…Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble.
That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless — that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you’re worth.
(1 Peter)
What if I told you, “I love you” every day for a full year?
And what if each day I also reminded you of your past and nagged you about all the things you need to change in your life?
What would you remember at the end of the year? What would you think about me?
So last week before our community group meeting, I grabbed some food for Laurie and I from the drive through of a local fast food restaurant that just happens to serve both Mexican food and fried fish. Yes, an interesting combination – you could say it was a Yum! idea.
Anyways, I waited my turn in line, paid for my food at the first window, waited a while longer and got my food at the second window.
I was asked if I needed any sauce. Being a Mexican and fried fish place I thought – well I have Mexican food, Laurie ordered chicken – you don’t put cocktail sauce or tarter sauce on chicken, “So no.” Bad mistake. Didn’t realize this, but Laurie likes the chicken at this particular restaurant because you can get tarter sauce to put on it. Also, I’m used to people throwing ketchup and such in the bag and I forgot to ask for it specifically – so no ketchup for her fries. Doh. Sorry about that babe.
We headed to the Nash’s ate our food and that was that. A day or so later I noticed there were two charges on our debit account. One for $11.97 (what they told us the price was) and one for $10. It didn’t make sense but I’ve seen things like this before. Someone types in the wrong amount on accident and then cancels it, but it takes another day or two for it to hit our account for some odd reason.
So I waited.
Finally yesterday nothing new had shown up so I decided to call the establishment and find out what was going on. Guess what — the *&@ #&*% *&#@ *&!% ^@&^ #!@ guy who worked at the drive thru window, took it upon himself to charge me for my food and then added on an additional $10 service charge. He must have worked for Ticketmaster in a previous life. Apparently he was adding this service charge/convenience charge/drive thru robbery on several customers cards without their acknowledgment.
I was assured by a manager that he was no longer working for their company and they were attempting to get the funds back. I thought, “Well yeah – You better get the funds back because I want my funds back!” (entitlement theory begins).
I was told she would talk with another manager and they would call me back.
Several hours later she called and asked if I could come in for a refund.
On the way home the entitlement theory began to go to work as I began to think of all the extra things I could ask for as a thank you for all my trouble. Free tacos, free fish, free meals, etc. etc.
I walked in with my theory in hand – and my bank statement print out. I asked for the manager and she walked up asked for my card and swiped it for the refund. “Sorry for your trouble. Thanks.” I said “Thanks” and she turned and walked away to go back to work.
“Wait a minute! What about ‘We’re sorry for your trouble sir. How about free tacos for a year? How about 10 free meals? What else can we do for you sir?’!!! Aren’t you going to try harder to keep my business?! What about my rights?! What about what YOU owe ME?!”
That sure sounded good in my head.
But then there was this other voice in my head that said, “Inverted. Inverted. Inverted. Inverted.”
And then I started thinking, “Everything Must Change.”
I guess if I’m going to teach it, I better believe it. And that “everything” will need to begin with me.
It can’t be about what someone owes me. It can’t be about what I’m entitled to. It can’t be about me, me, me.
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. – Mark 8:35
I wonder what Jesus might have done in this situation?