The Sale

It was the preview day of my favorite sale.
It is a consignment sale that happens twice a year to support a local playschool.
I have been going to the sale twice a year for about twenty-five years.
Having a preview day is something new.

Preview days are crowded but not nearly as crowded as opening day.
Strollers are not allowed on the premises either day until noon.
Consequently, you see mothers with babies in carriers.
The sale is well-known in this area; there is something for everyone.

When my daughter first began to teach, I found many books for her classroom library.
Furniture is available at the sale as well.
That has been helpful to those just moving into an apartment or first house.
I have found some interesting pieces myself though the years.

Anyone going to the sale for the first time may be a bit overwhelmed.
You have to bring your own bag or box to carry the items you find.
Sometimes, you can grab a box or a bag with handles as you walk in the door.
Seasoned shoppers know how to find even the most obscure thing.

Years ago, I would make a dash to the book section before it got too crowded.
That is an experience in itself since it is a relatively small area with many moms and children.
You have to maneuver for space and stake your claim once you find it.
Women will actually say to each other, Switch, and exchange places so as not to lose their spot.

Families that homeschool their children particularly love the sale since books are inexpensive.
As soon as you see a book you like, you must put it in your bag.
If you leave your spot, the book will indeed be gone.
I have learned how to shop at the sale successfully over the years through trial and error.

If you see a piece of furniture you like, you can ask them to put a HOLD sticker on it.
You then have time to walk around and think about it.
You can purchase the desired piece and then it will be marked, SOLD.
You can come back for the item when you have a van or truck to carry it home.

I have gone to the sale with various friends from time to time.
We walk in together but go our separate ways once we are inside.
I have been known to elbow people, I tease.
That is only partly true.

I do not elbow people out of the way in an obnoxious manner.
Everyone at the sale knows that close quarters means you will bump into someone.
Even though the sale is in a large fire hall, there never seems to be enough room.
The sale gets more popular every year.

I have learned to put an item in my bag if I am even considering it.
Like the books, if you leave the item, it will be gone.
If you walk around and have second thoughts on the item, you can always put it back.
I have done that a few times.

This year’s sale had its preview day with the opening a few days away.
I pulled into the parking lot about five minutes after it opened.
The line of people who had been waiting at the door were still going inside.
By the time I got out of my car, I was able to walk right inside.

A woman, who was parked across from me, was walking with a cane.
She was walking a bit slow and had a brace on one leg.
I am quite a fast walker, but I did not want to hurry past her.
Good morning, I said as I walked next to her, Don’t you love this sale?

I do, she said, I’ve been coming for years.
Me, too, I said, I never want to miss it.
You and I are seasoned shoppers, I said, knowing that to be true.
I noticed she brought her own bags with her.

I have been known to elbow people, I said teasing.
She laughed and added, then I better stay out of your way.
I held the door for her as three other women rushed passed us.
Are you the door holder? One of women asked as she darted through.

The woman with the cane turned around and looked at me and winked.
Maybe you should elbow a few, she said and I knew what she meant.
I went to the vintage jewelry that is held under glass.
I like to look at the designer pocketbooks and items that you must purchase at that counter.

I went back towards the furniture, bypassing the clothes and shoes.
I stopped at the toy section to see if there was anything for the children that come to my home.
I walked into the housewares section.
I saw a woman with a rolling cart.

Technically, she was not allowed to have anything with wheels before noon.
Her cart was full.
On top of everything she had a large, green mixing bowl.
I have a smaller bowl just like it in my Hoosier cabinet.

I wished that I had seen that bowl but I had stopped many places along the way.
I could see that the price tag on the bowl was $3.00.
That price is unheard of, since I know how much those bowls really cost.
I had a thought and wondered if I should carry through with it.

I tapped her arm.
If you change your mind about the green bowl, I want you to know that I am interested.
I have a smaller bowl just like it and to have a matching set would be so nice, I said.
I told her the kind of bowl I believed it to be; she turned it over to see if the marking was there.

It was.
She was getting an unbelievable bargain.
Another lady that was within earshot, chimed in our conversation.
Well, she’s not going to change her mind now, the woman said.

I knew that was true but it was worth a try.
This woman was filling her cart with random items.
I know that she did not know what she had in her basket.
She knows now.

I turned to walk away.
I saw the woman with the cane and she winked again.
I didn’t elbow, I said knowing that she heard the whole conversation I had with the woman.
The woman with the bowl did not know she had a treasure; she knows now.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.  (Matthew 13:44)

It was just a bowl.
The woman did not know the treasure she had in finding it.
I did.
Now she knows; I hope it makes a difference to her.

We have the treasure of heaven promised to us if we are in Christ.
In Him, we know what we have; it is our job to tell others so they will know, too.
Some may be unimpressed with the treasure we hold out to them.
Some may rejoice because they never knew that treasure could be theirs.

Tell them.
Let them know what treasure can be theirs in Christ.
Don’t elbow, or force, or be obnoxious in the telling.
That kind of amazing treasure is meant to be shared.