. She has been using her own way of calling me and that is fine.
If Eden continues to call me “Maw Maw”, I will answer. Or if she changes to “Mimi”, I will answer.

Special names are ways of showing love. God knows each name of His children. He calls us by name. My most special name is “child of God”.

Do you have a special name? Do you know the meaning of your name? Melissa means “honeybee”.

Whatever name the children give me, I will always answer. I will always be ready to play and to listen. My arms are always ready for hugs and snuggles. My lap is always ready for resting.
God has blessed Alan and me with a wonderful family. By the way, Alan is called “Uncy” and “Bop”. Rowan gave Alan the name Bop. Of course, Eden changed the name to “Bop Bop”.

Alan and I are happy to be called by various names. We will always answer.

Father, thank You for calling us by name. Thank You for loving Your children. Amen.

Have a blessed day,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson

Creepy Crabs on A Hot Summer Day

“What in the world? Why are there fiddler crabs on my front porch?” I spoke aloud to myself.
Opening the front storm door to take a peek outside, I jumped as two small sand fiddler crabs raced across the pavement. The twosome were fast as lightning and caused me to hop from one foot to the other while trying to figure out their intended direction.

Alan and I have become accustomed to seeing South Carolina sights such as alligators in the neighborhood ponds, Eastern Hercules beetles in the grass, wild turkeys in the backyard, and armadillos digging holes in the dirt. But, seriously, sand fiddler crabs at the front door?

I slowed my breathing to calm my heart rate. What adventure or crazy sight would be next on the list of exciting things to share with family and friends? My next thought was wondering how to get rid of the fast moving creatures. Unfortunately, the crabs hid in an area that could not be reached. I would have to wait until another time to somehow remove them from the premises.The daily routine continued and the crabs remained hidden. I wouldn’t see them again. Or at least that was my story.

The next day, grandson Rowan was here to have playtime with Mimi and Bop. As Bop left the house and went to work, Rowan and I discussed our plans for the day. Sidewalk chalk drawing, creating crazy pictures with the new paint set and paper, playing with friends, blowing bubbles, and making up stories would be parts of the fun.

The outside trash can had been emptied earlier that day and was ready to be cleaned and brought back into the garage. As I pushed the button to open the garage door, two more sand fiddler crabs jumped into the garage and ran for cover. I screamed and laughed while watching the quick movement of the crabs. Rowan grabbed his tummy and doubled over with laughter.
“Mimi, quick, quick, get them. They went behind the recycle can. Mimi, here’s one. Get him with the broom.”
“Where, Rowan, where is it now? Do you see one?” I spoke between laughter as I found the broom and readied for attack.
“Behind that can, he’s behind that can.” Rowan gave directions as he giggled.
One little crab darted out from behind the trash can. I guarded against the creature by sweeping it with the broom. Watching as the crab went flying in the air from being swept, Rowan and I could not contain our giggles.
The next crab peeked out from behind a garden tool. I swung the broom into action and shooed that little thing right out onto the driveway.
Between laughs, Rowan yelled. “Mimi, quick. Close the door. He’s trying to come back in.”

Rowan and I stood and watched the garage door close. The crabs were outside on the pavement. We were safely inside the garage. The creepy crabs would have to endure a hot summer day.

After the laughter settled and our next activity began, Rowan and I looked at each other. “Mimi, those were some creepy crabs, right?”
“Yes, those were creepy crabs and I don’t want to see them again.”

Interesting fact is that we live about ten minutes from the ocean. There are ponds and marshes in every neighborhood so we should not be surprised at seeing the crabs on the front and back porch.
Of course, I had to share this story because as you know, “It’s Always a Story With the Hendersons.”

God creates the most awesome sights and sounds for us to enjoy, even if some of those things make us hop from one foot to the other.

Do you have any funny crab stories? Please share with us.

Have a blessed day,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson

Share

New Neighbor Giggles

“Hello! How are you today? Nice to meet you. Welcome to the neighborhood! Where did you live before moving to the Lowcountry?”
These are some of the questions often heard in our neighborhood. The area is filled with friendly folks. Some have lived in the area for a while and others have recently relocated from another state. The same conversations are shared as each person is welcomed into the community.
A variety of ages is one of the things that makes our neighborhood wonderful. From young couples with new babies to seniors who have retired, we are blessed with caring, compassionate friends.

Recently, Alan and I met a lovely couple while taking our evening walk. Greetings were exchanged and a delightful conversation started. Sharing about children, grandchildren, and reasons for moving, the chat continued with laughter and joy. We talked about how we would easily remember their names because the man has the same name as our son, Mike. The sweet lady, named Joanne, reminded us that her name is the same as a craft store.
When time came for Alan and me to proceed with our walk, we said goodbye. We looked forward to seeing the couple again soon.

Days later, Alan went to the grocery store. He returned and mentioned how he had seen the man we had recently met. “I saw the new guy. He was at the store. He said they are building a house and moving to another part of the state.”
My reaction was shock and disbelief. “Wow, they just moved here. Are you sure? Houses sure do sell fast around here. I didn’t know they were building a home. They are so nice. I’ll miss them when they move.”
We talked more about houses selling fast in the Lowcountry. Some homes in our area are under contract the day the house is placed on the “for sale” listing.
I hoped we could chat with the couple again soon, especially before they moved.

Friday evening, Alan and I went to the local big box store to shop for certain items. As we walked through the aisles, we noticed our new neighbors shopping.
“Hello, hello. How are you all today? Are you really moving?” A perplexed look appeared on their faces.

At that point, Alan began to share the rest of the story. He had not updated me on the mistake he had made. Perhaps he was a bit embarrassed, but now the truth would be revealed.

Alan spoke. “Hey, funny story. I went to the store the other day and saw a guy who looked just like you Mike. I approached him and introduced myself again, reminding him how we met the other day while walking. The guy nodded and said he remembered. I carried on a full conversation with the guy. He told me that they are building a house and moving.”

Later that same day, Alan had seen our neighbors driving by the house. The man, Mike, still had his mustache. The man Alan had chatted with at the grocery store did not have a mustache. Oops.
Alan had enjoyed a conversation with a stranger and the person never corrected Alan’s mistake.

I had to laugh out loud as I shared with our new friends that Alan never told me the rest of the story and about his error in talking with the wrong person. We all laughed and continued with a joyful visit right there in the aisle of the big box store.

I do need to share with our new friends about our family motto.
“It’s Always A Story With The Hendersons”.

Have you chatted with someone who wasn’t the person you thought you were talking to? A case of mistaken identity?
What happened when the mistake was revealed?

Lord, thank You for new friends. Thank You for laughter. May we all find joy in each day.
Amen.

Have a blessed day,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson

Share