Handbags, Shoes, Coats

I spent the day on Saturday with my dear friend, Karmae and her husband (also a very dear friend), Frank. We went to PA to pack, sort and clear out a small apartment that belonged to a single, older woman that Karmae knows through Karmae's sister's marriage. This lady knew Karmae, well, through the years and would have trusted our arrival with boxes, tape, bags and resolve to clear the apartment for the mover's to remove the furniture on Tuesday. This little lady passed away, suddenly, about two weeks ago. So, in order to help her family, we four older Americans went into the apartment to work. I've never met the women who lived there but we share the same first name. I know a little about her through Karmae....I knew that she lived completely alone and just purchased this condo in a planned adult community just a few months ago. She purchased the condo without looking at it first, and she was a little stubborn when her few friends and small family advised her not to make this hasty decision. However, the move was made and I believe that she became deeply depressed afterward.

I went into her bedroom, Karmae started in the kitchen and Glenn & Frank packed smaller items of furniture on a flat bed that was going somewhere other than storage. As I continued to spend time, alone, in her bedroom, open drawers, move clothing from one drawer, sort nicely, and place in a bag or box, I started to get to know this lady. Sweaters were neatly folded and often there were multiple colors of the same style of sweater if she liked that one that much. Gloves, hankies, headscarves in abundance, gently removed from the drawer (of course, the item was already carefully folded) and placed in the box.

Several times, I wandered out into the living room with a headscarve on my head that lightened the room. Several winter fur hats did not go in the box until I modeled them and felt the warmth of the fur. But each time, I would carefully fold the item and pack it neatly.

When I got to the closet, the top shelf was filled with nice handbags that were the style in the day, clutch purses for evening wear and leather for day time shopping. All handbags stored neatly in their bags. Ahh, shoes. Each pair of shoes, like sweaters, were purchased in many colors if the shoes were her liking.

Winter coats, rain jackets, blazers.....the list is endless. As I touched each piece of clothing, or matching accessory, I honestly took a moment to wonder about the little lady who was so depressed in her new little home and how these cloths and accessories must have meant nothing to her.

I did not locate a Bible or a book of any kind. I understand that part of her illness was narcolepsy but not even an audio book or something to play the book, or to play music to soothe her or encourage her. I realized that all of the "things" that surrounded her gave her absolutely NO joy. It is almost painful for me to believe that this little woman could wake up sometime throughout the day and have NO joy. Her possessions did not relieve her depression. Her possessions did not make her smile.

We worked swiftly and efficiently, and throughout the day, my heart was so very sad and heavy. Even tonight, as I tried to sleep, I want to know more about the little lady who lived so alone, so isolated and left all of her belongings because she passed away.........

I know from her family, that they tried without success to help her with decisions, always including her in holiday dinners and always speaking to her on the phone. But even though her family did all of the "right" things, this little lady was profoundly alone...profoundly depressed.

We gave her clothes to a charitable organization that will make sure women will receive coats and gloves, hats and scarves.....matching casual wear, skirts, dresses', handbags and most of all shoes. Glenn and Frank took the items to the organization on Saturday while Karmae and I finished the memories around the apartment. A young woman that I know, now enjoys a beautiful, warm winter coat and some sweaters and items to keep her warm this winter. Thank you little lady in the apartment.

I think about this over and over for one reason....this verse:

"Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds thej.
Are you not much more valuable than they?" --Matthew 6:26

So, I decided to clean out my closets.....today, I took all of the handbags down from the shelf, brushed them off and stuffed them to keep their form and placed them in a box. Tomorrow, I will remove all of the sweaters that I don't need to wear and gently launder and fold them with tissue to move them along to someone else.

When I die, I want my friends (or maybe a person who never knew me) to enter into my house and look in the closets to find the bare basics.

I want my friends to enter into my library and read the plaque on the wall that reads: All these books and Bibles belong to you, my friend....take them, read them....love them...and pass them along. I want to always be remembered for the love of my Bible and the knowledge that I hunger for from the books I read. I want people to leave my home with items that will sustain them in their personal walk with our Lord and Savior....and I want them to share that knowledge with everyone else they meet. Reading "To Live is Christ" by Beth Moore, I was greatly affected by the study of Paul's life in may ways. Paul's humanity, not so unlike me, or you....proof that God will use any of us if we are fully available and readily cooperative. I learned though the life of Paul, that our life has a purpose. Every life.....this little lady's life....has a purpose.

So, my friend, Kim will take the handbags to our ministry in Camden and the clothes will go to Good Will. But my Bibles and books will remain close to me until the time comes for them to be shared with others. I will rejoice when that moment arrives.