Keeping My Eyes Wide Open

That’s a new resolution – to keep my eyes wide open, and for that matter, to keep my ears and my heart wide open, too. Since my granddaughter’s parents were out of town on her birthday, I wanted to be sure she was celebrated at the get-go of the day. I asked for her order for Chick-Fil-A. I was in line early and placed the order. I paid, took the bag, and was on my way. Alexia was bubbling with giddiness as I played Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” and as I set out her meal. But, oh me! They gave us a BAGEL chicken, egg and cheese sandwich instead of the BISCUIT, chicken, egg and cheese sandwich. And, I wanted her day to start so on-point. But she didn’t mind. She said it was her second favorite sandwich. But, I minded – I should have checked the bag to be sure of its contents. I should have kept my eyes wide-open.

Same day. Went to Walmart for a few groceries. Checked out and was on my way. Got home and unloaded the groceries, THEN checked the receipt and saw that the cashier charged me for 22 avocados – not the two I purchased. Oh me, again! I should have kept my eyes wide-open.

I play on a Bocce ball league in my community. Good news is we won our first two games. Since I’m the captain of our team, I’m especially proud of us. Bad news is I got a call the next day from the director of the league who had been advised that some of us didn’t have our face masks on. We were well social distanced, but that’s not what our HOA designated. “Face masks are required.” I received my correction well. But, I knew better and as the captain, I should have been a better leader. I should have kept my eyes wide-open.

The point of this blog today – “keeping our eyes wide open” aka being more intentional – more in the moment – more consciously aware of the enemy’s ploys to steal from us. It might sound a little over-the-top to say the enemy wants to steal from us when I speak about a chicken biscuit or too many avocados or carelessly not doing what’s right – but, oh, I know him well by now. The least little time stealer or joy stealer or doing what’s right stealer – is the subtle way he comes to “steal, kill and destroy” our peace and joy AND our credibility. 1 Peter 5:8 says "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion (and for this post – a biscuit, avocados and a face mask), walks about, seeking whom he may devour". It's just who our enemy is -- he wants to slip us up and create loss of time, confusion in our minds, chaos in our family, deception in relationships, and it's up to us to be "on guard, vigilant, and aware of him sneaking into our lives." EYES WIDE OPEN to the enemy's tactics and EYES WIDE OPEN to God's love, protection, tender mercies, and promises. Yes, my eyes are wide open. How about yours?

My Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

I was awake in the night praying for my granddaughter. She was leaving on her first driving-trip alone to Austin yesterday morning. At 17 she's a great driver, but I send off a quick text message to her: “Looks like lots of rain this morning, sweet girl. Please, please be careful and cautious. Praying angels around you.” I go back to sleep and wake up thinking about her. I better text her and remind her that the Dallas traffic really picks up the later she leaves. (I drive these roads often so I know what lies ahead of her!) I better tell her to leave early before the traffic gets heavy! My text: “Good morning, precious girl. Are you close to heading out? I pray angels all around you, sweet girl. As you’re going down Dallas Tollway, don’t be like me switching lanes. Pick a lane and just stay in it. That’s the best way. Sorry, I’m being a Nana nag. But I love you so much I want you protected and safe. Have a wonderful weekend. I look forward to hearing all about it. I love you so so much!”

I call her a couple of hours later and find out she’s safely made it to Italy, Texas and past Carl’s Corner. All is well. What in the world is the matter with this doting Nana? Yes. I am. Proud of it. Each one of my grandchildren has had my special attention, but this girl of five boys, I’m smitten. I think the love dosage has increased of late as I’m seeing my girl blossom into a beautiful young woman who not only cracks me up with her wit but now true wisdom has kicked in on so many levels. I’m so proud of her as she just graduated from high school. And to celebrate, all she asked for was to spend last weekend at her Uncle Ryan and Aunt Shawntel’s home with the boys. (I missed out because I was in Tulsa for a reunion with friends.)

