As I was standing in the card isle I wondered....what could be going through people's minds as they are getting a card. and more specifically for holidays like "Father's Day"
"should I get him a funny one?"
"...too mushy"
"we're not that close"
"what can I get for my father-in-law, that will have just the right words"
"my son and I are not on best of terms but this is his first child, what card will fit?"
"I don't talk to my dad, but maybe a card might shorten the gap..."
"This one's perfect!"
I will share a little bit about me so you might be able to relate or at least get something from the post on a more personal level. Not too much detail going into this, but I've never known my dad. I remember meeting him once as a child but didn't make the connection that he was my dad. It wasn't until my senior year in college that I started writing letters back and forth with him. My grandmother has raised me and my mom close by. My mom remarried when I was a senior in highschool. And so I have a step father. Both I love, and I appriciate things about them... but the ultimate figure I've always looked up to as a father has been my Heaveanly Father.
So when I was on that isle today looking at cards, I was thinking:
"....oh this one's nice... (for my step father)... but it says dad, and I don't call him dad..... ooo... this one's nice....no.... too mushy.... grrr... I can't find a simple happy father's day card.... I want to tell him I appriciate him ... not that classic hallmark novel card...... guess I'll have to make him one... now to my (father).. .... hmm... all these talk about growing up together.... nope these aren't going to work... this one talks about how he's been there for me.... not going to work... guess I'll make them both a card"
Conclusion: I am making them both a card- hand made is better anyway.
My point is that you never know what is going through ones mind when they are purchasing a card on the card isle. Be sensitive to them. you've got the careless ones , and you've got the ones who will use the card as one of their most powerful tools of communication.
second point: whether you celebrate fathersday or not.... the Creator of you is also FATHER to you.
Jamie, this speaks so much to me. (obviously)... and today, as I picked out father's day cards, I wanted to spend the time to get the perfect card, but a lady was there next to me and every time her son picked a card, she was very ugly to him like "why are you picking that.. he will never wear that pin", "You need to pick something LIKE him, what's your problem?"... I seriously wanted to just take that woman into the corner and tell her just exactly what I thought... but then God said "Pray for her... pray for her son... lift them up to me so I can reveal MY Love to them". So to avoid the "worldy" side of myself, I just snatched up a few cards and can only HOPE they say what I want them to say... if they don't, I will hand make one. But the "child" in me was upset at how this woman was treating her son. It was awful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder of God being our heavenly Father... we fill our lives with him, and he blesses us on earth.