The Strawberry Chapter 6

Chapter Six seems to have taken a life of its own. This will be the third time I have tried to revise it, as I have lost all previous revisions. So here I go again. I get the impression that what I was trying to say wasn't being written the way it should have, and I just needed to start over again to get it right.

I respect all faiths and religions. So, whatever faith you have, or spiritually, you may be able to fit yourself in the story if you are trying to go closer to your faith or spirituality. To reflect and build upon what you were taught growing up or as an adult. We don't all get it right. It is a continuous journey, and this is where I go back to the seed of faith that was planted in me as a child.

There are a lot of things I may have gotten wrong in my life. Having always lean on faith to get through things, even when at times. being carried by Faith to stand against all worries of the world.

Isaiah 43:2 promises that when walking through fire, you will not be burned, nor will flames kindle upon you, and when passing through waters, you will not drown.

This story is about one of my seed journeys, which happened some time ago. I set the stage before the events unfolded, leading to the seed tossing. Or even if it's not even a seed at all. If you dislike anything faith or spiritually-based, then maybe you should skip reading. Chapter six: There is a mention of my faith. Because I am working to build my faith stronger every day.

I don't even know where a seed will land. Or even if it has been thrown, if it is wanted.

The Conference

Yesterday, it seemed like a simple gesture turned into a tossing back and forth of a seed. In the end. The person had to keep the seed.

The morning was a bit cloudy, and it looked as if the heavens were set to pour down rain. I had been debating if I should debating with myself whether I should go to the conference. I decided not to go. Since I had gone the previous year. I decided to go to the library and write instead. I put on an old T-shirt and blue jeans. My hair was in a ponytail. I got in the car. As I turned on the car. The thought about the conference came to my mind again. I called a faith mentor to talk to her. To help me clarify my understanding of what I am feeling. She said. " Ask God if He wants you to go to the conference to hear the message." Or can you hear where you are at. As she was talking, it was becoming clearer. I should go to the conference. I pull into the parking lot of the conference. I looked at myself in the car mirror. I thought Oh! My goodness, I look awful". I was pleased I found my sweater jacket in the back seat. I found a crunchy and a lipstick in the car. Gave myself a little tap on my cheeks to give my face some color. I walked in, hoping to sit near the door. Then I hear inside my mind. " Come as you are." My cousin was at a conference, and it so happened. Her church had been wearing the same color as my sweater. So it looked like I was set to be at the table even though I had not dressed or RSVPed. I didn’t tell her either. It was a faith-based conference. A group of women from churches all over the area were gathering to share testimonials of their finding of faith in their lives. The first thing the hostess of the conference said to the ladies was. Was "It is good, ladies, you came as you are." I thought to myself, "Yep!"I was to be there. I mentioned the above portion of the story, which is how the seed ended up getting tossed back and forth.

The Seed Tossing

Later in the day. The rain had slowed down to a drizzle. Doing what many people do daily. I set out to run errands, especially since it had rained most of the day. I am at the light about to make my turn. I see a lady who looks elderly from behind. Shuffling with a walker. Her walker had items on it. I thought to myself. " How can no one have stopped and helped this woman?" I honked the horn in the car. She turned to me, and I noticed she is not elderly at all. She is a woman in her forties. I asked in Spanish, "Where are you going"? She didn't speak Spanish after all. She spoke English. She said to the bank. I told her to put her stuff in the car, and I will take her. She asked, "Do I want money?" I told her, "For what"? She said to take me to the bank. I told her to keep it. Do good for someone else.

As I drove I talked with her. She said she was going to do laundry and to the bank. I shared with her. I was surprised nobody stopped to help her. She mentioned she had multiple sclerosis and had just moved from one apartment to another. We get to the bank. I told her to leave her stuff in the car. I would take her where she needed to go.

I had decided my errands were not as important. I parked a while, and I saw her with a security guard trying to find the car. She said she didn't see me cause she said she can barely see. I helped her get back in the car. I asked her where she wants to go next. She said home because she was not too tired. It had started to rain again. Where she lived was thirty minutes away. I let her know I didn't have my cellphone, so she was to find her apartment location on her cellphone. I needed the address and the exits. While I was driving, I told Lucy, " Let's not have air between us." Tell me about yourself.

I realized what was set up to be good. Was a bad seed trying to be thrown my way? I am still not sure.

When she started telling me about a dream she had about the beginning of the Bible. In fact, what she said made no sense. Even an atheist would've said. "Where did they get that?" My reaction was to listen. That was it. About my faith and how I live by my faith. She changed topics various times, and my reaction was always the same. I stand on my faith. The final topic she shifted to was her family. She mentioned her grandfather was in the Marines. She and her sister would laugh at him. I thought to myself, " That is a fat lie". I didn't say anything. I listened. I wasn't reacting to her comments the way she thought I would. She mentioned again that she laughed at him. She mentioned again that she laughed at her grandfather. She said he told her to go stand outside by the door for five minutes in the rain. My reply was, " I bet you didn't laugh again after that." Was all I said. I'm not sure why she was trying to make me angry. My answers were always the same. Stand strong in your faith and belief in God. She talked about her children. She mentioned her son liked to use the Cellphone all the time. I told it's an addiction. To stop that. To keep the structure of the house. I told her that when I was little, my sibling and I didn't have a choice. We had to do something in this world rather than do nothing or make excuses. Sharing about my upbringing. We were raised to be rock solid in God, Country, and family. She was doing a lot of talking. So I missed the exit. It is as if she were trying too hard to get me to get furious and kick her out. But my reaction. Was it the same relaxed? I think she was the one who was getting flustered, but I didn't get angry. Her cellphone dies. I think she thought I was going to panic. I told her not a problem. I asked her for some visual points of her apartment area. She said. It was new to her that she didn't remember. I told her not a problem again. I ask her what the main street she remembers is. I thought to myself, now I had something to work with. I let her know I was going to pull over to a gas station and find the street she mentioned. Once I find that street. I can drive from that point forward. I pull into a gas station. No lie! I asked a man at the front counter the name of the street. He was speaking Vietnamese. He understood the street name and gave me a visual of another gas station. To turn on. I repeated in English. He nodded yes. I told him thank you. I get in the car. I told her he gave us directions and a visual point. I made a U-turn and told her to look for that visual point. I drove about another five minutes in the direction he pointed. I found the visual points. She now said she started to recognize the area. Then I asked her for the address. I drove a while longer. Now that I was on track to her apartment. I mentioned to her to remember her visual points of where she lives. Not to rely on GSP all the time. We get to the apartment. I said, " Is your family at the apartment to help you? She said no. I parked the car. I carried her items to her apartment. To her apartment. I hugged and prayed, said a prayer right there.

Would this be considered some seed tossing back and forth? I will leave that for you to decide.

Why would someone get you to change your reaction or mood?