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| Sherwood, April 22nd, 2012 Jacquelyn's first fish on Sherwood! |
Wooohoooo!! Go girl!
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| Jacquelyn's fish bass! yay Momma! |
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Jacquelyn's 1st fish on Sherwood!!
Wooohoooo!! Go girl!
"Can you buy me some cigarettes?"
Everyday we are faced with challenges and opportunities that test us.
Today my challenge didn't waste any time, it came at the crack of dawn!
I had just dropped my brother off at LAX and needed to put on some gas when arriving back in Westlake around 5:30 am. I was (nervously) pumping gas thinking about my sister lecturing on getting gas in the day time light to avoid dark, unsafe situations for a young woman like myself. I was startled when I turned around to wash my back window. There was a younger gentlemen approaching me, "Can you buy me some cigarettes?" he mumbled.
I asked him to repeat, he said, "can you buy me cigarettes? I forgot my i.d.".
With his baggy pants, oversized hooded sweatshirt and Mexican descent, I thought for sure he was about to pull a Glock on me. Yes, I know, how horrible for me to judge him on his looks, anyone whose not white and in a business suit or a John Deere hoodie is a potential gangster. I replied yes to buying cigarettes. Why? Because I thought $7.00 was a cheap way to avoid a stick-up and spare my life. I was mildly suprised when he pulled out money for the cigs. I made small chat with him while I finished filling up the Jeep. I'll admit it, mostly the reason I made small talk was because I thought, "he'll have a harder time killing me if I'm a nice person and talk to him like a normal human being."
I learned his name was Angel and he worked down the street as a cashier in a great restaurant.
As I finished up twisting the gas cap back on and he waited nearby, I asked him what kind of cigarettes he wanted as he handed over the cash. I went in and while picking out the most delicious looking huge gourmet muffin and an orange juice, I still contemplated what I would do about the cigarettes.
What if he was lying about the i.d. and he was really only 17?
If I didn't bring out cigarettes, would he pull a knife on me?
Why did I tell him yes right away? It was impulse.
Wait, why am I even questioning this?
The cashier asked if I wanted anything else and I told him, "well, the kid outside wants some cigarettes but I think breakfast would be better for him." The cashier shook his head, smiled about the breakfast then informed me that it's been happening a lot and the fine for buying cigarettes for minors is $1,000. Relieved with my choice, especially after hearing about the fine, I thanked the cashier.
As I walked back out, I told Angel that the cashier saw him hand me the money earlier and that I couldn't buy him the cigs. Then I handed him the bakery bag and orange juice and said "but I still thought you might enjoy breakfast". He couldn't believe it and got this smile on his face, "really?". As I opened my door, I felt I had to encourage him or give him hope some other way. I said "Hey Angel, you should come hang out at Calvary, my church on Sunday." He smiled again and said "yah Calvary, I went there for a while." I went on, "oh really? Yah, you've got a good personality and I think you'd really enjoy it." Angel got this sweet smile and a lil' bashful from the compliment, "really?". I confirmed the compliment and got in the Jeep. That bashful smile will keep me going until I hit the bed tonight.
As I drove off and did the final wave to Angel (who was cigarette-less and still had a smile), I thought about how many different ways that situation could've gone.
- I could've said "No, I'm sorry" and turned away.
- I could've bought the cigarettes and let him carry on his day.
- He could've had a gun and shot me.
- He could be working for the police and if I bought the cigarettes, I could've had $1,000 fine.
- I could've bought him breakfast but speak no words of Hope into his future.
I thanked the Lord for the lesson and how everything turned out. I truly believe the Lord set that up in today's plans for me and guided me step-by-step through that situation.
Lesson for my kiddios: Sometimes $2.59 + a compliment (aka HOPE) will go farther than you know. Or maybe not.
Today my challenge didn't waste any time, it came at the crack of dawn!
I had just dropped my brother off at LAX and needed to put on some gas when arriving back in Westlake around 5:30 am. I was (nervously) pumping gas thinking about my sister lecturing on getting gas in the day time light to avoid dark, unsafe situations for a young woman like myself. I was startled when I turned around to wash my back window. There was a younger gentlemen approaching me, "Can you buy me some cigarettes?" he mumbled.
I asked him to repeat, he said, "can you buy me cigarettes? I forgot my i.d.".
With his baggy pants, oversized hooded sweatshirt and Mexican descent, I thought for sure he was about to pull a Glock on me. Yes, I know, how horrible for me to judge him on his looks, anyone whose not white and in a business suit or a John Deere hoodie is a potential gangster. I replied yes to buying cigarettes. Why? Because I thought $7.00 was a cheap way to avoid a stick-up and spare my life. I was mildly suprised when he pulled out money for the cigs. I made small chat with him while I finished filling up the Jeep. I'll admit it, mostly the reason I made small talk was because I thought, "he'll have a harder time killing me if I'm a nice person and talk to him like a normal human being."I learned his name was Angel and he worked down the street as a cashier in a great restaurant.
As I finished up twisting the gas cap back on and he waited nearby, I asked him what kind of cigarettes he wanted as he handed over the cash. I went in and while picking out the most delicious looking huge gourmet muffin and an orange juice, I still contemplated what I would do about the cigarettes.
What if he was lying about the i.d. and he was really only 17?
If I didn't bring out cigarettes, would he pull a knife on me?
Why did I tell him yes right away? It was impulse.
Wait, why am I even questioning this?
The cashier asked if I wanted anything else and I told him, "well, the kid outside wants some cigarettes but I think breakfast would be better for him." The cashier shook his head, smiled about the breakfast then informed me that it's been happening a lot and the fine for buying cigarettes for minors is $1,000. Relieved with my choice, especially after hearing about the fine, I thanked the cashier.
As I walked back out, I told Angel that the cashier saw him hand me the money earlier and that I couldn't buy him the cigs. Then I handed him the bakery bag and orange juice and said "but I still thought you might enjoy breakfast". He couldn't believe it and got this smile on his face, "really?". As I opened my door, I felt I had to encourage him or give him hope some other way. I said "Hey Angel, you should come hang out at Calvary, my church on Sunday." He smiled again and said "yah Calvary, I went there for a while." I went on, "oh really? Yah, you've got a good personality and I think you'd really enjoy it." Angel got this sweet smile and a lil' bashful from the compliment, "really?". I confirmed the compliment and got in the Jeep. That bashful smile will keep me going until I hit the bed tonight.As I drove off and did the final wave to Angel (who was cigarette-less and still had a smile), I thought about how many different ways that situation could've gone.
- I could've said "No, I'm sorry" and turned away.
- I could've bought the cigarettes and let him carry on his day.
- He could've had a gun and shot me.
- He could be working for the police and if I bought the cigarettes, I could've had $1,000 fine.
- I could've bought him breakfast but speak no words of Hope into his future.
I thanked the Lord for the lesson and how everything turned out. I truly believe the Lord set that up in today's plans for me and guided me step-by-step through that situation.
Lesson for my kiddios: Sometimes $2.59 + a compliment (aka HOPE) will go farther than you know. Or maybe not.
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