Labor Day was an exciting day for me, mostly because I was paid to stay home from work. It’s not that I’m lazy (though I would never be confused for a workaholic), it’s just nice to have an extra day to spend with my wife. Before I get too far into this, I should tell you that I love hanging out with my wife more than anything. She let’s me be me without any judgment. For those of you that haven’t married yet, this should be the number one thing you look for in a partner. I see people who can’t be comfortable in their own home and in their own skin and I feel really bad for them. I don’t think I could live that way.
Anyway, enough gushy stuff, let’s get on with how our day went. So, I’ve mentioned that I recently published a book, The Killer and Boyd Burgess, (I really will stop self-promoting eventually), and we are trying to find creative ideas to include on my author website. The goal is to continue putting bonus content on the page so that fans feel like they get their money’s worth. Plus, I just have more information that wouldn’t have fit smoothly in the book that the audience needs to know. So at some point in our day, Kayla and I sat down and did some audio recordings that will eventually be on my author website. Believe it or not, working on that doesn’t feel like work at all. It was time consuming, and I had to use my brain, but we were together, and I was really, really happy! The day was off to a good start.
We started building momentum from there. Some of our closest friends have undertaken a big project this summer. They are building a home! It is very exciting, but the downside has been that they have been busy and we really haven’t been able to spend any time with them. We all got together and decided Labor Day was a good day to change that. We made plans to see a movie, The Butler, and go to dinner afterwards with some other very close friends. Holidays don’t usually go as well as planned in my world, but this one seemed fool-proof and I was really looking forward to the rest of my day.
Our friends arrived at 3:30 and we were off to the show. The car ride provided good conversation; we all enjoyed the movie, and the buttery popcorn. As a side note, let me say that I will go and see basically anything if I can have a big bag of buttery, greasy popcorn. The movie ended, we lingered for a few minutes in the lobby of the Cinemark, before the four of us drove over to McAlister’s Deli for another exciting meeting with more friends.
During this time, I got an encouraging call from my dad. He was excited! He spent his day volunteering at a local soup kitchen. He got to break up a fight, and then, after a thirty minute conversation, he introduced a man to Jesus for the first time. Salvation is a wonderful thing! I’m really proud of my dad! He is a walking picture of the gospel for people to see. His heart is huge and his smile is infectious. I really hope I can learn to be like him. When we got off the phone, I went to finish my dinner with my friends and we lingered in conversation until the moment when everybody really needed to leave: Deadlines and papers due and groceries to buy and long drives awaited.
We all walked outside and as we were saying our goodbyes, a young couple approached and said hello. They were sun burnt very badly and looked worn down. They asked if we knew of a church that would be open locally on Labor Day and said that they could use some help…We didn’t. They went on with their story. They had walked from DuQuoin, Illinois to Paducah, Kentucky to try to find anyone who could help them get a place to stay for the night. My heart started to break. I thought that I needed to call my dad. I knew he would help and I knew he would know what to do, but something stopped me. A voice inside said, "If I want to be like him, I need to take responsibility for this situation." Without another thought, I started calling local hotels until I found one willing to work with me to get this couple a place to sleep.
I sent my wife and my friend’s wife with our other friends. They were so wonderful, offering to go and buy food for this husband and wife in need. Meanwhile, my friend Adam and I got the couple into our car so we could get them off of their tired feet and into a hotel room. The car ride over was very nice. They entertained us with stories and were so thankful that we were willing to lend a hand.
Before we left them, I was blessed enough to pray with and for the young couple that we were privileged enough to meet. They were again very gracious. We shook hands, made sure they were comfortable, and left them in peace. The thought came to me as we drove away, “For that you have done for the least of these, also you have done for me.” I hope that God was smiling down on us. I hesitate telling you this, but we were not the first people this couple had asked for help. Other churches called the police on them and turned them away. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor.” I am ashamed to know how hard our world has become.
I hope that happy couple saw Jesus in our actions. I hope that they saw him as refuge from the storms of life. I hope they didn’t see Jesus in the face of their critics, because he wasn’t there. I know that I’m flawed, and that I don’t always give a perfect testimony in action or in word, but I know that the world doesn’t need the police called. People need a hand and they need love. I was so honored to meet the happy couple who had walked such a long way. I hope they know how much they blessed me. I know that sounds selfish, but I’m only human.
