a story about the greatest man I know.

I've been thinking a lot lately about an experience that Branson had while working the other day. As a door-to-door salesman, Branson talks to a TON of people every day. Many of those people aren't always pleasant, but Branson still enjoys his job. (Not something I could EVER do) The reason he loves...okay endures it is because of the sweet and humble people that he meets. 

The area that Branson has been knocking in is pretty middle class.  He goes up to this one house in particular that looked pretty run-down, even though he was almost positive they wouldn't get the alarm/pass credit/be able to afford it. He somehow just felt prompted to talk to these people. An older woman answers the door and B sees her husband crouched over, walking behind her towards the door. He talks with them for a bit and tells them about the alarm system, yada yada. This woman responds with..."Sir, we don't have any money." Branson tries to play it off by telling her that the equipment is free you just have to pay a small fee for monitoring (or something along those lines...i don't know the details.) She again responds with..." I don't think you understand. We don't have ANY money." She then goes on to tell him about how they got fired from their jobs (they had a paper route) because they couldn't get the papers out fast enough. (As I said before they are an older couple) How. Sad! Feeling down and helpless, Branson leaves and continues on with his day. He gets home that night and tells me about his experience with this couple. I could tell he had been thinking about them and wanted to do something to help. He didn't even have to ask me before I told him to do whatever he felt he needed to do. He goes to work the next day and comes home to tell me about his second experience with this couple. He shows up at their house and gives them some money that they clearly NEEDED. She immediately started crying and said she could only take a small portion of it. Of course, he said no and pleaded with her to just take it. He broke down in tears with this old woman. He just felt so bad and knew how much this would help them. She finally took the money and Branson left. He was in the neighborhood knocking the rest of that day. He said he saw them pull out in their run-down car, not sure where they were headed. Later that evening he saw them pull in. She told Branson that they just went to pay the power company because their power was going to be turned off the next day. They were beyond grateful.

This story is one of the MANY experiences that Branson has had while doing summer sales. He has been doing this job for five years now. This is the third summer I have been out with him and first time with a baby. I definitely have days where I wonder why we are doing this. I think about how nice and easy it would be to be in the comfort of our own home. How living in extended stays with coin laundry and dirty carpet (germaphob over here) really isn't all that great. But then Branson tells me stories like this and it all makes sense. We are here for a reason. I don't think we will ever know how much that little act of service helped that poor old couple. Or the several other families that have been blessed because of my selfless, AMAZING husband. I remember another older woman that Branson befriended. It was out in Chicago our first summer together. He even took me to meet her one day, like he told her he would. I don't think she believed him because when we showed up she couldn't believe it. I remember her asking him this exact thing..."Branson, why are you doing this? Why are you even talking to me? Nobody talks to me..." She was so taken back by Branson and his kindness and for the fact that he would take time out of his day just to come say hi. That's just the kinda guy he is. (I have bragging rights, okay!?) Anyways, besides the fact that I have the best husband ever, Heavenly Father leads Branson to these people. This job isn't just about making money for Branson...it's about serving others and helping people in any way possible.  Even if it's just becoming their friend.

I'm thankful that I have a husband who receives inspiration and is quick to act on the promptings he receives. I learn so much from him every day. I'm lucky to have him as my eternal husband.

Okay, I'm done. :)