So Shines a Good Deed in a Weary World AND Is Anonymity Even Possible?

I've heard it said "When Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" or something like that, but it's also true, "When baby's sick, ain't nobody gonna get no rest." So while Sean had preschool this morning, I picked up Eleanor hoping sick baby Chloe and Mama Olivia could have some rest time. Chloe slept most of the time. I sure hope Liv rested.

<----- Eleanor
Eleanor and I went to the two "hot spots" in McPherson. (Well we went to the two kid-friendly hot spots that I know of on a misty-moisty chilly autumn day.)
We went to Wal-Mart then to McDonalds.

While at Wal-Mart, I was looking for something in the same aisle as a young mama who had her baby girl in a car seat riding in the cart. The lady with the baby noticed Eleanor, looked at me, turned back to Eleanor and said, "Hi Ellie!" Then the lady looked at me again and said, "It is Eleanor, right?" (I didn't know the lady, though I was beginning to think I should.) She said she knew Olivia from church and asked about baby Chloe, then she asked if I was a relative. We chatted for awhile and I asked her name. July. Her name is July. I'd never met anyone named July and as you might be guessing, her birthday is in July.
A note about Wal-Mart: The cashier put my sacks into the cart for me! Wow! She was very helpful! I may seem a bit gushy about this, but this is Wal-Mart (and McDonalds) I'm talking about and in my opinion neither have impressed me as being very servant/service oriented.


Our next stop was McDonalds where the nice manager must have noticed I was struggling just a bit (after walking all over Wal-Mart), so he asked if I'd like him to carry our tray to a table and get my drink. (Bless his heart!)
Also while at McDonalds the lady who wipes tables (and talks to almost everyone) came over to chat with us. She tweaked Eleanor's cheek and asked about Eleanor's Mom, wondered if
she was okay and asked about the baby and "the little boy". (It surprised me that his woman had been paying attention! She doesn't know the family except for seeing them at McDonalds and having seen Chris working at a local grocery store when he's not teaching at a local college!) She told me where Chris (their Daddy) works then told me, in broken English with a strong Filipino accent, that her grand children are in the Phillipines. She expressed her delight in seeing sweet children and their parents or grandparents. It was all very friendly and home-towny. I do think she would have liked to sit with us, but she was on dining duty, so she sweetly got us more napkins (and some ketchup for Ellie) without being asked.
So the point of all this is to say that, "So shines a good deed in a weary world." And of all places,
in Wal-Mart!
in McDonalds!
These are two places that I usually complain about! (and feel indignantly justified to complain about!)
I was amazed that little Eleanor is known in a family connection and in her home town even at a very early age! So to the question, "Is anonymity even possible?", I'd have to answer that it doesn’t seem possible in these parts and that's okay. I don't mind not being anonymous really. (I guess if I did, I'd just have to stay home!) And as long as friendly cheek tweaks and kind gestures come naturally and can be reciprocated in kind words of encouragement and thankfulness, I view this as a general revelation of God's goodness and grace. I admit that there are days that I desire to just be anonymous, but that I'm "known" as "Eleanor's Grammy" and as "Olivia's Mom" is delightful!
"I know it's only a new role,
but I like it, love it, yes I do!"