The Week With No Money
Once my brother and sister had moved out of the house my Mom and I spent a lot of time together alone in the house. She was 54 when my sister got married and moved out…and I moved out five years later after college when I got married (at 22!). Perhaps it was because I was now an adult (kinda) and she was thinking back on life, but she often ended up telling me stories of times gone by. This is one.
She was in her new house on the block and her husband had a good job. She had three children. Money was tight and there was literally zero in the savings account. Dad was paid on Friday and she went to the grocery store and butcher on Saturday. As it happened, once she paid for a week’s worth of groceries for two adults and three kids, plus a few bills that were due – in her pocket book there was ONE dollar left. The next day at church – she hesitated – but then just placed the “single” in the collection basket.
She didn’t tell anyone, including her husband. Each day she prepared breakfast, packed lunches and cooked dinner for everyone. She would watch the kids playing and she saw them smiling and having fun. The kids were healthy and her husband was fine (for now). Maybe because she was “hyper aware” that week or she was worried another “shoe might drop”. But, she began seeing how good things were and how content her house was…she began to feel relaxed and at ease. And she would always end the story with “That was one my favorite weeks ever!”
