The Bell Ringer

'Jingle, Jingle, Jingle' the bell sounded.  An older, black woman sat on a wheeled walker, at the entrance of the Hobby store, bundled against the gray day and the cold that was unusual for the area at this time of year.  

As people passed by, she faithfully shook the bell,  breaking the sound only as she loudly said, 'Thank you, Baby, for the blessin' as someone dropped a donation into the red bucket.  Someone else walked by pretending not to see her, but she would say, 'Hello, Gorgeous!' as they walked by.  

A customer came from the store, stopping to talk with her as her eyes scanned the parking lot for the friend who would pick her up at the door, once he'd seen her.  The bell ringer continued her appointed job, chatting comfortably with the customer, between her shouts to the people coming and going from the entrance.  They spoke of the chilly weather and how long the woman had been there that day, collecting monies for the Salvation Army.  They discovered that they'd both come from the same state, and they hugged, feeling a kinship in that knowledge.  

"God bless that precious baby," she said to a passing couple with their new family member.  They smiled and let her take a peek at the little face beneath the blanket. "God bless" she said again.   

A man exited the store and lit a cigarette, and he leaned against the building wall nearby. The lady with the bell began speaking with him, as the customer continued to watch the parking lot for her driver.  The three of them had a friendly conversation until the gentleman returned to his job in the store.  The two women chatted as they both waited for the customer's ride to appear.

The bell ringer continued to interrupt their conversation with her friendly shout outs. "Oh, Sister...thank you for your gift!"  and "Congratulations on your blessin', Sweetheart!" she offered to a very pregnant young woman.   The customer thought that her sidewalk companion was the friendliest person she'd seen in a long time, and her impression was that every word was offered in honesty....not because she was looking for a drop in her red bucket.  

The woman bowed her head and rubbed her forehead.  The customer asked if she was alright, as it seemed that the older woman was weary and cold.  She offered to get her some coffee, once her ride arrived. The coffee was declined, but the lady with the bell asked if she might have a hot chocolate instead.  'Of course', replied the customer.  And then the other woman asked if her new friend might get her a hamburger with the two dollars she held out.  

'Please keep your money....I'll get it' said the customer, thinking that two dollars wouldn't buy much of a burger, even at the fast food place at the foot of the hill.  Finally, the car arrived for the customer.  The two women bid one another a farewell, and the car drove off. The customer instructed the driver to go to the drive-through fast food spot, and as she ordered a full meal for the bell ringer, she wondered if the woman at the doorway expected  to really get her beverage and burger.  She found out, in short order, when the car pulled up in front of her, as she huddled against the coming of the darkness.  The customer handed her a brown bag...filled with warm food,  and received a blessing from the hungry and weary woman.  

Little did the friendly and sincere woman know the blessing that was felt  in the heart of the customer that afternoon, having experienced the time with the special bell ringer.