“Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onwards – to Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12-14 (Message)
I was in church a few days before my surgery to finish up my Christmas shopping.
I wasn’t shopping in my church but rather in the church of American, a retail store, specifically Ross.
Listen, I know I sound a little fruity right now. I want to assure you that I’m off the codeine and this is really me here.
Retail stores are where most Americans “worship” for the next bargain, the next style trend, the next must-have to make life and home “complete”.
If we’re to be honest – hour for hour, retail stores win the time contest in most homes, in most Christian homes. I’m not saying all this to get on a soap box, but I’m saying it to be honest because I really do believe it needs to be said and thought about.
The amount of hours to “prepare” for Christmas is not spent in church, and by church please don’t think I mean just a building…I mean being the church – the hands and feet of Christ.
I’m currently sitting down with my bruised and swollen foot up, well adorned in a protective boot. While I may be sitting down on the outside, I’m standing up on the inside.
I’m standing up right now because I have a fruity goal and I want to know, “Who will stand with me?”
My fruit goal originated with present-filled arms as I waited patiently in line to check out of Ross.
I stood in line, centered between two cashiers, and waited patiently for my turn. Suddenly a pleasantly plump elderly woman (I’ve since named “Honey”) cut me. She blatantly cut me. She even did a double-look-back to confirm she saw me standing in line.
Gently I spoke, “I’m waiting in line here to see which register opens first.”
Her thickly coated country accented words replied curtly, “I don’t think that’s going to work for you.”
No. she. didn’t. 
The cashier’s scrunched eyebrows only validated my recent injustice. 
The first thing that popped in my mind was the fact that I had just written about my “To Don’t” list where I so generously offered to smile at the person that took my parking spot.
Well aren’t I clever?
Cutting me in line is akin to taking my parking spot.
And how hurting people, hurt people.
Enough of my first thoughts, moving onto my second thought…
I wanted to right this wrong and go all old school on Honey.
Just FYI: I can verbally tango in ways that could quickly reduce Honey down to a Smurf size. And as for dramatics? I’m the youngest child of a four girls. I know dramatics and I’m not afraid to use them.
Now here is where both my first and second thoughts met.
If I went old school on Honey, wouldn’t that prove what the world already knows that when the going gets tough, the Christian gets ghetto and forgets the promises of God?
(Pic from here.)
A promise of God is that I’m fruity. Well, sorta. Those that have the Holy Spirit in them are gifted, fruit. The “fruit” serve as visible evidence to support that there’s been a heart change.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (holding back), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
While I did not f-e-e-l love, joy, peace, forbearance, kind, good, faithful, gentle, or even REMOTELY in control …I still had it.
So I made a choice to be fruity…gentle and in control. I wanted to exhibit the fruits of the spirit more than standing for my rights, my way and my spot in line.
In a word…progress.
I wanted to be fruitier more than be checked out of the store. I decided to move to the line on the left. Honey was on the line to the right.
As I stood on-line, I closed my eyes (I get distracted easily) and begged God for an opportunity to reward such darkness with light. I silently pled my case before God. I am not my feelings. I am more than my feelings. I am someone who loves you, Lord, so help me be the woman I know you want me to be. If I told others to smile and wave if for no other reason but to confuse em’…then so be it. Woman up and live it, Steph. Just one smile, you can do it…
When I opened my eyes Honey was nowhere to be found. Believe me, I looked. I can deduct only three reasonable explanations:
1. She was ashamed of her behavior and scrammed.
2. She left the line to go steal the last item of something on the shelf most likely from a disabled child. (Don’t judge me. I’m progressing from snarky commentary. One thing at a time, okay?)
3. My mouth wasn’t ready to smile.
Hypocrisy is saying I love Jesus and act nice in “church” and then act like a fruitless fool while out running errands (inside the building where many “worship”).
What if I stifled my need to be right only to ignite my right to be His light?
Clearly, I don’t have all of this figured out but I do have my eye on the goal…the goal of showing fruit in my earnest attempt to behave. Behave more like Jesus.
Have you had a “Honey” encounter recently? What’s a “fruity” goal you have?
STEPHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH,
That was the BEST story ever. EVER. I seriously was reading so fast thinking what the heck did Steph do next. I was on the edge of my seat!! I’m so glad you didn’t go from Christian to straight up hood on her. I think I would have thought busting out my 9mm but then me in jail is an entertaining thought. Usually because I’m “just a child” I usually let my elders cut because that is the 4th Commandment. I have a Honey situation ON THE REG. But people are crazy and I’m pretty sure my alter ego would bust a move on Honey but I’m really a coward and afraid that Honey is also packing. Holla back for the 2nd amendment!!
Love you and I believe you witnessed a miracle with Honey disappearing!!
I’m glad I didn’t go Christian to straight up hood either…I hope that you live it out real as you have the Honey sit “on the reg”. I count myself hipper just being friends with you!
LOVE YOU!
This story was great the first time I heard it and is still great the second time! I can just picture you with your top about to blow saying, “serenity now, serenity now!!”
Praise God for the strides that you made in having enough self-control and humility to know that you desperately needed Jesus in that moment to lock up your tongue. Oh how I wish I could take back things that I’ve said in the heat of the moment. You go girl!! I’m proud of ya! Love you!
I think it’s the past verbal binges that help fortify and get my mouth more legit in desperate times! I STILL have a way to go on this journey because as you know, there’s commentary often needed that I really want to share with the world…commentary that perhaps, just perhaps, the world could do without! When you bringing me more mac n cheese and chicken??? YUM!
All I have to say is DC traffic…nuff said…
Yeah…there are “Honeys” in SPADES in DC traffic! :-0
How true, how true. Was met this morning with a medical “professional” (term is said loosely) with a less than gentle bed side manner with my young son who was having a pretty serious test. My son was a bit nervous and this guy was all hurried, gruff, business. He even “showed me the hand” when I tried to attend to my son when he was afraid and even admitted that folks “thought he was too serious.” No…really? I am pretty sure the blanket of prayer from my amazing friends covering my son and me during this test was the only reason I did not “go ghetto” on this man. I winked at my son, made a silly face when the man wasn’t watching, followed the Stern One’s directions and showed my Christian light to him. I would say this is progress…. Merry Christmas Fink Fam!! xoxo
Your wink and a silly face melted my heart Sis. RIGHT ON! The things a parent won’t do for their kid. Was praying throughout the day yesterday and I celebrate the progress because I know the Momma Bear in both of us is fierce! Ya done REAL GOOD, SIS!!! LOVE YOU!
How many times have we heard from a non-Jesus person describing this: “They claim to be Christians, but then they…” (fill it in with some act that was a Christian going ghetto, as you described). Good job walking the walk and talking the talk, Fruity girl! And your hurting people hurt people thing has really been a help to me the last few weeks!
Jacy, I know God’s gifted you with leadership and it brings my heart such deep joy knowing that the hurting people thing helped you. As leaders, we’re going to have to shake it off quicker and come up higher faster…you keep on bearing fruit! This “fruit” is SO proud of you!
Prayed for your cat today too!
“When the going gets tough, the Christian gets ghetto…” is definitely going to be the best thing I’ve read all day. You put a smile on my face, Steph!
I struggle with this type of situation often and I’ve been known to get all “Jersey” on people. I’m trying to take a different approach. When someone does something rude or nasty or inconsiderate, I just think of the good things in my life. I have a great (albeit annoying at times) husband, awesome kids, a nice house, a car that runs, healthy food on the table, etc. My life is good and I’m loved.
Repeat mantra in my head: “My life is good and I’m loved.”
Choosing not to react negatively to others brings me a bit of peace. And we all need peace, especially at this time of year!
I totally dig your mantra cause it’s gets the focus off the negative and onto the positive! Props to YOU my fellow Jersey girl!!!!