Pet Peeves of a Waitress

I wait tables and when you are assisting others in one of the more intimate times in their day, you see some things that are disturbing. First off, so many people won't even look at me when I come to the table. I am friendly so I say "hi, I am Sarita and I'll be taking care of you this evening. Can I get you something to drink?" Without even looking up at me, they grunt out a reply, "Tea". Ok. I get the drink and return. Then, thinking that they'll speak to me this time, I ask if they are ready to order or have any questions. Another grunt of an answer. Finally, I just give up and have very little interaction at all. If you are a grumpy Gus, why in the world would you go to a restaurant?
Another thing: who lets their children run all over the restaurant. My mother would not have tolerated this kind of behavior from us and I won't from my own kids. Some kids are allowed to go all over the place. Sometimes, they approach other tables, interrupting the meals of the people at that table. Why can't they just stay in their seats unless they must go to the restroom? I don't know. I don't take my kids out to eat. I just don't want to deal with the stress.
Another thing. We work for tips. If you don't want to tip, go to McDonald's or Burger King. We make $2.43 per hour. I don't automatically add gratuity to your ticket unless you are a large party. I know that in Florida, the restaurants do that. Well, you are not in Florida or any other state. The kind of tip you leave tells me what kind of server I have been. 15% is adequate service and 20%+ is excellent. I have actually heard this, "you are the best server we have ever had." When I get the tip, it is less than 15%. Your gratitude and compliment will not feed my kids. I live by the saying that actions speak louder than words so you must have not meant what you said. Most of you now that I am a Christian. I have no problem with people leaving tracts with their tips. I often write God bless you on the bill. But, please for the love of all that is holy, leave a decent tip. An unsaved server will not appreciate the Gospel when you are less than generous. Trust me! They come back and thrust them in my face and say is that what being a Christian is all about? No it is not! This sets me back with them!
I love waiting tables. I have been a school teacher and a sales rep for a fortune 500 company. I enjoy the job more than any other that I have had. I am able to do this so I can be a stay at home mom and home school my kids. But these are just observations not condemnations. No offense meant just education! Bon apetit!(I was a Spanish major)

My Place

"Son, you are now 18 and you must get out of this house."
"But, Dad, where will I go? I am still in high school."
"I don't know and, frankly, I don't care. I have fulfilled my responsibility and you must leave. You have until tomorrow evening."
Conversations like this go on all the time around our country. Young people who, for various reasons, are left without a home. In our community, someone is doing something about this program. I can't imagine anyone turning their back like that but it happens. A good friend of mine has had this problem. My Place WNC gave him a place to live. He was recommended to the place by his guidance counselor. He was not put out into the street but was given a shelter and a community of people who are like him but are learning to care for one another. When they are sick, they know that there will be people who are concerned for their well-being. Check out the website www.myplacewnc.org.
I am pleased that Mezzaluna Pizzeria and Taphouse on Main St in Hendersonville, NC is donating 20% of their total sales on Tuesday, August 25 from 11 am to 11 pm. I work here and can attest to the deliciousness of the food and the wait staff is awesome(I wait tables). Please, come in and eat on Tuesday. Let's pour money into this home so that other young people can come in off the streets. Many blessings to you and see you on Tuesday!

