We finished checking out at Publix the other day, me and my traveling party, and an older man
decided to give me all his best one liners, and I have heard them
all. First he did the standard count with the face of
disbelief...."One, two, THREE, FOUR, FIVE???" Then the
predictable "ARE THEY ALL YOURS?" with the bewildered head
shake. But he ended with a snide sounding (to me) "Well, that
must be expensive." And for some reason that one bothered me. Not a
lot of comments bother me. I know that most people are just curious,
and have to say *something*. We are an anomaly, and I get it. I
welcome it. I am proud of my family and grateful beyond words. But
this one got under my skin. Maybe I was just tired, no, actually I am
always tired. Maybe it's hormonal. But maybe... just maybe it was
because I know what they are worth. I mean, for Pete's sake, did he
say that to the woman in front of him, with $50,000 of plastic
surgery? Or the woman behind him, with a bazillion dollar purse?? So
immediately there I was, walking out the door, annoyed at myself for
not thinking quicker on my feet with a smart response. So I pushed
that basket, covered in children, out to the parking lot, trying to
think of "comebacks" for the next time...I hate being
unprepared ;) I came up with this one......."It is expensive,
but we are really rich, so its fine" (fyi, this is untrue, as if
you needed that disclaimer) But no, I hate to be that way. If I
really am blessed beyond measure, then I am the one that should be
extending grace to those that are frankly just clueless. And that's
when it happened..I got it!! I had the perfect retort, which pretty
much insured no one would ever say it to me again! But ….as God
would have it, just after I had the last child seat-belted into our
vehicle, who should be strolling by us in the parking lot, but that
man!!! So I sweetly got his attention and smiling from ear to ear I
said "They are not 'expensive', they are *valuable* and not only
that, but they produce a much greater return then what most people
invest in." Tadaaaa!!! Nice huh?? But yeah, this guy totally
wasn't even listening to me, ha! I think he was still counting! He
looked right passed me and my sage-like comment, into the car. “They
are SO CUTE!” he said and we struck up a friendly conversation. I
have to admit, I was a little disappointed that my brilliant one
liner, I was so proud of, pretty much hit the pavement flat. And it
wasn't till today that I realized that the reminder..... of their
worth....and how important our investment is....that reminder was
for me.
8For
the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap
corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit
reap eternal life. 9Let
us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we
do not grow weary. 10So
then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and
especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Galatians
6:8-10
