Yesterday, I was admiring all the delights one can find while riding the back country roads of a Southern state.
Dilapidated barns tucked in fields of chopped down crops I can’t name. JR’s Barbecue sits right beside the Red Shed Store proudly proclaiming, “We build ‘em, you fill ‘em.”
The filling station is well stocked with snacks for all the people required to come inside and pay for their gas. There are three large jars on the paying counter just waiting to entice the traveler’s taste buds- giant pickles, pickled eggs, and pickled pig’s feet.
I kid you not.
And y’all the jars were half empty. Normally, I’m a half full outlook kind of gal… but somebody has been eating some snacks that made me feel a little off kilter.
And speaking of off kilter, there are no Starbucks.
No ma’am we don’t have them fancy coffee places in these parts. Who would pay $4 for a grande, skinny vanilla latte, single shot, 7 pumps, no whip, extra hot cup of joe when the pickled pig’s feet gas station has a pot that’s been sitting there three days waiting for you to enjoy it’s scalded goodness.
Seriously. The nerve of my little uppity redneck self.
And don’t you dare ask if they happen to have wireless. They have keys for their locked restroom facilities attached to large chopped off pieces of PVC pipes… and they have dust 5 inches thick on their gum for sale- but no wireless.
Anyhow. Lots to observe.
But, the thing that grabbed my attention more than any other was a large, white, hand painted sign. The letters on the sign were too black and bold to miss. Everyone driving by the sign would have to read its warning: “Repent! The day of Jesus is coming. Repent of your sins today!”
I must admit, the sign made me frustrated. I rolled my eyes and thought who is going to read that sign and suddenly in the midst of broken down barns and gas stations that sell pig’s feet say, “Well, I’ll be… that’s what I’ve been missing all my life. I need to repent.”
I wanted the sign to talk about Jesus’ love.
Or forgiveness.
Or grace.
Or second chances.
But repentance?! That’s just kind of a tough introduction to my Jesus.
Good thing I’m not in charge of painted signs on the side of Southern roads. I’ve been thinking about that sign since I saw it yesterday. And my feelings have changed.
I am humbled by my hard hearted assumption that the sign was meant for other people. When in reality, I think the sign was meant for me.
A reminder that I fall short.
I can be selfish and self-centered and distracted from what really matters.
And I can be more concerned over the dust on gas station gum packets than the soul of the tired old man working behind the counter.
I’ve been on this 37 days of kindness adventure for over a week now. And instead of feeling all puffed up by all my many acts of kindness, I am brought low by the realization of just how self focused I can be sometimes.
So, today, my kindness focus will be on this beautiful verse tucked in Romans 2:4, “…God’s kindness leads you toward repentance.” It’s not enough just to muster up the gumption to act kindly toward others and at the end of this adventure present 37 deeds well done to Jesus.
I’m starting to think it’s not about the acts of kindness at all.
Rather about a large white sign on the side of the road and a girl’s heart who thought the sign could never be meant for her. But it was. It is. And it will forever be.
Happy Thanksgiving sweet friends.
Dilapidated barns tucked in fields of chopped down crops I can’t name. JR’s Barbecue sits right beside the Red Shed Store proudly proclaiming, “We build ‘em, you fill ‘em.”
The filling station is well stocked with snacks for all the people required to come inside and pay for their gas. There are three large jars on the paying counter just waiting to entice the traveler’s taste buds- giant pickles, pickled eggs, and pickled pig’s feet.
I kid you not.
And y’all the jars were half empty. Normally, I’m a half full outlook kind of gal… but somebody has been eating some snacks that made me feel a little off kilter.
And speaking of off kilter, there are no Starbucks.
No ma’am we don’t have them fancy coffee places in these parts. Who would pay $4 for a grande, skinny vanilla latte, single shot, 7 pumps, no whip, extra hot cup of joe when the pickled pig’s feet gas station has a pot that’s been sitting there three days waiting for you to enjoy it’s scalded goodness.
Seriously. The nerve of my little uppity redneck self.
And don’t you dare ask if they happen to have wireless. They have keys for their locked restroom facilities attached to large chopped off pieces of PVC pipes… and they have dust 5 inches thick on their gum for sale- but no wireless.
Anyhow. Lots to observe.
But, the thing that grabbed my attention more than any other was a large, white, hand painted sign. The letters on the sign were too black and bold to miss. Everyone driving by the sign would have to read its warning: “Repent! The day of Jesus is coming. Repent of your sins today!”
I must admit, the sign made me frustrated. I rolled my eyes and thought who is going to read that sign and suddenly in the midst of broken down barns and gas stations that sell pig’s feet say, “Well, I’ll be… that’s what I’ve been missing all my life. I need to repent.”
I wanted the sign to talk about Jesus’ love.
Or forgiveness.
Or grace.
Or second chances.
But repentance?! That’s just kind of a tough introduction to my Jesus.
Good thing I’m not in charge of painted signs on the side of Southern roads. I’ve been thinking about that sign since I saw it yesterday. And my feelings have changed.
I am humbled by my hard hearted assumption that the sign was meant for other people. When in reality, I think the sign was meant for me.
A reminder that I fall short.
I can be selfish and self-centered and distracted from what really matters.
And I can be more concerned over the dust on gas station gum packets than the soul of the tired old man working behind the counter.
I’ve been on this 37 days of kindness adventure for over a week now. And instead of feeling all puffed up by all my many acts of kindness, I am brought low by the realization of just how self focused I can be sometimes.
So, today, my kindness focus will be on this beautiful verse tucked in Romans 2:4, “…God’s kindness leads you toward repentance.” It’s not enough just to muster up the gumption to act kindly toward others and at the end of this adventure present 37 deeds well done to Jesus.
I’m starting to think it’s not about the acts of kindness at all.
Rather about a large white sign on the side of the road and a girl’s heart who thought the sign could never be meant for her. But it was. It is. And it will forever be.
Happy Thanksgiving sweet friends.
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