Breath of life

I was intrigued by something said in Sunday school yesterday at the Crosswalk. I knew the fact but God put it together with one of His names and His character. The thought took my breath away, literally. Tim was teaching on the Lord's supper and the meaning behind our traditions. He mentioned that Jesus suffocated on the cross. I knew that but I hadn't really thought about it. The Breath of life could breathe no more.
Jesus was the same God that in Genesis 2:7 breathed life into Adam's nostrils giving him the breath of life. Jesus was the same God who breathed the Holy Spirit into the disciples at Pentecost. Yet, He couldn't take a breath to save His own life. For me! He did it for me! For you! Why? Why wouldn't He save Himself? Why wouldn't the Holy Father send down angels to save His Son? They were poised, ready, holding their collective breath. Waiting for the command. The command that never came. As Christ was suffocating on the cross, He cried out, "why have You forsaken me?" Such anguish, such agony. And not just the physical pain but the pain of being separated from His Father for the first time and forsaken by Him. God is holy and cannot look on sin. Since Jesus became sin for us, God couldn't bear to look at Him. I see my children and at no time could I say that I don't want to look at them. The excruciating aloneness that Christ must have felt. Then, He said, "it is finished." And He breathed His last. I don't know about you but suffocation is not my death of choice. But, Christ came to earth willingly, knowing what how it was going to end. He did it so that at our rebirth, He could again breath the breath of life into us, the pneuma. The Greek word implies that it is moving or in motion. The same word can also mean spirit. The Holy Spirit moves through us, in us, and around us. I want to breath Him in and I want to breath Him out so that others can feel His breath on their faces and in their souls. Breath on me, O, Breath of Life!

See you later....

Laughter, singing, crying, worshiping the Lord...No, I wasn't at a conference, I was at a funeral. This funeral was one of the most worshipful experiences I have ever had the pleasure of attending. It was a wonderful time of praising the Lord and remembering a friend. I decided, then and there, that I want my funeral to be that way. I left the service uplifted and hopeful and full of joy.
Yesterday, our friend, Sam, was buried or at least his earthly home was. I expected to cry my eyes out at the funeral. I did cry but I, also, laughed and praised the Lord. Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion. His wife, Allison, made sure that we all left feeling like we got to know Sam a little better. But, we all left knowing what a legacy he left for his family. We heard about the kind of father and son and husband he was. We heard about his zeal for life and serving others. We heard over & over about his love for NC State. Being a Tarheel fan, I can appreciate that kind of passion. Stories were told about their adoption process and his perfectionism.
I left there in a paradox of emotion. My heart was full but I, also, felt light-hearted. Doesn't seem possible but it is. The main thing I took away from yesterday was that we aren't guaranteed our next breath or our next moment. I can't say that I'll see my babies grow up or my husband grow old. I am going to live and enjoy this life as if there is no tomorrow. Thank you, Allison, for that and for the special time I had worshiping with you yesterday. Thank you for that gift! What a legacy you are leaving for your boys! May God's peace be upon you!

Tough week

I have had an extremely tough week this week. As I wrote in my last post, I was a little sad last Friday and then on Saturday, we found out we lost a friend. A young friend. He was 44 and left behind a wife of 13 years and 2 boys, 8 & 5. My husband and I were so affected by this that it has consumed our thoughts and our prayers for the week. So, in honor of Sam Keever, I will say something I have never said before and will never say again, "Go State." There done. Now for something I have been saying this week. Peace be to you, Keever family. May you find consolation and solace as Jesus wraps His arms around you and holds you close. Let us be His hands and His feet. We love you!
That's all I can say!

Birthdays

Tomorrow(Aug 7th) is a tough day for me. It is the day that my son, John Paul, would turn 17. 17!!! I can't believe it! So much time has gone by but the pain in my heart on his birthday is just as fresh as if it happened yesterday. You see, I CHOSE to have an abortion when I was 17 and a senior in high school. No one knew and probably very few from school still know despite the fact that I speak at churches in the area. This day broke my heart but I suppressed those feelings until the day I became a Christian. Only then did Christ take what I had shut away in the darkness and shine the Light on it. He brushed off the mold and the fuzzies and the cob webs and allowed my wound to heal for the first time. This almost broke me. But, like a bone that has been broken but has healed on its own, it must be rebroken and reset. That is what happened to me. I was rebroken and then I was reset. My thinking changed. No longer was my baby just a blob of tissue or an inconvenience or a mistake, he was my son. How did I know he was a boy? I asked God to show me and boy, did he!! I was a member of a very conservative church and we didn't discuss visions much. But I had one. My husband was there to witness it. God ushered me into His throne room where Jesus was standing holding my baby. I was allowed to see him in Jesus' presence as he would have looked in every year of childhood. It was an amazing experience! When I came to, I was on the floor(I started standing up) and my face was pressed into the carpet in a puddle of tears. Michael said that I had been gone. No one could get my attention. I knew then that his name is John Paul and that his birthday would be August 7th. What a precious gift!!! But, God was not done! Within 1 month, I became pregnant with Isabela. He restored my womb and pardoned my sin! Michael adopted John Paul and gave him his last name. Isabela is our 2nd child. She proudly tells people that she has an older brother who went to Heaven before he was born. We haven't told her the whole story and we won't until she is ready. So if you think of me tomorrow, pray for me as I still mourn for JP as any mother does when her child dies!

