1 John 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
I didn't like hearing the way I responded to her. I wasn't rude, but I did not hide how incredulous I felt that the order I made with sufficient time for delivery was now out of stock and would not arrive in time for Christmas. My anxiety level rose as I divulged that this gift was important because it was for one of my granddaughters, something she did not need to hear but that I felt responsible to state. The Customer Care rep kindly explained that I could order it again from another vendor. "Did it qualify for Prime," I asked impatiently, "and would it be in time for Christmas?" My heart began churning again as I awaited her response. "Go ahead and order it and we'll see." As I placed my order, she asked me to wait and then informed me that she had expedited my order at no charge and it would arrive on 12/21. I was elated! I asked her name, thanked her for helping me, and hung up. I went into my email and completed the customer satisfaction survey with high marks. Now my anxiety was gone, but on its tail arose an awful realization of how my emotions could seesaw because of such a small thing as a post-Christmas delivery. I was ready to shoot the messenger. Not the reason for the season.
I pondered the account of the three wise men, those astrological scientists who saw the distinctive luminance of the star and remembered the prophetic words of the Old Testament that such a star would point to the savior of the Jewish nation. Ironically, these men were not Jews, but they followed the star to Bethlehem anyway, bringing lavish gifts to honor him. We've translated this gift giving to honor each other, but the essence of His coming was to change our hearts to reach beyond our human tendencies to become the loving, forgiving, self-sacrificing Jesus we are meant to be. This is the reason for the season.
Remembering,
Mom
I didn't like hearing the way I responded to her. I wasn't rude, but I did not hide how incredulous I felt that the order I made with sufficient time for delivery was now out of stock and would not arrive in time for Christmas. My anxiety level rose as I divulged that this gift was important because it was for one of my granddaughters, something she did not need to hear but that I felt responsible to state. The Customer Care rep kindly explained that I could order it again from another vendor. "Did it qualify for Prime," I asked impatiently, "and would it be in time for Christmas?" My heart began churning again as I awaited her response. "Go ahead and order it and we'll see." As I placed my order, she asked me to wait and then informed me that she had expedited my order at no charge and it would arrive on 12/21. I was elated! I asked her name, thanked her for helping me, and hung up. I went into my email and completed the customer satisfaction survey with high marks. Now my anxiety was gone, but on its tail arose an awful realization of how my emotions could seesaw because of such a small thing as a post-Christmas delivery. I was ready to shoot the messenger. Not the reason for the season.
I pondered the account of the three wise men, those astrological scientists who saw the distinctive luminance of the star and remembered the prophetic words of the Old Testament that such a star would point to the savior of the Jewish nation. Ironically, these men were not Jews, but they followed the star to Bethlehem anyway, bringing lavish gifts to honor him. We've translated this gift giving to honor each other, but the essence of His coming was to change our hearts to reach beyond our human tendencies to become the loving, forgiving, self-sacrificing Jesus we are meant to be. This is the reason for the season.
Remembering,
Mom