We get a lot of customers, but every now and then someone comes to buy lumber that just kind of sticks out. I had a lady come by today with a young son who was looking for some low grade, inexpensive wood for a tabletop. It seemd odd as she definately didn't look like a woodworker, but she seemd very independant and definately had a plan. She picked out and bought a single, wide, low grade oak board and said if we would cut it in half she could then glue it together to make a table top. She was friendly, conversed a little, but seemed embarrassed when I asked her about the board. She paid for it in cash, a few bucks, but just seemed so out of place as my wife and I loaded the two 4 foot boards into her car, (her hatch back wouldn't open so we had to feed the boards into the driver side door to get it in the back seat). I heard her tell her son that they would finally be able to eat at a real table. We pressed the conversation a little and she admitted that she and her son were living in a place that only had "sheetrock walls and no furniture" and this single, glued up board would become her kitchen table.
When she drove away I couldn't help but think that I'd like to know more of her story, how a nice lady and her son could have ended up in a situation where a single board could mean that much to them, then realized that I probably already knew, and that there were lots of folks out there who were in the same boat.
It also struck me that this being Easter weekend, maybe the reason she was so focused, so intent on having the board now, today, was so that she and her son could eat Easter dinner on it tomorrow. I'd like to think so, anyway.
I'll remember this customer for awhile.
Happy Easter to all,
YH
smiley_thumbsup smiley_thumbsup ^^^^^^^^^ smiley_thumbsup smiley_thumbsup
wonderful story most people never realize how lucky they are!!! :)
Good story, YellowHammer! Thanks for mentioning that one.
There are many people in this country that have nothing but are gracious good folks, God bless them. Then there are others on welfare that expect the word to give them a living for doing squat. Nice story Hammer. Frank C.
smiley_thumbsup
It makes me sad to think about this lady and her son. Hopefully her new table will help her to believe that there is hope for better times.
Thanks for telling us about them. It makes me feel thankful for the life that I have, and not taking things for granted.
From a place of Hope
Everything looks Different
Just as you know the Sun
Is rising even when
You can't see it
Know in your Heart that
Better Days
are on their Way
Great and touching story, YellowHammer, thanks for posting.
I have a feeling they'll be back.
Great story. Thanks for sharing. Kind of makes you look around at what you've been blessed with with a different set of eyes, doesn't it?
Breaks my heart. It's getting easier and easier to find people in the same boat in every direction. It also breaks my heart seeing the most ads in my local paper are sheriff's sales of property and foreclosures.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
I'm quite sure this customer of yours will be in the mind of many now, and it reminds me of a quote I heard while traveling this past week," it's not the quantity of time spent with our loved ones, but the quality," It seems the time they spend building this table will forge a memory that will last a life time, and the simple table, a foundation of love, that can only grow an appreciation of needs being met.
Great story.
Quote from: SawyerBrown on April 05, 2015, 02:47:03 PM
Kind of makes you look around at what you've been blessed with with a different set of eyes, doesn't it?
I'm prone to grumbling and it's reading experiences like this and being reminded that I appreciate. I've got it so good I don't see it for what it is.
Agree Grizzly
We are blessed. Sometimes I am grumbling over stuff that does not make a big difference and in 5 years will not matter.
Happy Easter all!
I would have insisted she take a few more boards, if she could use them. I know first hand what it is like having to worry about a few $.
Thanks for taking the time to share this story. She sounds like a wonderful mom . By example her son is learning some great life skills.
Thanks Yellow hammer! great story!
If I'd overheard that comment, I probably would have quit for the day and built her a table. The older I get the more compassion I have for people like her. I'm imagining her and that boy in a sad situation.
Yellowhammer, what do you think about us here on the Forum help this family out. Just a thought.
Makes you wonder who that person really is? What will she do to help out others as she is helping her son at a better life.
Quote from: bandmiller2 on April 05, 2015, 07:06:06 AM
There are many people in this country that have nothing but are gracious good folks, God bless them. Then there are others on welfare that expect the world to give them a living for doing squat. Nice story Hammer. Frank C.
