Season with Salt!

I love to entertain and like to think of myself as gracious and pleasant. I love salt!  So this verse impacted me with its wording.

• ⁵ Conduct yourself with wisdom in your interactions with outsiders (non-believers), make the most of each opportunity [treating it as something precious]. ⁶ Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you]. Colossians 4:5-6 AMP. (emphasis added)

I confess my speech is sometimes seasoned with more than salt. I might even use spicy Cajun seasoning with a side of chili peppers.

 For instance, when I came out of Tuesday Morning to find the Fed-Ex  truck parked behind my car, two other cars, and an empty space, my eyebrows rose. I calmly looked around for the driver. No one in sight. I got in my car, cranked up the air and ate a protein bar. Being hangry doesn't help the situation.

Time passed. Still no driver. The driver hadn't returned to take in another load of product, so I assume there was some flirting going on with a cute store clerk. I have no idea what really delayed him, but once upon a long, long time ago I was a cute receptionist who flirted with the Fed Ex guy and kept him from his rounds.

My blood pressure rose. Irritated I got out of the car and took pictures of the empty truck and it's tag number.

 

 I looked  in the windows of the shops lining the parking lot. The door of the Herb Shop opened and the Fed-Ex driver wheeled his dolly past me.

"Really?" I asked indignantly, motioning to the blocked cars. 

"I'm sorry. There were no empty spaces when I parked," he responded 

"What?" I said pointing to the empty space blocked in by his truck. 

"That wasn't there when I parked," he denied.

"Then how were they able to drive away? I asked barely able to contain the chili and spice rising up in my throat.

"Which car are you in?" he asked.

"The red Camry," I pointed.

"Well you get in your car and I'll be gone by the time you buckle your seatbelt," he said pushing past me.

I stood there stunned by his arrogance. Lying to my face! My head throbbed with anger. I wanted to deck him. What was that verse again?

⁵ Conduct yourself with wisdom in your interactions with outsiders (non-believers), make the most of each opportunity [treating it as something precious]. ⁶ Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you]. Colossians 4:5-6 AMP. (emphasis added)

I have no idea if he was a believer or not. It really doesn't matter,  What I wanted to do had nothing to do with wisdom. So I got in my car, called my husband and vented to him.

I'm pretty sure the driver did not find our  conversation  to be gracious and pleasant, but by walking away I didn't make it any worse. I don't think Jesus would have been glorified by my having a stroke in front of the Herb Store.

Hidden Treasures!

Our trip to Slovenia last August

"Mom, I just want to spend the day with you. Mani/pedi's, shopping or just chilling, I don't care what we do as long as we are together," said Megan.

"Let's go!" I responded.  We quickly made arrangements for her two boys and took off.

"May I read from my devotional while you are driving," I asked?

"Of course" she said.

"Approach each new day with desire to find Me. Before you get out of bed, I have already been working to prepare the path that will get you through this day. There are hidden treasures strategically placed along the way. Some of the treasures are trials, designed to shake you free from earth-shackles. Others are blessings that reveal My Presence: sunshine, flowers, birds, friendships, answered prayer. I have not abandoned this sin-wrecked world; I am still richly present in it.

Search for deep treasures as you go through this day. You will find Me all along the way." Jesus Calling", by Sarah Young

"I've found my treasure today. It's spending time with you," I said.

"Absolutely, but Mom, we can't overlook that some of the treasures are trials," she said as she parked the car.

"I know, but I don't generally have to look for those treasures, they slap me in the face. I've learned to go straight to Him to deal with trials, although I forget to consider trials treasures. It's small blessings and favor I neglect to recognize amid drama and pain."

We paused our discussion as a hostess seated us. After perusing the menus we decided to share a couple of items.

"Hi! My name is Kelsey. What can I get for you today," the server said.

"I'd like to try the Turkey Reuben, please. Is the Jalapeño remoulade really spicy?" I asked

"I can put it on the side for you if you like," Kelsey replied.

"That would be great." I said. 

"She likes spicy, but she knows I don't. I plan to snark part of her sandwich," Megan said with a grin.

"Ha, my parents wouldn't care," Kelsey snorted. "They would tell me to get my own sandwich."

"Yes, but she hasn't seen me in almost a year." Megan said.

"Oh, no!" Kelsey explained. "I couldn't live without my mom."

"Well she lives in Budapest, Hungary as a missionary," I said pointing to Megan. "And I just moved from Dallas to Georgia, so we met here in Austin where her in-laws live. They are keeping her two little boys while we steal a few hours to catch up."

"Oh my gosh," Kelsey said,  "That is amazing. Let me get your order in and you guys enjoy your visit."

Megan and I talked as fast as we could cramming in a year's worth of conversation and stories, pausing only long enough to eat our food. Once we finished I asked Kelsey for a to-go box and the check explaining that we had an appointment for mani/pedi's.

"I'll get the box for you, but we have something called "Customer Appreciation". I told my manager your story and your meals are on us."

"What? Thank you so much!" I said. "In my devotional today it said to look for hidden treasures during the day. This certainly qualifies!"

"And I was part of the plan?!!!" she smiled. "Thank you so much for sharing that with me."

"Thank you for being a treasure!" I said as we left the restaurant.

I love the idea of being a treasure in someone's life. Don't you? I'm going to make a point of trying to be a treasure to someone everyday. I may not be passing out free meals. It may be only a smile in an otherwise difficult day, but I'm going to try.