I realize I’m having to continue to untie my “Nana” apron strings with the older grands. After Alexia, came Brennan (14) and Bryson (12) so I have more letting go to do with them eventually, but for now I’ll continue to do what I do best. Love them, spend as much time with them as I can…..and pray for them.

It’s expected that a good Mom and Nana keeps her heart and eyes open for them – right? I’ve been on this life path for many years, going before them. I know my subtle “recommendations” to them are often overkill and unneeded, but it’s innate to want them safe and protected and I think it’s my job to ensure that happens. Oh me! Then, the best reality check comes to mind. It isn’t my frugal attempts to keep them safe that makes the difference – it is our all-sufficient and all-loving God Who is overabundant in grace and mercy to handle all that for me.

Reality check. No matter what path we (and our children) walk or drive down, God is one step ahead. No matter what mountain we (and our children) come up against, He is already climbing it. No matter what journey of uncertainty we (and our children) encounter, God is 100 steps further. He’s laying out our path and their path and preparing our steps.

“The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8
‘The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf…” Deuteronomy 1:30

God is famous for caring and preparing us and our children for greater things. He walks ahead to fight our battles. He calms the storms we’re convinced we can’t beat. He softens the blows we worry will take us down. He knows our roads.

Here’s what I know: I worry less when I hand over the worry and concerns to He Who is the waymaker, provider, and caregiver – extraordinaire!

FYI – just got a text from her – “Just stopped at CFA (Chick-fil-A) in Waco! Got a yummy breakfast!” The girl works at CFA and still wants to eat there! No need to worry or fret! The girl’s got game……and chicken!

Joy Me Up, Scotty!

"Beam me up, Scotty" was a catchphrase from Star Trek. It came from the command Captain Kirk gave his chief engineer, "Scotty" Scott, when he needed to be transported back to the Starship Enterprise. I’m saying “Joy Me Up, Scotty, because I want to be transported to a place of joy. Get me out of the mulligrubs and doldrums into being “high” on joy!

I’m waiting at Chick-Fil-A to pick up my granddaughter from her Tuesday shift. It’s always amusing to hear the stories from her day because some very interesting scenarios can take place in a fast food restaurant. I can judge what kind of day she has had by her demeanor as she comes out the door to my car. Joy is all over her today. She literally skips and leaps to my car with her Chick-Fil-A bags of food. This day the joy she exudes is because her boss granted her request to get off work early to be with her grandmother. Oh, joy, joy – for her and me! I love our upbeat, joy-filled conversations on these days! I’m magnetically drawn to her spirit of joy and it makes me respond to her with joy! We are transporting each other to a joy-filled place.

Seriously, joy can literally turn our day around. Psalm 28:7 says "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart LEAPS for joy, and with my song I praise Him." I want to be a LEAPER! Isn't joy so attractive on people? I want that joy to rub off on me and I really want to be that one who exudes joy so much so that people want to hang with me. JOY isn't surface happiness -- if all is going well, then we're happy! Joy comes from deep within, and we have it in spite of gray skies and tough circumstances.

James 1:2 says: "My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials....", REALLY? Count the trials for joy??? As we mentally shift from the “woe-is-me mentality” into the “count-it-all-as-joy mentality,” then our inner joy will be released from the inside to the outside. Our actions will mimic our thoughts.
After all, we know our Father has it ALL under control. Indeed, we can be JOY-FULL and FULL of JOY!!!!

Proven Way to Get Your Way

Oh my. This girl. She. Cracks. Me. Up.
On the way to Beavers Bend a couple of weeks ago, my granddaughter was working her daddy over to stop "pleeease" stop at a Chick-fil-A so she could get a biscuit. We were already running behind in our schedule. And she could have easily gotten herself one at the nearby Chick-fil-A where she works at not too far from our homes, but she wasn't hungry then. This day, and time, you would think that she was an "expectant" mother with her craving for a Chick-fil-A biscuit. Nothing seemed to work for her in her appeal for her dad to stop, even though she used every tactic imaginable. He was bound and determined to catch up on the time we had lost. After all, those fish were just waiting for us to catch them!

