July 19, 2014
My Instead: I visited my
neighbor's "lemonade stand" and discovered a whole new perspective
about food allergies!
When leaving my
sub-division, I’m usually in a hurry to somewhere of supposed importance. This
particular Saturday I had plans to attend a pool party with some friends, but
had some things to do beforehand. As I rounded the curve out of my
neighborhood, I saw this large open tent in my neighbor’s front yard. It looked like
they were selling lemonade…quite a production for a lemonade stand! No matter the
time, I knew that I would have to check that out on my return trip home.
After completing my
errands, I entered my subdivision and made a bee line to this lemonade stand.
Not wanting to do a “drive-thru”, I pulled my car over and got out. These particular
neighbors and I go way back. While in high school, I used to babysit their infant
son. Then when I had babies of my own, their daughter babysat my kids!
I walked up to this “enterprise”
and commenced with a get-reacquainted conversation. Then I noticed their sign: “Donations
go to Food Allergy Research and Education”. My interrogation began. My neighbor’s
6-year-old granddaughter has food allergies. The little girl’s mother (the
teenager that used to babysit my kids) detailed her daughter’s story that began
over two years ago when she almost died from exposure to peanuts. From that day’s
horror was born untold emotions and many hours of research about this dreadful disorder.
Both were present and accounted for in her words. I listened.
Blessings. I’ve used
this word a lot because my loved ones and I have been blessed with good health
for the most part. When I hear of someone else’s malady, it hits an emotional chord
with me. Why this family, so loving and wonderful? I felt their love and its
growing energy right there in my neighbor’s front yard. It filled my heart. When
I see such good things arise from such a pitiful plight, it always amazes me. There it is once again, folks…the yin and the yang in our lives.
During our discussion, the
mother informed me that 6 years of age is around the time that some children can
miraculously grow out of this. As I walked to my car, my last words were “I’ll
pray that this goes away”. And I did.
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