Grace Drops
  • Home
  • About
  • Bereavement & Pastoral Care
    • Setting Goals to Get Through Grieving
    • Sunday Scaries: 10 Ideas
    • Grace Drops Blog
  • Grace Drops Blog
  • Store
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Grace Drops Blog

Grace Under Pressure

4/28/2014

Comments

 
Picture© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.
A few years ago my wife and I had been attending a church for about six months and we decided to transfer our membership. After attending the new member’s class we were ready to join. A chaplain colleague and his wife attended the same church and they agreed to be our sponsors and stand up with us on that Sunday.

After the service he suggested that we go out for breakfast and, after some debate about who would pay, he made it clear that it was his treat. So off we went to a popular restaurant a short distance away, and after a brief wait, were escorted to a large round booth in the back. We settled in, studied the menu, and unanimously opted for the scrumptious breakfast entrees. Then we began discussing what was going on in our lives and with our families.

We were getting hungrier by the minute and a little impatient when we spied the waiter coming toward us with a rather large tray balanced on one hand and his portable tray table in the other. I am always amazed at how the wait staff handles large orders in a busy restaurant. They either have big trays or plates lined up and down their arm. I was happy my dishes were on a tray.

As he was maneuvering the table with his left hand to get it in position for accepting the large tray, his body slightly twisted. When he did this, his right hand tilted forward just a bit. He tried to correct the tilt but that is nearly impossible with such a heavy load. Suddenly everything appeared to move in slow motion. I saw the tray tip in my direction. Then it hit. All four breakfast orders came sliding off the tray and into my chest and lap. Keep in mind we are talking about eggs, grits, pancakes, waffles, and all that goes with them. My blue blazer was folded on the seat beside me but it did not escape the onslaught of food. I could only sit and accept my fate.

I looked up and very calmly said, “Like I told you, Danny, breakfast is on me!” It seemed that everyone around breathed a little sigh of relief as they laughed nervously.

© 2008, John C. Fitts, III.  All Rights Reserved.  Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 6 (2008).


Comments

Lunch with God

3/29/2013

Comments

 
Picture
© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.
A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of Root Beer and he started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man. He was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie.

He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. He gave him his biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy? "He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? God's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked," Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added," You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally! 



Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).


Comments

Positively Negative

2/6/2013

Comments

 
Picture
© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.
Have you ever met someone who just can't be positive? The world is full of such negative people. Here is a good example:

"A woman was at her hairdresser's getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome with her boyfriend. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded, "Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty and full of Italians. You're crazy to go to Rome.

So, how are you getting there?"

"We're taking Continental," was the reply. "We got a great rate!"

"Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser. "That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?"

"We'll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome's Tiber River called Teste."

"Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks its gonna be something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump, the worst hotel in the city! The rooms are small, the service is surly and they're overpriced. So, whatcha doing when you get there?"

"We're going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope."

"That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. "You and a million other people trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."

A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome. "It was wonderful," explained the woman, "not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel was great! They'd just finished a $5 million remodeling job and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!"

"Well," muttered the hairdresser, "That's all well and good, but I know you didn't get to see the Pope."

"Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a few words to me."

"Oh, really! What'd he say?"

He said, "Where'd you get the awful hairdo?" 



Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).

Comments

The Not So Ordinary Lightning Bug

12/9/2012

Comments

 
Picture
© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.
What is the deal with Lightning Bugs? I mean, here is this rather ordinary looking flying insect, but wait . . . it has a glow-in-the-dark rear end! What was God thinking?

I’m sure science has all kinds of explanations about how this fluorescent fanny is useful for mating and other stuff, but why did God choose to make the lightning bug glow? I wonder if when God was creating all the animals and everything around us, He came up with the idea of the lightning bug and said, “The kids are gonna love this.”

We know that God loves us enough to create all the things we need to survive, but does God love us so much He created some things just to make us smile?

Just seeing Lightning Bugs takes me back to those warm summer nights of my youth. I’d be running around the back yard with my empty Mason jar, racing toward the flashing lights all around me. I can still feel the joy and hear the laughter echoing through my memories. Lightning Bugs were as much a part of summer as fireworks, fresh tomatoes, and big ice-cold slabs of juicy watermelon. (I also have a theory of why God created watermelon seeds the perfect size to spit, but that is another story.)

God created so much diversity in this world, much more than is needed for mere survival. He made all of this for us, and He wants us to enjoy it. We can get so busy surrounding ourselves with man-made goods that we don’t notice the living tapestry God has laid out all around us.

I guess Lightning Bugs do have a purpose after all. They are a reminder of a creative God who loves us so much, He’d even paint the rear end of a bug . . . just to see us smile.

And believe me . . . we need to smile!

© 
2003, John C. Fitts, III.  All Rights Reserved.  Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003). 


Comments

Grace Drops

10/20/2012

Comments

 
Picture
© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.
Have you ever felt a single drop of rain? You may not even notice it. Certainly it is no cause to run for shelter. Often that single drop is the precursor to an eventual downpour, or, it may be just the teasing of a small rogue cloud on an otherwise sunny day. While one drop by itself is harmless, before long those single drops begin to soak anyone and anything left uncovered. The collection of those drops eventually becomes a puddle. Enough rain causes puddles to overflow and become a small flood. And you know, it doesn’t take all that long.

Grace drops are like that single drop of rain. Standing alone, they may seem insignificant, and may even be overlooked. Gradually, though, they may become puddles of grace and even result in a flood that can change the landscape.

What are “grace drops?” Grace is anything that empowers, uplifts, or encourages another. A smile has power. When your manager or supervisor walks into the room, doesn’t it make a difference when you see a smile. Whether it is a fellow team member, a visitor, or a patient, remember the power of a smile. Words are also “grace drops.” Familiarity does indeed breed contempt, and we often forget that “please” and “thank you” are mood altering words.

Most “grace drops” are simple things that by themselves may seem too small to matter. But collectively they can change a prison into a palace. Who’s first? Where do they begin? They begin with you.

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III.  All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).


Comments

    Author

    John Fitts is a retired hospital chaplain and a contributor & publisher of Grace Drops. John lives in Palm Harbor, Florida with his artist wife, Patty. 
    You can receieve Grace Drops in your email each week by signing up here.
    ​

    Sign up for Grace Drops

    Archives

    April 2020
    December 2019
    June 2019
    February 2019
    September 2018
    May 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    March 2016
    October 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Categories

    All
    Adversity
    Anger
    Christmas
    Compassion
    Cooperation
    Death & Dying
    Devotional
    Empathy
    Empowerment
    Encouragement
    Endurance
    Enemies
    Ethics
    Excellence
    Expectations
    Faith
    Family
    Fear
    Forgiveness
    Freedom Vs. Restraint
    Friendship
    Generosity
    Goals
    Grace Drops
    Grace Drops
    Gratitude
    Higher Power
    Higher Power
    Honesty
    Hope
    Humility
    Judgment
    Laughter
    Leadership
    Life Lessons
    Listening
    Live In The Moment
    Love
    Loyalty
    Motivation
    Peace
    Positive Outlook
    Praise
    Prayer
    Responsibility
    Smile
    Struggle
    Success
    Tranquility
    Trust

    RSS Feed

    © This website, the images on the website, and all material found within this site are copyrighted.
    Any copying or reproducing in part or whole, without consent, is strictly prohibited.
     

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.