Before I tell you about our "pleasant surprise," here is a fun little fact that I learned yesterday.
Did you know that the year 2013 is the first year since 1987 to have four different numbers?
Go ahead -- process that for a second and then keep on reading! :)
I shared that with a few people yesterday because I thought "huh, that's kind of interesting!" Funny how the littlest things can grasp your attention!
In other news, it is now day 3 on my journey of changing myself, and I have not cursed or anything. I've prayed and quiet myself more {which I am 100% convinced is the reason I've been successful} and its been really nice! I can't believe cursing has even become a problem for me??
I found it strangely convenient that on my first day of changing my attitude, my reaction to things and so forth; that I would not only break the top to our Scentsy warmer, but I broke it all over our shiny wood floor and of course it had lots of warm, melted wax inside the bowl. I didn't say or do anything when it happened. I simply got up, grabbed something to scrape the wax off the floor, a dust pan and some cleaner. I didn't curse, I didn't get mad ... simply nothing. And guess what? IT WAS FINE! No big deal and it didn't ruin my whole morning!!
Its important to learn how to underreact at times I think. I find that for most people {and this definitely includes myself}, their initial reaction to a situation in general is an overreaction. Then, when its time to really get excited about something, it requires us to be so far gone over the top its ridiculous!!! But maybe that's just in my world.
Also, while Jocelyn and I were driving into Topeka to go swimming yesterday evening, I heard a good and thought provoking story on Air1 {for those of you that don't know, this is a Christian radio station}. The story was about two sisters that were prisoners in a concentration camp. Now, this is a true story, both of them were Godly believers, felt it was important to always give thanks and praise in every situation because they believed everything happened for a reason. The minute the host said that last little bit ... that "cliche" ... I rolled my eyes and instantly he says "I'm sure a lot of you listeners just rolled your eyes about how everything happens for a reason." Go figure right? Him saying that made me go "Geez! Stop spying on me!" haha
Anyways, the story continued with explaining how one of the sisters attempted to followed this way of life more so than the other sister. So here they were, in a concentration camp that I imagine was quite literally Hell on Earth. Well, the campsite that these particular sisters were being held at, became infested with fleas. The one "everything happens for a reason" sister voiced how they needed to give thanks for the flea infestation. Of course the other sister spoke up and said "What?! How do we, or why would we, give THANKS for fleas?" Trust me when I say, if that were my own sister telling me to "give thanks" while my body itched and ached from bites, as fleas crawled into my ears as I slept and no orifice of my body was safe from fleas making themselves at home; I'd probably tell her she was delusional and exactly where she could put that perky, positive attitude!! I'd like to think I wouldn't, but I'm sure I would have thought she was just trying to get on my nerves and by far too positive for the situation at hand!!!
Turns out, because the fleas were so bad, it often prevented the concentration guards from coming to their campsite to hurt or torture the prisoners ... those sisters were in a sense, saved by the fleas. So yes, while they were often covered in disgusting, biting, disease carrying fleas; they were not receiving the harsh beatings, punishments and treatments as other prisoners in different camps.
This gave me a new perspective about "Giving Thanks in Every Situation" --- I'm not so sure I could give thanks under such horrible, bleak circumstances? Perhaps I could, but surely not until the end or until after I saw there was an upside. But to see the goodness, or potential goodness, during such a dreadful time as I was being bitten by fleas, a prisoner, starving, beaten, watched as I lost loved ones and the list would be endless ... I'm not so sure. Gave me much food for thought and caused me to reevaluate my, and my family's, current situation. Maybe during trying times of my own, I will cling to this story/memory and really live so boldly!
Ok, so I promise there is a pleasant surprise!