For me, all of that added together to be a pretty incredible Labor Day. I didn’t do everything right and I never will, but yesterday reminded me that in everything, Jesus loves me and he loves you too!
Anyway, enough gushy stuff, let’s get on with how our day went. So, I’ve mentioned that I recently published a book, The Killer and Boyd Burgess, (I really will stop self-promoting eventually), and we are trying to find creative ideas to include on my author website. The goal is to continue putting bonus content on the page so that fans feel like they get their money’s worth. Plus, I just have more information that wouldn’t have fit smoothly in the book that the audience needs to know. So at some point in our day, Kayla and I sat down and did some audio recordings that will eventually be on my author website. Believe it or not, working on that doesn’t feel like work at all. It was time consuming, and I had to use my brain, but we were together, and I was really, really happy! The day was off to a good start.
We started building momentum from there. Some of our closest friends have undertaken a big project this summer. They are building a home! It is very exciting, but the downside has been that they have been busy and we really haven’t been able to spend any time with them. We all got together and decided Labor Day was a good day to change that. We made plans to see a movie, The Butler, and go to dinner afterwards with some other very close friends. Holidays don’t usually go as well as planned in my world, but this one seemed fool-proof and I was really looking forward to the rest of my day.
Our friends arrived at 3:30 and we were off to the show. The car ride provided good conversation; we all enjoyed the movie, and the buttery popcorn. As a side note, let me say that I will go and see basically anything if I can have a big bag of buttery, greasy popcorn. The movie ended, we lingered for a few minutes in the lobby of the Cinemark, before the four of us drove over to McAlister’s Deli for another exciting meeting with more friends.
During this time, I got an encouraging call from my dad. He was excited! He spent his day volunteering at a local soup kitchen. He got to break up a fight, and then, after a thirty minute conversation, he introduced a man to Jesus for the first time. Salvation is a wonderful thing! I’m really proud of my dad! He is a walking picture of the gospel for people to see. His heart is huge and his smile is infectious. I really hope I can learn to be like him. When we got off the phone, I went to finish my dinner with my friends and we lingered in conversation until the moment when everybody really needed to leave: Deadlines and papers due and groceries to buy and long drives awaited.
We all walked outside and as we were saying our goodbyes, a young couple approached and said hello. They were sun burnt very badly and looked worn down. They asked if we knew of a church that would be open locally on Labor Day and said that they could use some help…We didn’t. They went on with their story. They had walked from DuQuoin, Illinois to Paducah, Kentucky to try to find anyone who could help them get a place to stay for the night. My heart started to break. I thought that I needed to call my dad. I knew he would help and I knew he would know what to do, but something stopped me. A voice inside said, "If I want to be like him, I need to take responsibility for this situation." Without another thought, I started calling local hotels until I found one willing to work with me to get this couple a place to sleep.
I sent my wife and my friend’s wife with our other friends. They were so wonderful, offering to go and buy food for this husband and wife in need. Meanwhile, my friend Adam and I got the couple into our car so we could get them off of their tired feet and into a hotel room. The car ride over was very nice. They entertained us with stories and were so thankful that we were willing to lend a hand.
Before we left them, I was blessed enough to pray with and for the young couple that we were privileged enough to meet. They were again very gracious. We shook hands, made sure they were comfortable, and left them in peace. The thought came to me as we drove away, “For that you have done for the least of these, also you have done for me.” I hope that God was smiling down on us. I hesitate telling you this, but we were not the first people this couple had asked for help. Other churches called the police on them and turned them away. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor.” I am ashamed to know how hard our world has become.
I hope that happy couple saw Jesus in our actions. I hope that they saw him as refuge from the storms of life. I hope they didn’t see Jesus in the face of their critics, because he wasn’t there. I know that I’m flawed, and that I don’t always give a perfect testimony in action or in word, but I know that the world doesn’t need the police called. People need a hand and they need love. I was so honored to meet the happy couple who had walked such a long way. I hope they know how much they blessed me. I know that sounds selfish, but I’m only human.
For me, all of that added together to be a pretty incredible Labor Day. I didn’t do everything right and I never will, but yesterday reminded me that in everything, Jesus loves me and he loves you too!
No comments:
Post a Comment