TGIF
It was, he thought, a very good idea.
Trey had just listened to me lecture on the corporate greed that demanded that people work on holidays and be separated from their families while the rest of us enjoyed the company of loved ones.
He had no choice but to listen as we were driving and I had turned off the radio…
I digress.
“Lets do this”, he proposed…
“We will thank every one we meet today who has to work and wish them a merry Christmas”.
“You have right at it”, I replied.
He laughed…because he knew I wasn’t kidding.
My personality currently swings between “introverted” and “reclusive” and my deepest sorrow in life is that Amazon can’t deliver everything.
I want to do whatever I have to do and return to my cave in blessed silence.
I don’t believe you care how my day is going and I don’t really care how yours is, either.
Mine will go better if you simply ring me up, take my money, and send me on my way without complications.
I don’t want to be rude, but I really don’t want to chat, either.
Trey, however, was undaunted.
We had a number of errands to run and at every stop he thanked the person who waited on us for being there for us and wished them a cheery and sincere “merry Christmas” whilst I skulked out the door.
What happened was amazing…people came out from behind counters to hug him and all were touched that someone cared.
He brought a lot of light and no little joy to a bunch of people that day.
I dropped him off at his moms with much commendation and praise for his actions.
On the way home, I swung back by a convenience store we’d stopped at earlier.
The clerk had a question…
“How the hell did someone like you raise a kid like that?”
“Excuse me?”
He explained that I was a “bleep” and he really didn’t like me at all…but there had to be something good about me because Trey was very good, indeed.
I complimented him on his honesty, affirmed both of his judgements, and left as I had arrived…quietly and quickly.
The moral of this story is not what a “bleep” I am or how good Trey is.
We both have days that defy those assessments.
The moral of the story is that everything we say and do, even in the most mundane situations…reflects on our Father.
People judge Him by what we say and what we do.
I owe Him an apology…and I offer it with a prayer that Amazon steps up their game soon.
Thank God I don’t have one of those fish stickers on the truck…
Make your own application…
This is a funny post, but it’s true.
I had the same conversation a few years back with my ultimate enemy. The guy was awful. I called him E.T. (evil Tom). He called me all sorts of other things. He had three teenage daughters who were the best, most loving kids I’ve ever met. I had to have a sit down with him, and bury the hatchet because a guy as bad as I thought he was couldn’t raise kids like that.
Great reminder to be people of grace to a world with pain. I too need this reminder at times when someone is doing a goofy transaction in the line at Costco! ?
I have had more random conversations with people in the last year of having a kid, and even more so in the last few months as her jubilant love and interest in each and every person she passes becomes more obvious.
My own instincts, like Michael’s, are often to shut myself up in the house and avoid people. I see my daughter brighten people’s day, and the seemingly random affection that others will shower on her, and I see a little glimpse of the world, the way it should be… the one we lost, and will one day have again.
It’s a beautiful sight, and one that I wish I was personally more active in. 🙂
Michael,
I’m still waiting for Amazon to deliver haircuts and shaves.
Cash,
Amen!
Michael,
Thanks for standing a post in your cave.
Reclusive you may be but disengaged you are not.
Thank you, BD…
I’m not nice, but I have been redeemed. 🙂
So did that cure over in Germany prove to be successful in the treatment of Lyme disease in Trey?
JtB,
We’re six weeks into a 12 week program.
Trey’s big brother Jonny is feeling better than he has in many years…he is still in pain, but other symptoms are much improved.
He is very encouraged.
Trey is harder to assess as his symptoms are much different from Jonnys.
We are encouraged that he has put on weight and appears to be growing…he was quite under weight and size for his age.
His mom thinks both are progressing well…and we still have a ways to go.
BD,
“Reclusive you may be but disengaged you are not.” Such a Yoda quote. 🙂