The Compliment
I want to tell you about a story I overheard this morning.
We had to take our dog to the vet to be groomed and my wife had the amazing idea to go out to breakfast. We went to our favorite breakfast establishment in Topeka (by the way, did you know that crackers were originally bulk sold out of barrels?)
It was early, so we were seated at a table right next to a couple about our age with an older man talking to them. I’m guessing from the conversational tidbits that they were both Vietnam veterans because the standing guy was talking about where in Vietnam he had been deployed.
Then he transitioned into saying that of all his family, he thought he’d be the one most likely to get cancer because of his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. He continued by telling how his beautiful wife got cancer and fought it for 7 years (remember I’m overhearing and trying not to pay too much attention, so I may remember some details wrong). She finally passed away in 2016.
He then continued that (I didn’t catch why he was out) he was out and didn’t want to go home and cook for himself. He decided to stop and have breakfast at this restaurant (I wonder how the customer took home bulk crackers from a barrel?). He stated that everyone he interacted with had a smile on their face and his waitress had a laugh much like his recently departed wife. He felt so welcome that he has been going there for breakfast almost every day since.
I wondered if the business knew of his high praise. You’d think they’d want to put his story in a commercial or something.
But the guy wasn’t finished with his story. He concluded this part of his story by telling the couple that he doesn’t share his story with everyone because some people think he is weird and not sincere. I leaned over and softly told my wife that I bet he does tell everyone his story. The guy went on to tell the couple about clouds and flower bulbs but by then we were involved in the ordering process so I missed most of the details.
He eventually left and the husband of the couple leaned towards me (I think my wife went shopping in the gift store by then) and told me that he was a really nice guy (so I knew I got busted overhearing the conversation). I agreed.
I’d be willing to bet significant money that the gentleman does indeed get breakfast there almost every morning (in fact, we’ve seen him there before ourselves) and I’d bet that he shares his inspirational story with anyone willing to listen.
I both admire him and am ashamed of myself for his enthusiasm in sharing his story. I admire his story because of the passion and dedication he shows in telling it. I’m ashamed because I hesitate to share my story with others. You know, the story of how Jesus Christ became 100% Human as well as 100% God, lived a sinless life, and was crucified and arose to redeem me from my sins.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” - John 3:16-21 ESV
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20
