In the Spotlight

Yesterday, my husband took me to Patti's to eat since it was the occasion of our 45th wedding anniversary. When you have reached this juncture in life a good meal in a nice restaurant is all that is expected or required. Such was my state of contentment yesterday as I ate my meal with relish. My husband had already let the waiter and waitress and the diners around us that it was our anniversary. About half way through the meal, my husband stood up and said, "Excuse me, excuse me. Could I have your attention for a couple of seconds?" Everybody stopped talking and eating and turned expectant eyes upon him. He said, "If I don't do this, I will have to hear all about it when I get back to the car, so I am going to do this." By this time, my head was hanging so low that my chin was practically resting on my chest. So you know how I was feeling and was wondering what inappropriate thing he was going to say now. I thought to myself, "You have already told them about the anniversary and received congratulations from all of them, what more can you say now? This is going to be a hot mess! And I am stuck right here in the middle of it."
     I could feel every eyeball in the place on my bowed head with its hot little face. Then he said, I just want you to know that this woman that you are eating with is an author and she has published five books." My head shot up off of my chest and, though my face was still warm, it no longer bore the look of shame that had been there seconds before. People started congratulating me and asking what types of books I had published. My husband said, "Stand up and tell them about your book, Alma."
     I stood up and told about the five books that I had written. I spent the most time on my latest, Chopping My Row. As I was talking about the book, people started nodding their heads and verbally agreeing with what I was saying. Then my husband told me that was enough because the people needed to finish their meals. I thanked them and sat back down promptly. At the end of my meal, I went to the table behind me and asked if I might leave my card with them. They replied in the affirmative and we had some general laughing conversation and sharing time. I went to all of the tables around us because they, too,  had been in the congratulatory words concerning the anniversary and the books. Each table conversed with me as I was giving them my card. Some people teared up, and others thanked me for my words. One woman yelled out, before I got to her table, "Now where did you say that we could get that book?" I told her, and I saw several nodding their heads or scrambling for pens to write on the card that I had given them. All in all, an enjoyable time and I only went there to eat dinner. But I left the diners that we ate with feeling elated and myself feeling the same.
     Why did I say what I did about my dinner outing from yesterday? I said that because I wanted to say to you that we are in the spotlight whether we realize it or not. We just never know when it is going to be turned fully on us. So, let's be aware of that and be caught allowing the glory of God to be shining when the spotlight does get trained upon us. And remember, be always prepared to speak reassuring words about the justice, righteousness, and lovingkindness of the Lord.
     Got my Sunday dinner going and will soon, if the Lord wills, be on my way to worship. Praise God. Don't forget, BYDWP.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,
Alma L. Stepping On Jones

Is this not the most beautiful stained glass window? I wanted to share that with you, as well, because this is what I looked at while I was dining yesterday. (Technical issues, will send it as soon as I can if I can get it to download.)