Yes!
Frank, exactly, she didn't want a handout, she just wanted what she wanted. I honestly believe she would have gotten offended if I had offered to give her the wood, or treated her any different than any of the other customers who were there. Certainly to me, the board was just a board, I've given away lumber to needy people and organizations before, but that's why she was different. It was very clear she still had her pride and self respect and I wasn't going to risk stepping on that. As I said before, she wanted what she wanted, and we did what we could, to make sure that's what she got. Although she may have been on hard times, she had a fighter's personality, the type of person to be inspired by. I certainly was.
As I think about her and her son, I can't help but wonder how I would stand up in the same circumstances.
YH
To me that isn't even an issue of pride. It's an issue of someone that had a need and limited means, who is willing to be responsible enough to live within those means and make the best of it.
To me, one of the main things that's missing from American society is good old fashioned dinner conversation. Sharing a meal together is probably the best thing those two can do for each other, whatever their circumstances are.
Thanks YH for your Reply #22. I was needing that to bring the thread into perspective for me. :)
Thanks for sharing smiley_thumbsup
Interesting that the ones a person would be the most honored to help are the ones that want to do it on there own.
And, some of the ones that have the least are the most willing to share. Our church is heavily involved in missionary work in Liberia, and the folks that have gone say the people there share the best of the food they have, even though they don't know where the next day's meal is coming from. Oh, to have that kind of faith ...
Do we know where this lady lives? We could send her help thru the mail she would not know where it came from. Of course we not want to offend her in any way. Just a thought.
Ok... Devil's Advocate here.
Just doing the math (if you good folks will indulge me for a moment) , Why is she "BUILDING" a table ???
Why did She not go to a Flea Market , Thrift store or Yard sale and buy one for a couple of bucks.
Assumming she had reason to build a table, she appearently has the tools and skills to do so ???????
It was said "She didn't look like a wood worker".
If she were that poor, it's not likely she'd have any tools either.
Now if someone was building one for her, ( a wood worker for example), He'd likely have a couple of very nice boards laying around left over from another job.
I know I do. I could raise about ten more questions but I think I've made my prespective clear.
The whole thing just doesn't make sense. But then again,
a woman is a creature that will never be understood by a man.
Who knows why Women do the things they do.
In Womens defence, without them, there would be absolutely no decencey or morality in this world, and we would destroy ourselves.
I also had a woman customer wanting to build a table for herself and her disabled (wheelchair) husband. She wanted 2X6 Oak and she intended to do it herself. LINK (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,50292.msg730349.html#msg730349)
My point is to not try to second guess a customer, whether paying or not. A person's pride should not be questioned, but rather supported. I always attempt to give such jobs away, but remember that "giving" goes both ways. Sometimes to refuse payment denies the customer the opportunity to "give", which is why Reply #22 was important to me.
Her "table" might just have been that board and a couple of milk crates on each end.
Quote from: Solomon on April 09, 2015, 08:32:56 AM
Ok... Devil's Advocate here.
Just doing the math (if you good folks will indulge me for a moment) , Why is she "BUILDING" a table ???
Why did She not go to a Flea Market , Thrift store or Yard sale and buy one for a couple of bucks.
Assumming she had reason to build a table, she appearently has the tools and skills to do so ???????
It was said "She didn't look like a wood worker".
If she were that poor, it's not likely she'd have any tools either.
Now if someone was building one for her, ( a wood worker for example), He'd likely have a couple of very nice boards laying around left over from another job.
I know I do. I could raise about ten more questions but I think I've made my prespective clear.
The whole thing just doesn't make sense. But then again,
a woman is a creature that will never be understood by a man.
Who knows why Women do the things they do.
In Womens defence, without them, there would be absolutely no decencey or morality in this world, and we would destroy ourselves.
We all know there are lots of ways of being frugal.
The OP said the car would barely hold the boards. That could be a reason for not buying a table. Have to get it home. Any number of other factors, perceptions, preferences could be in play.
