Recently I had two experiences which caused me to stop and reflect on the pluses and minuses of the free market system. Many months ago I decided to try and sell some of my sewing and knitting projects at a local senior center craft shop. I was excited by the idea of having people purchase what I made, and I decided that my earnings would go to a local charity.
A few months went by, and none of my handmade clothing or knit baby washcloths were selling, and I was somewhat disappointed.Around this time, I decided to give some of the clothing I had made to an organization that provides clothes to the needy in our local community. I happened to be in the office on the day when a mom walked in asking for clothes for her 2-year old son. One of the things she needed was pajamas. She looked through the clothing drawers, and lovingly reached for the flannel pj's I had brought in that day. An indescribable feeling came over me, and even with the passage of 2 weeks since that day, I have difficulty putting into words what I felt at that moment. If pressed to articulate the feeling, I would say it was a combination of joy, gratitude, humility and pride all mixed together. Even though no one had purchased these pj's when they were on sale at the craft shop, I had been royally compensated for them from the look on the mothers' face when she chose them for her son.
Since this experience, some of my craft items have found a buyer, and I have earned some monetary compensation. However, no monetary reward can compare to knowing that something I made is not only wanted, but really needed.
~Kathy~
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