Paying It Forward

I "do" routine, mundane even. Yes, I am a creature of habit. It's not particularly my best quality, but there ya go...I'm pretty predictable. Well, the "me" that wakes up in the morning. It's a whole different story when my creative self-gets going.

Still, at dawn, you can expect to see the same routine. I wake, let Toby (my Yorkie) out, wait for his return (generally a few minutes), feed and water him, crawl back in bed then my husband greets me with a cup of hot java, unsweet ice tea w/lime, or a bottle of water.

He's a cheerful camper in the mornings; smiles, snuggles, songs and always chatty.

Mr. Happy, Happy, Happy.

Me...not so much. I'm not Mrs. Grumpy Pants; I just need time to wake up. Eugene is under the impression that if my eyes are open, then I'm fair game. After years of waking up to song and dance I've grown accustomed to it and now, find it endearing. But that doesn't mean I join in when he opens the day with his version of Oklahoma's "Oh What a Beautiful Morning." However, on this morning, when I woke, he was not in bed anxiously waiting, staring, for my eyes to open. Seriously y'all, my eyes opening sounds off (to him) "Gentlemen, starts your engines," or the Metro Goldwyn Mayer Lion at the beginning of movies. You know the French horns, the orchestra, the lion roaring and then the feature film; that's my Leo.

I digress...I woke this morning, and he wasn't in bed. Odd. Of course, it didn't take long for me find out the reason behind this unusual act of events. He had decided to take Toby out and let me sleep. Aww...so sweet, right? Well...not really because he let Toby out and then proceeded to forget about him. SOoooo....shortly after I woke, my happy hubby comes tiptoeing in the room (he was unaware I was awake.) I startled him when I asked, "what are you doing?" "Is Toby in here?"

Ah...those words immediately unsettled me. See; I knew that that query meant my sweet, jovial husband had let him out and LEFT him out. This fact totally frustrated me. It was still dark outside, and I knew I would be the one to have to find him. My morning routine...shot. Death before dawn. No coffee, no wake-up time, no...no...no. I dress, get in my car and start searching for a tiny dog in the dark, whispering his name (so as to not wake the neighborhood), and I am NOT happy, happy, happy.

Thankfully it wasn't too long before I see my silver-haired canine dart across the street in front of me. I put on the breaks and call out to him. Then he turns at my command and swiftly runs in my direction. Oh to be so clueless. He had no idea how aggravated I was. He was too excited to show me his new toy. As he approached the car, I noticed something in his mouth; a long...something. I open the door; the light comes on, and I see a grotesque, freshly amputated turkey leg. I'm guessing it was the leg of the giant bird our neighbors son killed this weekend. NASTY and now Toby was gnawing on the thing.

After much coaxing for him to drop it, he was obedient and got in the car. Oh...he was rancid. Not only was I frustrated that my routine was interrupted, and I was beyond aggravated that Eugene forgot about the dog, NOW I had to bathe him (which isn't my favorite thing to do.) I decided I had better settle down before going home because if I went in at that moment, I'd be ugly. So I'd go to Jacks. I'd order a half unsweet tea/half lemonade, listen to Rick and Bubba for a bit then go back inside.

My internal dialogue wasn't at all positive; I was giving Eugene the what for...then... an insult to injury. I pull into the drive-thru.

"Welcome to Jacks. May I take your order?" "I'd like a 1/2 unsweet tea, 1/2 lemonade, please." "So that's a half unsweet, half sweet tea. Anything else?" "No, I want a 1/2 unsweet tea, half lemonade." "So a half and half tea?" "NO. I want half unsweet tea and then add lemonade." "Right, it's the same thing." "No, it's not the same thing." "I got it, ma'am. That'll be a $1.97."

Oooo...by now I'm not at ALL happy. I pull out my change, ready to bust. HOWEVER...when I got to the window, my greeter informed me that the car in front of me had paid for my beverage.

MOOD CHANGE That one act of kindness completely altered my attitude. On the drive home, I was then calm enough to be convicted with scriptures like Proverbs 29:22 "People with quick tempers cause a lot of quarreling and trouble." James 1:19 "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,"

These are just two of the many verses that reminded me of my foolishness. The Spirit also showed a truth other than my own. He told me of the kindness of my husband's act. He didn't mean to forget Toby; he was trying to be sweet and let me sleep. He was THINKING of me.

Thankfully, I never verbally expressed what I was thinking, but still a lesson was learned; two actually. First, no matter how "un-awake," no matter how inconvenient, I would do well to be mindful of my attitude when things aren't just so. AND being kind (paying it forward) isn't just for the person performing the act of kindness. It might well change the receivers entire attitude for the day. It could pull them from the edge of sin to come and calm them just enough to be able to hear the Spirit speaking.

I should know.

Thank you, random stranger. Your two dollar gift altered my thoughts, emotions, and my attitude.