Encouragement

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After Thanksgiving…ay yie yie…the infamous Black Friday…people who work on this day in the traditional big box stores or malls shutter at the sound. The mall where I work opened at an exasperating 6:30 a.m.! Wouldn’t you know that there was actually shoppers at that time?! During this time of the season of rabid hustle and bustle, God can teach you valuable lessons if you are open.

While I was standing and observing hungry shoppers devour deals like pit bulls, there was a little scene that caught my eye. There were two customers (a couple with a little boy…the little darling looked to be about 1 or 2 years old) in our jewelry store. The white gentleman looked to be late 20-ish, gentle eyes, bald as an majestic eagle, (about,oh, 6′ foot). He was wearing a canary polo shirt that couldn’t hide his slight rotund belly and beige shorts that sprouted wiry legs. His wife was a stunning Japanese lady, a subtle grace and dignity about her as she tried on jewelry. Her dove eyes looked for her husband’s approval as she placed a sparkling diamond necklace against her amber skin.

Unfortunately, the husband was distracted by the curiosity of their little hapa boy. This little booger was into EVERYTHING! He wobbled like a miniature sumo wrestler. He found the world so inviting! A couch here. A table there. Whoa! Books! He wanted to touch and experience anything he could get his chubby hands on. Then he saw something that truly wanted made his heart go pitter patter.

The little Sumo baby (actually he wasn’t really super chubby. Although, his cheeks looked like Cool Whip was stuffed into them. I would say, he looked more like a chipmunk). Sorry. I digress.

Chipmunk baby found a new adventure. He wanted to go behind the jewelry counter of our store (particularly the one located in the center of our place). He stepped like Frankenstein wobbling side to side as he moved himself into the entrance of the counter.

Fortunately, Dad caught him to prevent his Christopher Columbus exploring antics. Chipmunk Boy (sounds like a quirky professional wrestler) started to whine and wanted to get through Dad. Dad was as solid as Mount Rushmore. He wouldn’t budge. The boy insisted and insisted. He pushed. He whined some more. He even rested his head between his Dad’s legs. His head was down, and his hands grasping the outer shins of his Pappy. Still, he couldn’t get through because he wasn’t strong and big enough.

There. I’m done. See you later.

No, I won’t leave you hangin’ like that. What’s the morale of the story? As I watched this little miracle do his best to push through Dad, I was reminded about how obstacles are in our lives. Have you ever had an obstacle, trial, or problem that seemed impossible or immovable? Do you quit suddenly and resolve not to continue? Do you wallow in self-pity because you don’t have the strength to move on?

With God’s help, you can move on. You can press forward to bigger and greater vistas if you trust in Him to see you through the tough stuff. With His strength and presence, even the tallest mountain of trials will seem like a mere pebble in the light of Him. So if you are discouraged as you read this, be encouraged. There is a God in Heaven that cares deeply for you and can help you if you call on Him.

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