Well Deserved Reward🌸
Sarah had one of the busiest days of her life. She had so many favors to do for so many people on her schedule, that she worried not everything would be done to perfection, or on time.
In the morning she made plans to drive to the Nursing home to pick up her favorite resident, who had been best friends with her great grandmother before she passed away last March, to an Art Show. Looking up at the cloudy and dreary sky, she wondered if taking Mrs. Lilywood would be a good idea. She didn't want the woman to get sick, but also knew how disappointed she would be if Sarah canceled on her. The art show was only right down town and all Mrs. Lilywood talked about all week. Heading inside the center the woman was already sitting down in the entrance Lobby, which made Sarah glad she decided not to cancel.
The cathedral where the show was displayed started at noon, and together the two of them spent about two hours from getting Mrs. Lilywood to and from the car, finding parking, paying the admission fee, and walking around the show slowly one time.
Sarah didn't have plans on buying anything. Yet when Mrs. Lilywood insisted she buy a bar of soap made of goat milk and fresh ingredients of honeydew and Almonds and handmade from one of the vendors, she had to admit the aroma was inviting. After purchasing the soap for herself and Mrs. Lilywood got herself one in the scent of Liliac and Palm they left the show. After parting with her favorite resident at the Nursing Home, she moved onto her next task of going to the church to help the volunteers sort through the donations.
With four Volunteers and double the amount of big black garbage bags filled with clothes of all ages for both men and females, and food to go into the pantry took up most of her time. She spent approximately three and a half hours there. She was offered a variety of things to take home with her, but Sarah kindly refused knowing another family could use it more then her. Looking at her cell phone, and seeing she was pressed for time. It was quarter to four and she promised to go to the soup kitchen and help prepare and serve 5 o'clock dinner, she quickly helped the volunteers finish up before heading out the sanctuary.
Before leaving the Pastor stopped her to hand her a large bouquet of assorted flowers from the chapel that were to serve a purpose for a wedding that took place the day before. It was a way to thank her for her dedicated time. Sarah generously accepted the vase and carefully secured it in the backseat of her car.
Racing to the Soup Kitchen was her final and favorite task of the day. It made her so sad to see so many people come in without stability in their life, aside from a guaranteed meal at 5 o'clock everyday of the week. She would serve everyone the deserts at the end of the line, and give the cakes with colored sprinkles to the children just to watch their eyes light up. She always stayed once everyone leaves to help clean up and hand wash the dishes, to where they could be used against for the following day. Before leaving she was offered a full plate for herself to take home with her, and giving the day she had, it was a treat to not have to cook for herself.
Sarah arrived back home around 7:30. By that time rain drops scattered from the invisible clouds in the dark sky. She cautiously carried her plate of food (including a piece of cake with her own set of sprinkles), the rather large vase of flowers, and the small gift bag with her soap. After settling in the house and eating her dinner while reading a few chapters in her new book, she went in the bathroom to scrub out the tub. She lit a few tea lights on the rims and set the flowers in the corner edge by the faucet. She turned the water to the point steam lifted above her. Dropping the goat milk soap and herself into the water melted away all her tension. The soap absorbed on her body so smooth as a delicate melted cream. She took a huge inhale of the white and pink flower pedals hanging on the side of the clear vase.
Sarah closed her eyes and smiled. She realized by doing three simple tasks helped: Mrs.Lilywood be happy to get out of the Nursing Home, the art vender make at least two sales, the volunteers at the church have extra help with their work for the families in need of clothing and emergency food, and a whole town of people looking for a decent meal on a dreary day. It gave her peace knowing that sitting in that goat milk water was more than a satisfying reward for her.