Any way you cut it, the OP had a great story about a loving mother trying to do the best for her son, instead of shirking her responsibility like so many parents do these days.
X2 Dave.
Quote from: Solomon on April 09, 2015, 08:32:56 AM
Why did She not go to a Flea Market , Thrift store or Yard sale and buy one for a couple of bucks.
Solomon...you're assuming she has chairs.
YH...great story. I've had a couple similar customers. Good for you resisting the urge to give the lumber away.
Quote from: customsawyer on April 06, 2015, 08:52:59 PM
Interesting that the ones a person would be the most honored to help are the ones that want to do it on there own.
Oh so true. The quality people are as you say. smiley_thumbsup
Quote from: Solomon on April 09, 2015, 08:32:56 AM
Ok... Devil's Advocate here.
Just doing the math (if you good folks will indulge me for a moment) , Why is she "BUILDING" a table ???
Why did She not go to a Flea Market , Thrift store or Yard sale and buy one for a couple of bucks.
Assumming she had reason to build a table, she appearently has the tools and skills to do so ???????
It was said "She didn't look like a wood worker".
If she were that poor, it's not likely she'd have any tools either.
Now if someone was building one for her, ( a wood worker for example), He'd likely have a couple of very nice boards laying around left over from another job.
I know I do. I could raise about ten more questions but I think I've made my prespective clear.
The whole thing just doesn't make sense. But then again,
a woman is a creature that will never be understood by a man.
Who knows why Women do the things they do.
In Womens defence, without them, there would be absolutely no decencey or morality in this world, and we would destroy ourselves.
have you ever hauled a table in a hatchback ??? :)
I was given 2 5000 bushel grain bins one time but had no way to move them.
Quote from: Solomon on April 09, 2015, 08:32:56 AM
Ok... Devil's Advocate here.......
Fact is, I would never place myself as the "Devil's Advocate" in this situation nor question her intentions or motives. It also matters not whether the customer is a woman or a man.
Right on Lynne.
I have given away many miscut boards to folks who appeared needy, and got a heart felt thanks in return.
Makes a good day.
What an example of multiple blessing from one simple act!
This nice lady was able to find someone to help her achieve her goal.
She'll be able to provide a table for her and her son.
Yellowhammer was blessed by his opportunity to help her.
By sharing his story he generated a good discussion reminding us that one does not have to look to far to find someone who has it worse off than ourselves.
That is all irregardless of her situation.
Thanks for making us think.
tcg, agree with everything you said!
Well, except "irregardless" ... there is no such word, irregardless of how much it gets (mis)used ... ;D
Quote from: tcg on April 09, 2015, 06:34:50 PM
What an example of multiple blessing from one simple act!
This nice lady was able to find someone to help her achieve her goal.
She'll be able to provide a table for her and her son.
Yellowhammer was blessed by his opportunity to help her.
By sharing his story he generated a good discussion reminding us that one does not have to look to far to find someone who has it worse off than ourselves.
That is all irregardless of her situation.
Thanks for making us think.
x2 smiley_thumbsup smiley_thumbsup
Thanks for the positive comments.
I have to admit Sawyerbrown you had me thinking (which is a good thing) about my use of irregardless.
So I checked with Webster and it is listed as a word. My use of it certainly showed my age.
Regardless would have been a better choice.
Thank-you
tcg
In the early 20th century English, irregardless was a word and ain't wasn't.
Now ain't is and irregardless ain't. ;D
Quote from: Magicman on April 10, 2015, 09:46:15 PM
In the early 20th century English, irregardless was a word and ain't wasn't.
Now ain't is and irregardless ain't. ;D
smiley_headscratch smiley_dizzy smiley_dizzy :D
Quote from: Magicman on April 10, 2015, 09:46:15 PM
In the early 20th century English, irregardless was a word and ain't wasn't.
Now ain't is and irregardless ain't. ;D
That is why I like reading this forum. Because, I spent the last few minutes reading about the word: IRRIGARDLESS on various pages. I disagree with the use of it, but none the less it made me look. :P