Dec 2010
Just take it
22/12/10 16:13
Sometimes I have this notion that I am the only one with something to give. Recently I’ve met some other givers, and it is humbling.
- Maria at the bread store always sticks in a few extra soft rolls. I know she isn’t making any money on my purchase. When I protest she says “there is more to life than money.”
- After looking in several stores for a dark green sash for Lucy’s dance costume, Ines the seamstress found one at the bottom of a stack in her shop. “How much?” I asked. “Just take it.”
- Yesterday I was shopping for new shoes at a neighborhood shoe store. I commented to the person there that my current pair, which I had purchased at the same shop, and which were the same brand as the one I was considering buying, wasn’t as comfortable as expected. He lowered the price on the new pair, even though I told him that I had already owned the old pair for three years. And yes, the new ones are really comfortable.
- Germana at the office and school supply store asks me how many kids I have, and gives a lollipop for each one.
- Juan Carlos at the optometrist shop replaced the temple on a pair of glasses for free, even though we weren’t customers.
- A total stranger gave us beans she had canned and lettuce from her garden while we were vacationing last summer.
- Some of this might seem like just good customer relations. But bending over backwards to please the customer isn’t the Spanish way. These people were getting satisfaction from giving, and not expecting anything in return.
I came to Spain to give, but also have to learn to receive. There are lots of nice people here - people who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. But they still need Jesus - not to make them friendlier or nicer, but because sin separates all of us from God, and we all need to be reconciled to him. Even the friendly, giving people I meet.
On another note, please pray for José, my barber. A couple of days ago he watched our video of Pepe Olmo’s testimony. Pray that he will want to start reading the Bible as Pepe did, and that the Holy Spirit will convict him of his need for a savior. Pray also that at my next haircut (Robyn says it needs to be soon) we can talk about Jesus.
Have a Merry Christmas.
- Maria at the bread store always sticks in a few extra soft rolls. I know she isn’t making any money on my purchase. When I protest she says “there is more to life than money.”
- After looking in several stores for a dark green sash for Lucy’s dance costume, Ines the seamstress found one at the bottom of a stack in her shop. “How much?” I asked. “Just take it.”
- Yesterday I was shopping for new shoes at a neighborhood shoe store. I commented to the person there that my current pair, which I had purchased at the same shop, and which were the same brand as the one I was considering buying, wasn’t as comfortable as expected. He lowered the price on the new pair, even though I told him that I had already owned the old pair for three years. And yes, the new ones are really comfortable.
- Germana at the office and school supply store asks me how many kids I have, and gives a lollipop for each one.
- Juan Carlos at the optometrist shop replaced the temple on a pair of glasses for free, even though we weren’t customers.
- A total stranger gave us beans she had canned and lettuce from her garden while we were vacationing last summer.
- Some of this might seem like just good customer relations. But bending over backwards to please the customer isn’t the Spanish way. These people were getting satisfaction from giving, and not expecting anything in return.
I came to Spain to give, but also have to learn to receive. There are lots of nice people here - people who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. But they still need Jesus - not to make them friendlier or nicer, but because sin separates all of us from God, and we all need to be reconciled to him. Even the friendly, giving people I meet.
On another note, please pray for José, my barber. A couple of days ago he watched our video of Pepe Olmo’s testimony. Pray that he will want to start reading the Bible as Pepe did, and that the Holy Spirit will convict him of his need for a savior. Pray also that at my next haircut (Robyn says it needs to be soon) we can talk about Jesus.
Have a Merry Christmas.