The most groovy couch ever.
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About a month ago, my dear friend Edna and I wandered into our local Assistance League consignment furniture store. Immediately, we were drawn to a fantastic couch. Its semi-round frame screamed “groovy baby” just like Austin Powers. We plopped ourselves down and tried to think where in our respective homes it might go. Alas, it was not to be. There was no place for this awesome piece of 70’s furniture. Goodbye round couch.
Then, last Tuesday, I walked into Liberty House. Liberty House is a child abuse assessment center and I do some grant writing for them. There’s a little office right off the lobby that’s been empty for months. You can’t miss seeing it when you walk in. Were my eyes deceiving me? Lo and behold, that groovy couch was right there.
Thrilled that “my” couch had found a good home, I immediately started asking how this little miracle came to be. Then I heard the “Thanksgiving Couch” story.
Sean, Liberty House’s Chief Operating Officer, was looking for some quality but cheap furniture for the office and stumbled upon the Assistance League shop. He knew the round couch was perfect but the price tag was not – $325. The very next day the price was being slashed by 50% but (sad face) he wouldn’t be there in time to snag the bargain. It seems lots of people were lining up for their piece of 70’s grooviness.
Enter the Thanksgiving Elf (yes, there are little known elves at Thanksgiving). A woman standing nearby overheard Sean’s discussion with the Assistance League volunteers regarding the couch. She and Sean struck up a conversation about Liberty House, its mission, and about the children it served. She hadn’t known about Liberty House before but now the Thanksgiving Elf was moved to say, “How about I split the cost with you?” There it was, the minor miracle.
The Thanksgiving Elf wanted no recognition. But because the couch is now in the Liberty House “quiet room” where kids and employees can decompress, we know the Thanksgiving Elf exists. We may not know her name, but she’s part of that room. Because Sean was bold enough to talk to her about Liberty House and articulate a need, a total stranger was able in turn to express her generosity.
It’s a small story, no doubt. But, it’s one that needs to be told because we need glimpses of light in the darkness. We need to remember that open hearted Thanksgiving Elves are all around us. And, it’s up to us to tell them the story they need to hear so they can respond with arms wide open.
It’s true. I’ll raise a glass any day to minor miracles.
Happy Thanksgiving to all you amazing Elves out there.
P.S. Need a prayer for your Thanksgiving feast? This one is lovely (but try to avoid Greg Focker’s classic Thanksgiving prayer).
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