What are You Doing with Your Hands?

My friend Katy is helping me out this week with a guest post.  We’ve heard from her before – you seem to like her, so we brought her back.

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Today I went to my job at a fast food restaurant and decided to treat my management team like my husband and my customers like my children.

I arrived in the parking lot just in time for my shift, but this great worship song was playing so I finished listening.  (How often do I ask my family to wait while I finish my devotional or listen to that song or just do my own thing?)  Having them wait those few minutes would probably benefit them anyway since I was filling my soul with Christ.  The time clock showed 5 minutes late and the drive-thru line was wrapped around the store.

I started to notice several little things that had not been done by the morning shift before me and I was instantly irritated.  The sauces were empty and I called (loudly) by both names a coworker across the store to bring me what I needed.

As I was serving a guest I saw another guest reach for her cell phone and topple her drink … since I’m treating this like my home I quickly snapped “hey! BE careful.  Get some napkins and clean that up!” And I walked away muttering that bit about not being her slave.  I checked my duties for the day and noticed that things had been changed from my regular routine.  Seriously?  I walked boldly to the manager on duty, and though it really made no difference in my day I demanded to know WHY?  Why did you change my normal routine?  I do things this way because they work best for me.  You know, if I had YOUR job, I’d make some changes.  As a matter of fact, last week you didn’t notice but I picked up 2 extra shifts and stayed 5 minutes late on 3 occasions.  If you had just said thank-you or given me a small bit of appreciation then I might have let this go today but … enough is enough.  I walked away in a huff after finishing my vent.  Leaving my manager bewildered and maybe I saw a bit of hurt in those eyes,  I rejoined the team at the counter in time to greet a young girl looking on the verge of tears.  My Mother heart knew that just the right question would spill her story and my ear alone could bring a bit of healing.  Yet, it’s been a long day already, and she’s got friends to talk to and well, I’ll check on her after she’s eaten.

The day continued with chore after chore, everyone’s needs being met (but mine), my feet aching, my mind stretching to recall that bit of scripture I read this morning or even that song that made me late.  My shift was ending and I cleaned the trays being sure to place each one not so softly on the stack.  I clocked out without saying goodbye and retreated to my own safe world and the drive home.

Are you wondering if I’m still employed?

At what point did you gasp and think “no she didn’t”?

How many times did you hear the voice of your Mother?

How many times did you hear your own voice? (That’s the hardest one for me.)

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No, I didn’t actually follow through with the above scenario. Though, each scene above was taken from real life words spoken to my family, my beloved, my blessings. They haven’t fired me YET, but I’m fully deserving of that write-up and dismissal.

My employer, however, would have sent me home about 10 minutes into that day above.  She would have in no way stood for me to vent to her nor would she have allowed me to treat the guests in our restaurant with such disrespect.

And the thing is … I would NEVER do that.  Not in a million years, or a thousand sleepless nights or a hundred bad days. The truth is that I know better than to act that way ….. in public.

Proverbs 8: 1-9 (MSG)

 Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling?
Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice?
She’s taken her stand at First and Main,
at the busiest intersection.
Right in the city square
where the traffic is thickest, she shouts,
“You—I’m talking to all of you,
everyone out here on the streets!
Listen, you idiots—learn good sense!
You blockheads—shape up!
Don’t miss a word of this—I’m telling you how to live well,
I’m telling you how to live at your best.
My mouth chews and savors and relishes truth—
I can’t stand the taste of evil!
You’ll only hear true and right words from my mouth;
not one syllable will be twisted or skewed.
You’ll recognize this as true—you with open minds;
truth-ready minds will see it at once.

The Truth is calling out to me.  From within me, deep down, I hear wisdom, I know she speaks loud and clear.  I often turn a deaf ear and refuse to listen … because they are my family, because they will forgive me, because selfishness is okay in the privacy of my home.  Lord, help me hear Her, help me hear Wisdom.

Psalm 40: 1-3 (NLT)

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
² He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
³ He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.

♫ As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after thee, you alone are my hearts’ desire and I long to worship thee. You alone are my strength my shield, to You alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my hearts’ desire and I long to worship thee.♫

I long for the day when my heart will pant looking to be washed in the water of His words, the day when my soul nudges and I know it is time to be refreshed. I long to respond in love, with Wisdom whispering in my ear. I long for my family to see the changes God is making in me so that they will put their trust in the Lord.

Blessings to you ~Katy

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Dare you today to share what He teaches you with someone else…even here if you like – you know you are always welcome.

I happened to think of the Scripture that goes something like, “A wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears hers down with her own hands.” Double Dog Dare you to receive His great love for you (what’s blooming in your yard? you know He put that there to delight you? the smell, the color…just for you…because you are His favorite – so am I)…

Thank you, Katy, for the blessing above.

Love to you,
~Nina