Tag Archives: meaning

Work

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mop_bucket_package_lgLast night I rushed to the grocery store to pick up 5 needed items. I cruised around the market quickly placing the necessities in my shopping cart until I rounded the aisle near the iced tea display. A spill had occurred and two young men were mopping up the liquid, so I gingerly walked around the area.

The two employees were talking and while I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, I couldn’t help but overhear one of them say, “You know how I get through this job? I do the bare minimum. I get by with the least amount of work that is expected.” And I immediately felt very sad for this teenager.

It can’t be easy working in a grocery store: dealing with the public, keeping the place clean, making sure all the items are stocked correctly, that carts are available for everyone. Deliberate, mundane actions performed over and over again become tedious. Every job has this same pitfall.

But, the fellow was missing the bigger picture so I hope you don’t. I sometimes forget there is a hidden advantage in each minute of work. That is the ability to glorify God. That’s the real opportunity in every workplace.

Colossians 3:23 states: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” In every one of our chores, even the ones that frustrate and make us weary, our work becomes a gift to God and others. No matter what job you have, you can become a little blessing to others; a person who multiplies joy and through it makes the world a brighter place – even when you don’t feel like completing the task.

The daily grind makes this difficult, almost impossible. But we are called to be overcomers and we do that when we do everything with the love of God. We can let the hard things we must accomplish become holy things when we etch our work with love. We are put on this earth to make a difference, to give away what was freely given to us.

Unfortunately, that young man has a hard lesson to learn ahead of him. God did not create us to goof off, to be lazy, to just get by doing the bare minimum. He created us to serve. Our lives become significant when we minister to each other through our work, when we understand our labor is a holy endeavor. Serving others with untamed abandon refines our character, growing grace and wisdom in us. More importantly, we become reminders of the nails of service on the cross of Christ.

Airport

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78531-You-Are-Special-WordsAs a puppy, Lily was enrolled in an obedience class. Our trainer there told us that an adult German Shepherd has about the same vocabulary as a three-year-old child. Really? That fact seemed impressive to a non-mother like myself.

Now that Lily is an adult dog, I’ve never counted the number of words she knows. But I will say there are some surprising ones in her collection. Not just the usual sit, stay, come; she knows inside, outside, upstairs, bowl, going, Bucky (a much loved plush toy) and many others. One of her favorites is airport.

Not that she knows an airport is a place for planes. Lily recognizes that word means the door to the silver chariot (car in Lily-speak) will open and she’ll be transported to meet my husband, Richard. Smart dog that she is, she knows the exact exit to the airport and once we reach the roadway circling it, she’ll intently scan the crowds to find him. Her excited whining in the back seat alerts me when Lily has spotted him. Once Richard opens the car door, she practically jumps in his arms, her tail wagging so rapidly its rotations would humiliate most helicopters.

Words matter. Not just to a dog, but to us humans. Who among us doesn’t need more words of praise, acceptance, encouragement? Words literally have the power to breathe life into our souls. But they can also damage. The old adage says, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Won’t hurt me? Don’t you carry painful memories of a hurtful words spoken to you from childhood or your teenage years?

1 Corinthians 13:1 states, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” The truth is we need others to gently, softly, speak words of love into our lives. When life is harsh or even when it isn’t, we crave words that lift us up, deliver strength and bring healing to our fragile hearts.

So I wonder if all of us need more words of encouragement, why don’t we speak them more often? Why do we let our words drip with the bitterness of judgment, disapproval, coldness? Words can change the world because they have the power to transform the hearer’s soul – positively or negatively. It is our choice. I believe, when we use our words to bring a smile to another, the heart of God smiles also.

So let’s make today the day we feed the hunger in our souls for love by speaking love into the lives of others. Let’s make every day one where we use our words to build others up, offer grace, convey understanding, promote acceptance.

In your own way, in your own words, you can transform the world.

The Incident at the Dog Park

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I’ve always wondered if I were threatened bodily harm whether Lily, my dog, would protect me. Oh, I flippantly tell everyone, “No one will bother me with Lily around.” Honestly, who would want to tangle with a 4 year old, 76 pound German Shepherd? But what would she do if someone did bother me? She’s never been trained in protection. Would her natural instincts and loyalty take over?

One idyllic afternoon in the doggie park that question was answered forever. While I read a book in the shade, Lily was whooping it up with her canine friends. None of them paid much attention when a white German Shepherd entered the park or even while the dog and its owners made their way to a bench near mine. As the couple seated themselves, they explained to me their dog, Lexi, had been roughed up during some recent trips to the park, so they temporarily stopped coming. After a brief hiatus, this was their first trip back to get Lexi re-acclimated.

Lily, ever the amicable peacemaking dog, ambled over to check Lexi out. My dog’s temperament must have soothed Lexi’s fears for soon the two of them were running as a pair never venturing more than 30 feet away from her owners and me. Watching Lexi, a white German Shepherd, dart alongside Lily, a black German Shepherd, was captivating as they gracefully danced as a salt-and-pepper team. Weaving in and out, their powerful strides carrying them quickly through the green grass were a perfect picture of canine euphoria.

I’ve been told dogs sense fear. I can now tell you from firsthand experience that is true. After the two German Shepherds were frolicking for a short time, with Lexi feeling a bit more confident, they slowly widened their circles around us. Just enough, unfortunately, to catch the attention of two pit bulls playing at the opposite end of the park. These pit bulls dashed over, separating Lexi from Lily. Extremely frightened, Lexi hotfooted it back to the benches, but for some reason, maybe because I was closest, charged straight towards me, not her owners. Within seconds, a dog fight erupted at my feet.

image001Sensing I was in dire trouble, Lily hustled over to my side. She promptly placed herself between me and the three other dogs. The pack was winnowed down to two as this action gave Lexi the time needed to retreat over to her owners. But the two pit bulls were not backing off; angrily snarling and with great menace lunging towards Lily. I tried to get the attacking dogs to withdraw, but they grew even more antagonistic.

I was scared for my dog, but Lily showed great courage. I’ve never seen her so agitated, so fiercely protective of me. The only way those pit bulls were going to harm me was over her dead body.

Love is not something you earn, but something you receive. It is a benediction, a blessing that is undeserved. We are protected, healed, uplifted when someone shows us love. We were not meant to walk this road alone. Amid the teeth barring, the vicious growling and the loud barking, my little lady turned into a warrior. Her bravery in the middle of this scuffle, despite my concern for her safety, made me proud.

Doesn’t it bring you great joy when a friend becomes your champion? They reach out to you, hold your hand tightly, form a protective barrier around you and gently whisper to you, “You’ll get through this. You’ll find yourself once again in a better place. You’ll laugh again, sleep well once more, find happiness. It will happen. I promise.” They make a sacred space of your grief and mess.

Fortunately, the owner of the pit bulls finally came over and got them to back away. Once they left, Lily, sat down quietly at my feet, still protecting me even though the danger had subsided.

When you sense a crisis, loneliness or pain overtaking the life of someone you care deeply about, take a lesson from Lily’s action during this incident in the doggie park. Bathe them with goodness from God: comfort, protection and the firsthand knowledge that peace will follow seasons of turbulence.