{I always do this don't I? Talk about something else before I really talk
about what I intend too?? Yep, guess that makes me a woman! haha}
Ok, so I PROMISE I won't get all obsessed with my new short SHORT hair, but I have to tell you how weird it is to shower now that my hair has been chopped off. It really is the strangest thing and one that I haven't experienced in a really long time.
When you have long hair and you go to wash it, not only do you need a fair amount of shampoo, but then there is a certain way to do it ... or at least there is for me.
When I washed my hair for the first time since it was cut, I felt like I was a little kid again and it was my first attempt to clean myself without my mommy. I grabbed the shampoo, poured the same amount without thinking about it and began to wash. Soap suds and water were going everywhere! I literally had suds all over the place ... even the ceiling!! As I continued to wash and rinse, I found myself reaching for hair that wasn't there, so really I was grasping at air. Then, once I was all finished with my shower, it was time to dry off. Normally I dry my face, arms, then flip my hair over so I can get my back dry, etc. So what did I do, I leaned back to whip my hair forward and nothing ... nothing happened. I had to laugh at myself because what was I doing??
Habits, whether good or bad, truly are ingrained in us all and they are so natural, so effortless, that we do them without even realizing it. Needless to say, I am becoming a bit more aware! haha
So let me tell you about one of the most beautiful things I experienced on Sunday.
Jocelyn and I ran to the store to grab some groceries and household items. As we were zipping through the isles, sometimes I noticed a lot of stares and other times not. I suppose on Sunday I was carrying around a "I don't give a crap" attitude and I said to myself "Let 'em stare!"
After we had everything we needed, it was time to check out. As I was unloading our cart onto the conveyor belt, I looked at the cashier and she looked like she would have rather been robbed and ran over by a car, than be working that register.
As the lady reluctantly rung up our items and bagged everything, out of the corner of my eye, I saw two Hispanic women in line behind us. One woman was younger and spoke English, and the other woman appeared to be her mother and non-English speaking. So as I talked to Jocelyn and waited to pay, I saw these two women looking at me and definitely staring at Jocelyn. For some reason though, I noticed they were looking at Jocelyn differently than the normal stares we get.
Out of nowhere, the younger woman asked if her mother could come say hello to my daughter. I was totally caught off guard and before I could even say "sure," the older woman was pushing past her daughter and myself to get to Jocelyn.
As I watched this woman so eagerly get to Jocelyn, I could see her eyes were instantly filling with tears. Right there in front of everyone, she got on her knees, cupped Jocelyn's face in her hands, kissed her cheek, rubbed her arms, spoke a few words in Spanish and then got up and looked at me.
As she looked at me with her tear-stained face, I literally felt like my heart stopped in time. I had no idea what just happened, but it was the most beautiful thing that I've had the pleasure of witnessing. I almost felt like I was intruding on a moment that was not intended for other people to see, yet it was my daughter. But for some reason, the way that woman responded to Jocelyn, and the way Jocelyn received her and responded back, was honestly heaven driven. I really can't explain it very well.
Jocelyn very rarely keeps her head still and makes eye contact only briefly, yet when this woman was talking to her and touching her, Jocelyn looked at this woman straight in the eyes and her whole-being literally smiled from the inside out like she was almost beaming rays of light towards this woman. I don't know if I was imagining this or not, but I could literally see this with my eyes. Before I knew it, MY eyes were welling up with tears.
On that day, at that very moment, Jocelyn and I were intentionally placed there for those women. I know that without a doubt!! My little girl was their blessing that day!
The daughter explained to me that the woman had a three year-old granddaughter named Kaylean {she later showed me a picture of her}, that passed away recently in her sleep. I later learned that Kaylean had a lot of developmental delays, used a wheelchair and out of nowhere, she passed away in her sleep in the middle of the night.
From the picture, Kaylean had the deepest, richest black hair pulled back into pigtails, the sweetest chocolaty brown eyes, wore an all purple outfit and had a smile that could light up a room.
Before I knew it, all three of us were standing there crying and hugging one another.
I've never experienced anything like this with complete strangers, but it was one of the most memorable moments I've had lately and I definitely won't be forgetting it any time soon.
precious. i love it when God shows up. ;o)
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