Category: Challenge 14: Gratitude

I’ve written before about my incredible parents. I had another experience today that confirmed again how much these two human beings are good people who love me.

Today was a hard day and I was feeling a bit emotional.  In the middle of this day, I was accidently forgotten and not given Skittles like everyone else in a Church class.  I felt left out. I knew it was an accident. It wasn’t anybody’s fault and I wasn’t angry at the person who forgot me. It just happened in the craziness of the moment. My logical side knew it wasn’t on purpose. My emotional side started remembering every other time in my life that I have been left-out or not gotten what I wanted.

I try to visit my parents a few times a month. Today was one of those planned visits. I ended up telling them how I felt.  Yes, I’m an over 40 year-old who sat on my parent’s couch this afternoon and cried that I didn’t get candy. It’s not about the candy though. Even though it was completely an accident, my feelings of being left-out were real. We talked for a bit. I felt lighter when I drove home. It helped to talk about my feelings.

Then my Dad did something so incredibly loving and kind. He came and gave me a bag of Skittles.

Let me tell you something about my folks. They are true believers in keeping all of the 10 Commandments. They don’t lie, cheat, covet or do any of those other don’ts. Mom and Dad go to Church every Sunday and growing up my siblings and I would never even think about asking to go to the movies or the mall on a Sunday. It wasn’t keeping the Sabbath day holy. My parents also hate Skittles. They don’t keep them at the house which means that my father made a special trip to the store just to buy them. For me. On a Sunday.

He went to the store for me.   I felt so incredibly loved. As I held the bag of candy, I remembered a scripture written by the Apostle John.

“We love Him because He first loved us”. (1 John 4: 18-19)

The scripture is speaking about my Savior Jesus Christ and his great love for all mankind. Today it was also talking about my parents and their example of true love for me–their daughter.

I love you, Mom and Dad. You will always be my favorite people.  I am who I am today because of your goodness and light. I will remember your example of Christian  discipleship for the rest of my life. I hope to be like you when I grow up.

With love forever,

Amee

I had an interesting experience tonight. The Accountant and l went to a pizza buffet for dinner. We don’t normally go there due to the cost, but we had flyer from our insurance guy stating that buffet was only $3 for a customer appreciation special. When we got to the buffet, the cashier told us we had to get the discount meal ticket from the folks at the table in the back of the restaurant. I should have asked which table, but l didn’t. Instead l marched to the back of the restaurant and said hello to the people at a table. They turned out to be a group of preachers not the insurance company.
Me: I’m here.
Preacher: That’s great. I’m sure God has brought you here today.

Accountant: Amee, you’re at the wrong table.
Preacher: We are a group of ministers and we’d love to pray with you.
Me: Okay. I’m not going to turn down a free prayer.
Preacher: Do you believe Jesus is your personal Savior?
Me: Yes. I do.
Then the table of ministers reached out their hands and all said a little prayer for me. I’ve never been prayed over by total strangers at a pizza buffet before. I liked it. It made me feel really loved and important. It was a sweet experience.