After Jocelyn and I went swimming and got cleaned up, we met up with Justin and went out to supper {on swim night, we usually treat ourselves to a meal out and I think we all look forward to that :)}. I told Justin it was his turn to pick and he choose Famous Dave's. Justin avoids chain places, and especially chain BBQ places, because they tend to not be all that great. But as we were sitting there waiting for food, two different people came up to our table to thank Justin for his service to our country, and also even thanked me for being the support he needs to "do whats necessary." In case your wondering, he stayed late at work so he was still in uniform, but gosh, I thought those people taking time out to come over at all was the sweetest gesture.
What else was a sweet gesture? The manager came over to our table and gave us a free bottle of their signature BBQ sauce, a $10 gift certificate and also thanked Justin.
What else was a super sweet gesture and pleasant surprise? Someone that asked to remain anonymous, bought our entire supper for us!!! Is that not the nicest thing in the world???
I'm telling you, I don't know if it happens to you once you become a mom, if its because I'm a woman, if its because I'm trying to live my life as God intended and He's continually softening my heart, if its getting closer to "that time of the month" or what ... but I about started to cry right then and there. I just couldn't believe that everyone was so nice ... so generous ... and it was out of the blue.
I felt so blessed ...
... to be with my family, to be warm, to have food in our bellies, to encounter such wonderful people ...
Just totally and utterly blessed!
this blog about made me cry too!! what an awesome day you had it seems.. those simple words from kind strangers are always amazing to hear and even more so when someone goes as far as to purchase your entire meal. its lil gestures like that, that make you remember and see the good and God in people. i love you guys and wish you the best of luck on your new year of starting a new YOU! ;) *hugs*
ReplyDeleteYes that happened to me once when I was with a group of women from the women’s conference. We were all chatting up a storm while waiting for our order to come, we had left Webster Conference Center and went to Carlos O Kelley’s, and I think there were maybe 16 of us. Anyway we all ordered our mean and as it started coming out, I asked the ladies If I could bless our meal. We all bowed our heads, bless out meal and had a wonderful time chatting as women will do with no husbands or children there. The waitress brought out desert to us and we said we had not ordered it, she said a nice person who wanted to remain un noticed had done this. So we said wonderful. We kept waiting for our tickets and finally asked for it, when the waitress brought me a coaster, on it was written in a circle over and over how impress this person was to see a group of women praising god. He or she paid for pour entire meal. We were amazed, so we asked what the cost of the meal was so we could leave a tip. The waitress smiles at us and said, oh my…that was taken care of generously too.
ReplyDeleteThis just shows you that you never know who is watching you.
You never know when you might be the inspiration for someone else.
You never know the impression you make on other
Please make it a great one
We never know who is watching, but rest assured Jesus is.
It also reminded me of you as a small girl, I think you were about 5. When you dad and I married I had some beautiful crystal dishes, I always kept them put up unless we had a special meal and them I would use them. After dinner you wanted to wash the dishes, you could not even reach the sink but I agreed and together we washed all but the crystal. I told you to hop down and I would wash the, I went to get a towel to put in the sink, because they were very delicate, sand I am coming back down the hall I hear you scream and I heard glass shatter.
I grabbed you and your hand; you had a very small scratch while I was holding you and calming you down you said you just knew I would hate you. I asked why, and you said you had dropped the crystal butter dish. I explained to you that you were al lot more important to me than that crystal butter dish would ever be. And that it was even more special now, because I only had one left. So we would take very good care of it. You got down, but I said no get back up here and let me show you how to do this. We washed the last butter curl dish dried it and put it away. And You taught me that you can handle that lesson two ways, I could have gotten angry, after all it was a matched set and a very expensive one at that. Or I could love you and explain to you a better way of doing it while comforting you the whole time. I am glad I did the latter off the two.
The glass dish, (and that is really all crystal is, is a pretty piece of glass) and it can be replaced with the same or even something better, but you my darling little girl could never be replaced.
This is just one of many times when you learn to love each other and give the glory to God, because he is the one to help you with all your problems. Your priorities and your needs.
Thank you Jesus for giving me 5 wonderful children to always test me….. I love them all so much