A little compassion please.

I am standing in a line of of a coffee house in New York City.  Nothing seems odd, except I am feeling really awful.

I look at the coffee and know that is not what I want.  I order something that think will calm my stomach, when I hear from beside me, don't. do. it.  It's my little Shelby Dean and she is giving me a knowing look.

I ask to see what it is I have ordered, by the time I look back, Shelby and Kirsten are beside me and they were dang right.  This would'be been a big mistake.

I look over my shoulder and see Pam Hanson, sitting in my West Kelowna Starbuck's location (which no longer exists) holding me a bowl of plain oatmeal.

That's what I want.

I wake, I have wanted oatmeal since 3.30 am.  It's been another long night.

I went to bed last night pretty upset about a facebook thread.  I wasn't going to blog about it, but here it is.  It's my blog after all.

A friend went for a morning coffee.

A large was ordered--the order was confused.  When the order was corrected it was felt the pregnant drive in front line customer service representative was rude.  Where he then posted on FB.

As the day wore on, the conversation went as you'd think, there is never a time when you can be rude to a customer etc...when this was posted by a friend:

Where was the compassion of Christ, the grace or the mercy?

I was writing a response, nearly in tears.  Then, the tears just came.

How different would that have all been if my friend had said, hey, you ok?  Can I pray for you?  What specifically can I pray for you for?  Back pain?  Foot pain?  A different job so you can sit?

You see I get it.

I had a terrible day yesterday, in fact, I had to call the cancer agency for help, Kent had to pick up more medications and in the middle of his afternoon drop it off at the house.  I know that it completely interrupted his day.

How much better would it be if WE who call ourselves the CHURCH did what Jesus said, rather than just hear it?  (James 1:22)

I would've given my teeth yesterday if a casserole had shown up at my door--but we live here now and I found out last night that a friend and board member of the church didn't even know I was sick.

I've told people, believe me.

So, back to the lady at McDonald's, who maybe can't tell anyone what it is that is hurting.  Shouldn't we always have our radar up?

Please don't make people go bald before we are moved to compassion.