Butterscotch

Sorry about last night, folks. Kristy and I had a little miscommunication. It happens.

I don't have a verse of the day, but this is a story I heard in a sermon last weekend, and I thought it was really good! Here it goes.

Jimmy's grandparents made him go to church with them. He wasn't a happy camper about this. He thought it would just be dumb and full of old people who would make him sing. Jimmy wasn't excited, but he found himself sitting in a pew that Sunday morning at church. He had his hat on backwards and slumped down in his seat. He heard someone behind him and thought "Great, I'm probably in some old lady's spot" Instead, a woman handed him a small bag of candies. She explained to him that it was homemade butterscotch and she was well known in town for making them. She also expressed her appreciation for Jimmy being in church that Sunday. With the butterscotch candies at his side, Jimmy couldn't help but smile. That kind gesture made his day and he thought "Well maybe this won't be so bad after all!" Jimmy found himself singing hymns and actually paying attention to the sermon. After church that day, he was actually excited to come back the next week.

The next Sunday came and there Jimmy was in that same church pew with his hat on, but this time he wasn't slouching. He was excited for the service ahead. Jimmy heard someone behind him. This time, though, it was a man. He looked at Jimmy, and very sternly said "Young man, you shouldn't be wearing a hat in church." Jimmy immediately slouched down in the pew and silently took off his hat. That sense of welcomeness was gone, and needless to say Jimmy didn't have a very pleasant time at church that Sunday.

POINT OF THE STORY (It's hard to see at first) Even though Jimmy was wearing a hat and wasn't looking enthusiastic for church that first Sunday, the butterscotch lady didn't care. She just cared that he was there and made sure he knew it. She saw the big picture, and that wearing a hat in the long run isn't gonna kill anyone. The man, on the other hand, was just trying to find something wrong with Jimmy. By doing that, I bet he didn't even realize how he made Jimmy feel. That second week, Jimmy was at church for all the right reasons - to praise God. After that man made a comment, though, Jimmy didn't feel welcome.

Have you ever failed to look at the big picture? How can you be the butterscotch lady in your daily life?

Let your light shine.
-Lo