Then, our drama queen applied a Russian accent along with a proposition he couldn't refuse "Dad, I'll buy you a biscuit also if you'll stop for me." Needless to say, he couldn't refuse and it just so happened, within a few blocks, was a Chick-fil-A. Pleading her case in that Russian accent sealed the deal. It was a hilarious moment for all of us.

I started thinking about Alexia's "begging" strategies, and it made me think about how we plead and beg God for answers to our prayers. Alexia knew her dad's faithfulness. We know our Heavenly Father's faithfulness. Our faith gets bolstered when we ask and we receive. His love is unfailing. But sometimes, we desperately need God to prove His faithfulness and His unfailing love in our lives RIGHT NOW!

A story is found in Mark 9:14-27 about a man who brought his son to Jesus’ disciples because an evil spirit possessed his boy. Unfortunately, Jesus’ disciples couldn’t drive the spirit out. Jesus was away at the time, and when He returned, a large crowd had gathered for a theological discussion. Seeing the crowd, Jesus asked what they were arguing about. The father told him how awful life was for his boy and how Jesus’ disciples failed to help. Jesus rebuked His disciples for their lack of faith then focused His attention on the boy. As the evil spirit acted out, the boy’s father prayed, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us”. Jesus heard the father’s desperate plea and picked up on one tiny, two-letter word: if. “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes” (v. Mark 9:23).

And then the father responded with one of the most honest prayers I’ve ever heard: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

How many of us, if we were really honest, pray as this dad did. “I do, believe, Lord, but please help me with my doubt.” My favorite part of this story is the next part. Jesus helped this dad with his doubt by answering his prayer. I love that!! Just like the father who brought his son to Jesus, we also really know that God hears our prayers, is intimately aware of our needs, and that He has the power to solve our problems. It’s one thing to profess a distant belief in the faithfulness and love of a faraway God but quite another to experience His faithfulness and love as it intersects our desperate heart's cry. It is quite all right to beg God to answer our prayers quickly. Begging is OK. Not that we have to beg God, because his tender loving-kindness is for us and to give us what we need the most. But coming to Him and asking in whatever accent we are using, we can expect to receive. His Word says "Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9).

If you're there needing a NOW answer, please pray with me: "Dear Jesus, I do believe! Help me with my unbelief! I have this need [tell Him all about it], and I desperately need You to help me." I set myself in agreement for your prayers to be answered and if the answer doesn't come right away, God is simply replying "Just a minute! I'm working out a plan that's better than RIGHT NOW!"

Enjoy the antics of my granddaughter and remember that God’s ear is always open to us. Maybe try your best accent. Now, back to my "multi-lingual" granddaughter and this video. The last night at Beaver's Bend, Alexia and I stayed back at the cabin while the others fished more. We were sitting on the cabin deck when Alexia noticed we had new neighbors. She picked up the broom and started to go into motion with her Swedish accent about how we need to help them sweep their porch and rid themselves of the bacterias of this world: hate, sin, and unicorns. Go ahead. Laugh along with me. It's good medicine for what ails you!

https://youtu.be/fvLzVXtOTyk

Do You Remember Your First Job?

I know you remember your first job. We all do. It was a pivotal time in our lives. I’ll never forget mine. I had signed up for Vocational Office Education (VOE) at my high school, which means I would gain enough office knowledge and skills to get my first job. I had learned to type, take shorthand, know how to file and other office procedures. My high school found me my first job at Sylvania Electric Company as a file clerk – at a whopping $1.25 an hour. In that company, I not only found out what stepping out of my comfort zone was, but I also learned valuable relationship interaction and great job skills that opened the door to my next job that gave me on-the-job training to be their Accounts Receivable Bookkeeper. The first job paved the way for my future in administration in many various locations in the U.S. and Canada, and even in owning our own businesses.

I had that “blast from the past” when, yesterday, I picked up my granddaughter, Alexia Wallace, from her interview at Chick-fil-A for her first job. I was on my way to pick her up when I got her text “I got the job!” She was beaming when she came bouncing to my car. I know that feeling – that sense of worth and value AND accomplishment. She turns 16 on the 16th of this month, so this is a big deal that paves the way and sets the course for taking "next steps" the rest of her life.