Weekend fun!

I had the privilege of spending the weekend with 10999 of my closest friends in Greensboro. Twenty ladies from our church joined 1000s of others to go "Deeper Still" with Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Kay Arthur. We had a blast! There was so much praising, worshiping, preaching, encouraging, and love that my heart almost burst with the sheer amount of it. Many women came to know God for the 1st time and many women, like me, had their lives changed in regards to how we see God. So, rejoice, for there are now new sistas in Christ. I was so blessed to see the girl in the next section over stand up and say that she accepted Jesus for the 1st time. She was beautiful with her arms outstretched and her cheeks wet with tears. She was about 17 or 18 and my heart just exploded with joy because I could almost hear the angels in Heaven rejoicing over this one. One by one, women stood to their feet acknowledging Christ as their Savior. I got such chills! I knew I shouldn't have shaved my legs. This was an awesome time!
Kay is a 75 year old woman who doesn't look like it and doesn't preach like it. This woman can get on it for 1 1/2 hours!!! I know some people who can't do that kind of fire for 10 min so she was. She read on and preached on the entire book of Hebrews so I'll keep my comments short. First, she established who Jesus and God is. Then, I heard her say if we believe He is that then why don't we want to hang on every word that comes out of His mouth. God has spoken and we had better pay attention. She believes that God has removed His hand from America due to our immorality. What God has said He will do, He will do! He always keeps His promises!
Priscilla was incredible! She is like me, in the throes of marriage and raising children. Surprisingly, I took the most out of her message. She spoke on the passage on Ephesians 5:20-21. "Now, to Him, who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than all you can ever think or ask for according to the power that lies within us, to Him be the glory in the church to all generations forever & ever more." I learned so many things. First, God doesn't just have power, He is power. His supply never runs dry. Since He dwells within me, I have access to that power but I just don't use it or I don't know how! Second, He is able! He can and will answer any prayer. Sometimes, the answer is no, period! How He chooses to answer the prayer speaks to His sovereignty not His capability! I am not God! Let God be God! Oh, speak to my need to control! Third, He wants to do more for us than we allow. He always exceeds our expectations. At this point, I became overwhelmed! With my last pregnancy, He gave more than I ever asked for! He saved AJay and me. AJay was healthy despite the fact that he was 34 weeks and had lived 11 weeks with little amniotic fluid. God took care of medical bills and got people to watch my kids and clean my home and cook! More than I could have ever thought to ask! What a God I serve!
Beth Moore is by far the closest thing to an idol that I have. She has such a gift for teaching the Word of God. She spoke on fellowship. Do I enjoy spending time with God? I am vowing to laugh, eat, talk, & cry with God! I want to experience His fellowship and not just use Bible study as another thing to check off my list for the day. She, also, spoke on God being the bread of life. She told several stories about bread and one in particular spoke to me. Jewish children in WWII couldn't sleep in the hospitals after being rescued. The soldiers tried everything to quiet them down but to no avail. Finally, one got the idea to give them pieces of bread. The little children grabbed the bread and clutched it to their chests and slept soundly because they knew that they had the bread! I loved that illustration! Am I clutching the Bread of Life to me and resting in the knowledge that I have Him? My friend told me on the way home that AJay always having just enough amniotic fluid around his face to breath was like the manna from Heaven. Always enough and never any more or any less. What she said bowled me over! AJay was tasting the bread of life and seeing that He was good!
Man, I am overflowing with God's goodness! Thanks for letting me fellowship with you this weekend! I am now changed!