Tag: life stories

Posted in Family, food, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, priorities, Scripture, spiritual battles, thankful

What Really Matters

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice.” Philippians 1:18

What could be better? The other night, a friend invited a group of friends over for a great time of food and fellowship. Let me just say it was a great get-together and we all enjoyed every minute. We first enjoyed a great meal of fried fish and all the fixings including three fabulous desserts. Then we sat around the table and at the suggestion of someone we began to tell our stories. Every story caused us to pause and reflect and we all learned something new about one another. There were times when we laughed and yes, a few times when tears were shed.

Now back to dinner. Did I mention fried fish? How about coleslaw, potato salad, hushpuppies and all the other trimmings. Oh, did I mention baked beans? Let me tell you that the baked beans that night were incredible. They were so much so that I just had to find out who made them. It turned out that one of the ladies had brought them. They were rich and savory, sweet and filled with chunks of what turned out to be BBQ brisket.  Can someone say, “hallelujah?”

Well, they were so good that I had a second portion. As I scooped the second helping on my plate I told my wife, “Judy, you have to get this recipe.” And that is when it happened.

My friend to my right said, “Well, you are going to make me tell the rest of the truth.” She paused for a moment and of course I was harassing her to share the rest of the story. “Well,” she said, “I did bring the beans, but I didn’t make the beans. I got them from Sam’s.” We all had a good laugh, and I told her that that was even better than a recipe. Even with a recipe, sometimes things don’t come out quite the same. Since they were from Sam’s—well, hey—the outcome was in the bag. I wasn’t at all disappointed, in fact, I was excited.

By the way it really wasn’t important if the beans came from her kitchen or from Sam’s. What mattered was we got to enjoy good, baked beans. More important than who made them was the fact that we got to enjoy them. And guess what? I think that is true many times in life. We often put too much weight on who does what rather than the what itself. That is never truer than in the Church. Too often we lose track of what is important. Is it who brought the message or the way the message spoke to us? Does it really matter who sang the special or if the special spoke to our hearts? You see all that really matters is that we make sure everything points to the One who is worthy and that is Jesus.

So then, if you want to enjoy some great baked beans you can find a good recipe and try your luck or you can run down to your local Sam’s Club. If you try those from Sam’s, I guarantee they will make your tongue happy. And always remember that it isn’t about who does what but rather that He gets the glory. Lay the who or the what aside and let’s just celebrate the fact that, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, friends, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Memorial Day, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful, Trials, wisdom

Bumped. Bruised. Battered.

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them.”  Matthew 9:36

It was the week before Memorial Day.  Well, believe it or not, I have started exercising again.  For the last six weeks, I have been walking a couple of miles five times a week. To keep it interesting, I try and walk different routes.  So, on the Thursday before Memorial Day, I decided to walk in our local cemetery.  It is quite large, and I had a route picked out that was about nine tenths of a mile long.  I would do two laps and then part of another to get my two miles in.

I like walking in the cemetery because of all the stories that are told on the various headstones. It is almost like walking through a large library with each headstone representing the book of a person’s life.  The length of life and the things they valued are often shown. Some have many details and others leave that up to the living to figure it out. However, on that particular Thursday, I noticed that many of the graves were marked with an American flag…the symbol of our great country.  These were largely on the graves of those who had served their country.  There were dozens and dozens, and I found my eyes drawn to them…and what they represented.

It was then that I noticed something.  While many of the flags were pointed straight to the sky above…others were not.  Some were bumped and haphazardly pointed someplace besides up.  They had been hit by something…whether a careless foot or lawnmower.  Others had been knocked completely down and lay in the grass and dirt…someplace they were never intended to be and then some had become victims of the mower’s blade and lay tattered. As I walked something began to stir in me.  It occurred to me that someone should do something.  It just wasn’t right.  And then it also occurred that that someone was me.

So, as I walked, I began straightening some, replanting others and gathering the shredded remains of others.  Yes, it did require some time, it did require some detours, but it was worth every minute.  It simply was the right thing to do.  On Saturday, I found myself again back at the cemetery and once again straightening, replanting and gathering shreds to be property disposed of later.  It was right and it felt right.  When I once again entered the cemetery that Memorial Day Monday, I looked at the flags and felt a good sense of pride that I had made a difference…not to all but to some.  And then it hit me.

In a moment of time, I didn’t see flags but I saw people. I realized that all around me were people that had been bumped, bruised, and battered.  And I began to wonder what could I do to help them?  I know that often there isn’t a fix…certainly not one as easy as picking up or straightening up a flag in a cemetery but maybe – just maybe, a kind word or action could help the wounded, the bruised, and the bumped have a better day.

So, today I write a story, but I am also writing a reminder to me, to you, to all of us.  The reminder is to look around with seeing eyes and look for the wounded and the hurting and extend a hand, a hug, or a heart.  And who knows, another day when you see that person you may see their step is a little lighter and their smile a little brighter…because you took the time to straighten the bumped, replant the bruised, and maybe help pick up the pieces of a broken life.  It is probably risky, and may be costly, but trust me it will be worth it.

Jesus was so good at this.  One time He was coming ashore after a ride across a lake, and he was greeted by a whole crowd of bumped, bruised, and battered people and the Bible simply says, “When He saw the people, He had compassion on them.” He loved them, touched them, and sometimes even served them lunch.  He simply couldn’t leave them the way they were…love wouldn’t allow it.  If you are a Jesus follower…and even if you are not…love demands that we act. Love demands that we show a little kindness.  Sound challenging?  It is but know this…that God you believe in or at least want to believe in is just waiting to help.  Trust me…He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne