About three weeks ago my three grandchildren and their parents were able to spend a few days at the beach. The weather was great, food was good; and “a good time was had by all.” On the way home, Mary Haisten (age 3 then, 4 now) said to her parents:
“The birds (back at the beach) have drips on their faces because they miss me.” I really like that childlike innocence and self-assurance. She, no doubt, had enjoyed the seagulls and was confident that they had enjoyed her also. After all, who wouldn’t enjoy her?
Last week Judy and I had the privilege of spending a few days at the beach. The weather was great, food was delicious; and a “good time was had by all.” I tried to think who would miss me when I left. I couldn’t think of anyone, not even the sharks that cleared the ocean’s waters for almost the entire time we were there. Finally, I thought of one person who might miss me.
We always enjoy going to the Donut Hole in Destin. The first evening there we went, only to discover that they had sold out of chocolate-covered glazed doughnuts much earlier in the day. We went back the next day – earlier in the day – only to discover the same thing. The same young lady sensed the disappointed, pained look on my face and offered to go back and make me a chocolate-covered cake doughnut. A few minutes later she came back with a hot doughnut with hot icing. Oh, my! Then when I started to pay, she said, “No charge.” Additionally, she left a note for the staff the next morning to save me one chocolate glazed doughnut.
Actually, she probably is glad that I’m gone (no drips on her face); but her bit of hospitality made me feel pretty good. When I went back the next day to claim my one doughnut, the lady who was working said she wasn’t sure if the note meant one doughnut or one dozen. So just to be safe, she saved me a dozen but said I didn’t have to take all of them. I took four.
There was “nothing in it” for those ladies. They were just being nice and, in the process, made me like The Donut Hole even more than before. I trust we show that kind of hospitality when folks come to Fountain City United Methodist Church looking for something a whole lot more important than a doughnut. What we have to offer is far better for us and for them. I hope we are just as helpful and welcoming and that if they don’t come back for some reason that we might have “drips on our faces” because we miss them. Let’s take advantage of every opportunity we have to care for people in the name of the Lord so that we might all grow together in the faith.
We had a wonderful time at the beach. It’s good to be home, but let’s see, this time last week, we were . . . .
— Jim