I couldn’t help but be so grateful that she is starting with a company, Chick-Fil-A, that has refused to compromise their Christian principles. By survey, Chick-fil-A is America’s favorite fast food restaurant, and it's obvious when I drive by the one right near my house with car lines that go around the building. Some would say it's the food. Others would point to its clever advertising. (Let's face it, there is something appealing about seeing a cow beg you to "Eat Mor Chikin.") But, Founder Truett Cathy had a different view. He declared that the secret of his success was the company's high quality of people and their attention to customer service. I have to agree. There’s something about those kids who work there and how they respond to our “Thank you” with “My pleasure”.

Truett said it all goes back to Chick-fil-A being closed on Sundays. Truett, who passed away in 2014, believed everyone should have a day off a week -- for church, rest, or to enjoy family. Dan Cathy, President and COO of the company now (Dave passed away in 2014), says, "Jesus Christ did not die for a company, He died for individuals, personally." The company wants to operate on Biblical principles and acknowledge the Lord in all ways.

I love the perks that Alexia will have with her new job. She’ll be learning responsibility, teamwork, leadership and management skills. She’ll start building her resume for her next step up the ladder. She’ll be off every Sunday – that’s huge for a gal that is on a Worship Team at her church, and that’s her passion and desire for her future. She loves the food – just about any meal, she’d be happy if you’d choose Chick-Fil-A. She'll get 20% off for Nana's meals (bonus for Nana). She already has friends that work there and she’ll develop even more friendships. (I can relate. I met my future “bridesmaid” at my first job.)

When asked by the Manager, “Alexia, what do you hope to do in the future?” She replied, “I hope to be a Worship Pastor at my church. Missions and helping people is my heart.” The Manager said, “Congratulations! Welcome to the Team! We’ll contact you about getting your uniform and training. You can start next week!”

Practicing Christianity inside the walls of the church is one thing. In fact, it's probably the easiest place to act "Christ-like." Practicing Christianity in the secular workplace is an altogether different thing. I love that my girl’s first job is with a company that has refused to compromise their Christian principles, regardless of what the world says.

"Seek FIRST the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33

And to celebrate, of course my girl and I had to go shopping, after all “Nana, I ALWAYS get a winter sweater during September! It’s my birthday month!” Such is life with Lexi!

Following the Lead of Successful Businesses and People

When my family comes to Tulsa, eating at Chick-fil-A is a MUST! It went quickly, but we waited in a long line to place our order at the drive thru window!. Always a crowd there, I said, “This is really a phenomenon!” Then I remembered just why this company is so successful and has grown to be the second largest chicken chain in America. Some would say it's the food. Others point to its clever advertising. (Let's face it, there is something appealing about seeing a cow beg you to "Eat Mor Chikin.") But, Founder Truett Cathy has a different view. He declares that the secret of his success is the company's high quality of people and their attention to customer service.

How do they attract such people? Truett says it all goes back to Chick-fil-A being closed on Sundays. Truett believes everyone should have a day off a week - for church, rest, or to enjoy family. Accordingly, Chick-fil-A has attracted outstanding teams - many industry experts will say its people are the best in the food industry.

And, ONE of the reasons their record-setting drive-thru is so fast, and accurate, is that the team taking orders is in their own private part of the restaurant. Their focus is all YOU and YOUR order, with no other distractions. It's part of their commitment to offer their customers the best experience possible!!

I was thinking about the standards of Chick-Fil-A, compared to our own standards of excellence, or the lack thereof. Do we brand ourselves with personality, wit and quality? Do we work hard, play hard and get adequate rest that we need? Do we honor God by setting aside a day, or time, for Him? Do we REALLY focus on the people in our lives – making them feel important, special and loved, or are we easily distracted with our cell phones or other matters that take away our attention from those who really matter most!

I think it’s time to follow the lead of successful people in business and in life – it just might make the difference we’ve been looking for to move up the ladder of personal and professional success in our own life!