Grace Garden Preschool

The sashes are out, and the wagons are rolling.  In case you’ve been under a rock under the last couple of days, you know the Girl Scouts are coming your way with loads of Lemonades, Thin Mints and Peanut Butter Patties. My daughter is a Girl Scout, so you’ll see me out there, too. Yesterday was our first day of sales and though we didn’t sell what we thought we might, we did come away with some life lessons.

Patience.  Our first house looked promising. Two bicycles in the driveway, a ball in the front yard. Kids like cookies. While we did sell cookies, it took about 15 minutes to make the sale as our customer perused her choices, asked her kids what they’d like, perused the order sheet again, and searched extensively for her checkbook.  Deep breath, and on to the next house.

Compassion. Three houses down, my daughter meets a woman who is not able to buy cookies. She explains that she has Celiac disease and is gluten intolerant and that the Girl Scouts really should sell gluten-free cookies. My daughter patiently listens as our would-be customer shares what it means to not be able to eat cookies that you so desperately love. Sigh. That would stink if you couldn’t eat Girl Scout cookies.

Appreciation.  Next she meets a man who cannot buy cookies because he can’t afford them. He may be out of work. Maybe he’s working hard to make ends meet. We don’t know. But we do learn that he loves Girl Scout cookies and would love to purchase them when he has more money. We decide that we’re very blessed to have sweets in our lives.

Perseverance.  Eight houses in and we’ve sold only a two boxes. But rather than give up, my daughter presses on. Perhaps it’s the thrill of the sale that drives her, or wanting to make her den leader proud. I think that she is learning what it means to complete a job and do it well. Though my heart breaks every time she walks away empty-handed, I have never been more proud.

For the next three weeks, the Girl Scouts will be knocking on your door, imploring you to buy a box or two. You may get your fill, but consider buying from them anyway. In the end, what’s one more box of cookies when investing in a girl’s future?

Scout's honor,
Kym