Monday morning Inspiration # 52

I shouldn't admit this. I guess it would be foolish of me, but I'm not crazy about greeting cards. "You write and sell greeting cards, Bob!" You are right. I guess it's just that I personally always have a hard time finding just the right card for the right person, at the right time. Like mushy cards about going fishing and an "always understanding father." They didn't create one for my Dad. Oh, he had his moments, but I always tended to buy "Thanks for all you have done for me" generic cards.

My wife loves greeting cards. She even has a membership card to the big card shop chain. But, yesterday I saw them in a different light. Through the eyes of a child. I needed a card for a friend. I had already been standing in the card aisle for at least twenty minutes, when I noticed the young girl. "Okay, I need one for Granny and one for my best friend, Jackie. Oh, and one for Mommy and Daddy..."

Just then a woman walked around the corner. "How are you doing this time?" she asked. "Oh, Mommy I think I'm finding the best one's here." Looking up, the woman caught me listening in on their conversation. "She loves buying cards," she said. "I don't. I always find it a difficult task," I replied. "Why?" the little girl asked me. "It's the words. They don't always fit the person I need to buy a card for." "Oh, that's the problem," she said. "Really?" "I don't read the cards." "Well, how do you know it's the right one?" Placing her finger on her chin, looking much like the famous statue, "The Thinker," the young child said, "It looks like them." Her mother then explained that her daughter doesn't buy cards for what they say. She buys them for how they look. "When Granny is sad, I buy her a card that looks happy. My best friend is sick. I found a sunshine card for her," the child said. "If I describe my friend, could you pick out a card for her?" "Yes, of course. It would be better if I could see her, but tell me what she looks like." I went on to describe her. "I'll be right back," she said. Heading off to the other side of the card rack, she suddenly re-appeared smiling with pride for her selection. "Here, this is your friend," she said.

The front of the card had puppies all over it. Inside it said, "From the dog. Happy Birthday! I hope you get good treats!" "That's just perfect!" I said. In reality, my friend just lost her job and has been pretty upset about it. I couldn't find the right words. But that was the problem. I needed to find the right picture. "Thank you for helping me. She loves puppies. By the way. What card did you pick out for your Granny?" I asked. She handed me the card she had chosen. On the front was a picture of a beautiful baby all wrapped up in blankets. Inside it said, "Congratulations! We celebrate the birth of your child and all the joy that will fill your life." I looked at her mother, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "Granny will be surprised." "I bet she will be," I said smiling. "The baby looks like me. Granny says I make her happy."

"Well, I'm glad I met you today, young lady, you made me happy, too," I said. These are the moments I live for. Chance meetings at just the right time? No, I think not. This one was meant to be. I guess you could say, "It was in the cards."

- Bob perks

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