After a day on the road yesterday, this morning we could finally go and help the elderly lady next door…
I am continually amazed at her. She’s 92, had 12 children, is now caring for her invalid husband, always happy and fiercely independent.
Often we will see a bag hanging on our fence and she will have bought some presents or treats for the children.
It is common to see her in the rain, chain-sawing wood for her fire. When we first moved here, she would forcefully refuse our offer to take the bins up to the gate for her, though in the last couple of years she has relented and now is very, very grateful for what is a simple job for the kids. She truly has learned that contentment in life comes from serving, not selfishness.
Each time she asks for help from myself or the boys, she will try to give us money which we have always refused or returned secretly. Recently however, we had decided that she wanted to bless us and she had also stopped asking for help so we decided we would accept her blessing us for larger jobs. Today, we chopped up the tree that fell and crushed her front fence…
She had wanted to help (!), though yesterday I said I would tell her off if she tried as the weather was still not good. Unfortunately both of our chain saws gave out before we finished the job – though it looked dramatically different when she returned. To say she was delighted was an understatement.
She was standing behind me as I was trying to light the fire to burn some of the excess when Little N (4) came up to me and whispered in my ear “dad shes’s going to try to give us money again”.
Amazing how perceptive they are – and even more amazing how they pick up on the attitude and values of the family. Both the two smallest children were determined to help, chopping wood, dragging leaves, raking and carrying logs. To say I love this does not do it justice. I would rather this than any holiday – working together, talking, joking and helping someone.
Gets me thinking we should start a full time ‘gang’ that operates to help people with needed jobs. Anyway – we really should spend some time on our own tidy up & issues, and finish our house!
Today I accepted her envelope without an argument and later found the money would just cover the parts needed to fix the chain saws! God’s amazing!
The snapped piece of the tree was originally behind where I am standing taking the photo. It has been pushed over & flown away from the tree trunk. Hard to believe the force needed to do that lifting!
The youngest cuts up some branches for the fire…
Everyone pitching in – with The Big M teaching D dot how to saw..
Not too big for me dad!
Starting to burn the pile – and raking up…
Nearly done – just have to fix the chainsaws & return with some nails & items to fix the fence.
A few days later, we went to cut up a tree for another neighbour, who had a couple of trees down & over the fire break. We decided to help out despite his running that he was at the beach in 32º when I called to give a storm report lol
