How about a cheer for the weekend! Mine was blessed and busy. I had the chance to wind down last night with great conversation and a big, cold glass of lemonade. This morning starts with a cup of Door County Cinnamon Sugar Biscotti Coffee, a big salad packed for lunch, prayer and hope for tomorrow.
This weekend our church was blessed to have two of our missionaries from Brazil home for furlough. Wilson and Lori are amazing people who allow God to call on them and then be used by God for His Kingdom's work. We asked them both if they would speak in our weekend services. They graciously agreed and we were all blessed to hear what God was doing in Brazil through them. Wilson then delivered a message to all of us and it was a challenge to reach out to others by being friendly.
Now I consider myself to be fairly friendly, but I decided that God spoke through Wilson and I needed to up my game a little. Today was a friendly disaster. I left the house very early to pick up picnic supplies and greeted everyone in the grocery store with a "good morning and thank you for being here today". They looked at me like I was crazy. Later at the lakefront a young mom was struggling with three unruly kids and we couldn't help but notice as she was packing up that she needed help. Our grandson popped up and asked if he could help her carry her pile of stuff and she politely turned him down. The kids rode her hard the rest of the day. Now the other couple we were with are about two of the friendliest people you can find. We all did special little things for each other and it was very nice. We enjoyed being nice to them and I am sure they felt the same way. Strangers just aren't ready for nice, just yet!!!!
Later as I was grilling at home and two people my age were riding their bikes through the neighborhood. We still had an ice chest filled with cold bottled water and I waved and offered them two drinks. They didn't even wave back! They looked at me like I just jumped off of planet crazy.
My conclusion on this being nice thing is this. People are not used to other people being friendly anymore. It now is burned in my brain that I need to not give up and try harder. It is a crying shame that people do not know how to react to nice. We have lost the golden rule!
Luke 6:31New International Version (NIV)
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
God bless,
Marty
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