Today I stopped at the market to get some apples. A small lady said to me, “Excuse me sir, when you are done there can you help me. I can’t reach the marmalade preserves.”
“No trouble,” I said, happy to be of some use and to make a new friend. I reached for the preserves thinking, “But for the grace of God I could be a short people…”
“That is wonderful stuff,” she said,
“Have you read the Jan Karon novels?”
“Every last one of them.” she said.
I had a hunch. “Are you a church-goer.”
“I am.”
We explored our common experiences and went our ways. She with her Marmalade Preserves in her cart and me walking just a little taller and a little warmer in my heart.
I got to tell her the story of recommending the books to Bea, and then about the time Bea surprised me on my birthday with Esther’s Marmalade Cake from Jan Karon’s books…
Always puts a smile on my face
