Yesterday I learned a woman I know has stage 2, triple-negative breast cancer. It's spread to the lymph nodes. Her hair is already going due to chemo. She will shortly undergo a double mastectomy, followed by radiation. She has three children, a husband, a dog and cat. This is an aggressive form of cancer, with a rate of recurrance twice as high as other forms. She's 33.
During the call, I was asked if I'd sign up to make and deliver meals. Without hesitation, I agreed. When the link to takethemameal.com showed up in my email, I registered, picked a date at time and hit send.
Two things have been on my mind since that conversation last night. The first is I love that technology is now taking the place of such archaic forms of coordination, such as the sign-up sheet at church. Must faster. Infinitely more accurate. The second is that this is the woman who wouldn't friend me on Facebook, never invited me to her pool parties that included all the children in the class but mine. She's also the individual who wouldn't look me in the eye at school functions nor return my calls/emails/texts
about getting our daughters together after school (despite begging from each).
Despite two years of indirect inquiries to get to the bottom of the behavior, I never did learn the root of the issue. It wasn't like an altercation occurred. Just the opposite. Showing up for school events, drop offs and pick-ups, engaging in polite chit-chat. The end. Some knew of the interesting behavior, but we shrugged our shoulders. I didn't have my feelings hurt, but I did feel for my daughter, who was on the receiving end of not being invited etc., but luckily, at 5 and 6, was a bit on the young side to worry too much about it.
I'm sure I'll never know what's behind the door to this woman's personality. It doesn't matter really. She's in need. She's hurting, and not just physically. Give service to those in need. Clothe the naked. Feed the hungry. That's what it's all about.
During the call, I was asked if I'd sign up to make and deliver meals. Without hesitation, I agreed. When the link to takethemameal.com showed up in my email, I registered, picked a date at time and hit send.
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| sign up for a group effort to take someone a meal |
Despite two years of indirect inquiries to get to the bottom of the behavior, I never did learn the root of the issue. It wasn't like an altercation occurred. Just the opposite. Showing up for school events, drop offs and pick-ups, engaging in polite chit-chat. The end. Some knew of the interesting behavior, but we shrugged our shoulders. I didn't have my feelings hurt, but I did feel for my daughter, who was on the receiving end of not being invited etc., but luckily, at 5 and 6, was a bit on the young side to worry too much about it.
I'm sure I'll never know what's behind the door to this woman's personality. It doesn't matter really. She's in need. She's hurting, and not just physically. Give service to those in need. Clothe the naked. Feed the hungry. That's what it's all about.
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