Happy Birthday to Us!
I headed to Panama City Beach early Thursday morning, taking the scenic route and thoroughly enjoying the drive. I made it to the Bay County Courthouse in Panama City in plenty of time to record the documents I had brought up for my brother Donnie.
When I arrived at his job site in Panama City Beach, he was hard at it putting on finishing touches to the new Olive Garden Restaurant which had its management and kitchen staff in place and was already hiring wait staff. Donnie works all over the country building and remodeling Dardin's restaurants. I sat on a bench out front for over three hours reading a mystery and marveling at the applicants coming in for job interviews.
The manager was dressed in suit and tie and was personally interviewing each applicant. What dismayed me was the fact that nearly all these young ladies were dressed as if they were going to hang out on the beach, clean their yard or perform some other equally casual activity. Several looked like they had not combed their hair in days, and many had wrinkled clothing on. One girl was heavily tattooed an had low rider short shorts and a halter top on, She was inside only about three minutes. I found it interesting and somewhat satisfying that the only three to come out with hire packets and drug test paperwork were well groomed and a bit less casual than the majority.
There were no male applicants while I was there, but several guys went in with their ladies and were promptly shown back out the door.
Finally, after 12 hours of strenuous work, Donnie was ready to go to his suite, Yes, Haley's Construction treats Donnie very well. He has been their "Punch Man" for several years and can come in and finish the job and make the new owners sing with joy. He travels all over the nation living in short term apartments or hotel suites all paid for.
He was tired. I was wired. We both had birthdays to celebrate. His the 13th, mine the 17th. It had been a long time since we had been together for a birthday celebration, but neither of us really wanted to go out. I went to Wal-Mart, got frozen dinners and a tiny cake about six inches across, got lost coming back, but finally made it back as Donnie talked me right to the door. Aren't cell phones great?!
We sang off key, "Happy Birthday to Us, Happy Birthday to Us..." It was a blast. We sat and watched the olympics as we ate. Talking of old times, looking at snap shots. Just enjoying time together. It was good, very good.
I love my brother deeply. We have always been close in a special way, maybe because Mama had so many health problems and Daddy was gone so much plus we lived from day to day never knowing if that day would be the last day in that school and town. Often when Daddy would come home from work late at night (he usually worked swing shift) he would rouse us up and we would pack what we could into the car and be off to somewhere new, following Daddy's dreams of greener pastures. Donnie and I depended on one another. we were each the only real constant in the other's life.
Friday morning found me sound asleep on the couch and Donnie already gone to work. After I awakened, made his bed and tidied the place up, etc., I headed to the job site to say goodbye. On a whim I went to see the time share folks and was able to do all the needed paperwork for Donnie (it was already signed) so he wouldn't have to take off work for that chore.
Back to the job site I went and delivered the papers, which he handed back and asked that I send them to his daughter in California (who handles much of his business when he's on the road, which is always). We took pictures of one another taking pictures of one another, then I was heading home, my heart full. Joy and an ache mingled therein and I spent the drive home in concentrated prayer for Donnie and my other loved ones who do not really know the Lord.
I try not to preach, but how do you stand on the shore when you know someone you love is drowning even as they are slowly being drawn ever further out to sea. Some say they believe in God, but so does the devil. They don't want to hear about Jesus' great love for them; they seem uncomfortable with even the mention of the Master's name, yet they feel they are spiritually fine. Or they don't like how God runs things.
I am such an inadequate witness, too, for I am so far from the picture of Christ I long to be. I am still too full of me and not full enough of Him. So I pray that some how and some way, those I love so much will come to know the real Jesus, not one of the many false versions created by people who have not met Him. That they would know the joy of their salvation and the depth of the sacrifice that made it possible.
When I arrived at his job site in Panama City Beach, he was hard at it putting on finishing touches to the new Olive Garden Restaurant which had its management and kitchen staff in place and was already hiring wait staff. Donnie works all over the country building and remodeling Dardin's restaurants. I sat on a bench out front for over three hours reading a mystery and marveling at the applicants coming in for job interviews.
The manager was dressed in suit and tie and was personally interviewing each applicant. What dismayed me was the fact that nearly all these young ladies were dressed as if they were going to hang out on the beach, clean their yard or perform some other equally casual activity. Several looked like they had not combed their hair in days, and many had wrinkled clothing on. One girl was heavily tattooed an had low rider short shorts and a halter top on, She was inside only about three minutes. I found it interesting and somewhat satisfying that the only three to come out with hire packets and drug test paperwork were well groomed and a bit less casual than the majority.
There were no male applicants while I was there, but several guys went in with their ladies and were promptly shown back out the door.
Finally, after 12 hours of strenuous work, Donnie was ready to go to his suite, Yes, Haley's Construction treats Donnie very well. He has been their "Punch Man" for several years and can come in and finish the job and make the new owners sing with joy. He travels all over the nation living in short term apartments or hotel suites all paid for.
He was tired. I was wired. We both had birthdays to celebrate. His the 13th, mine the 17th. It had been a long time since we had been together for a birthday celebration, but neither of us really wanted to go out. I went to Wal-Mart, got frozen dinners and a tiny cake about six inches across, got lost coming back, but finally made it back as Donnie talked me right to the door. Aren't cell phones great?!
We sang off key, "Happy Birthday to Us, Happy Birthday to Us..." It was a blast. We sat and watched the olympics as we ate. Talking of old times, looking at snap shots. Just enjoying time together. It was good, very good.
I love my brother deeply. We have always been close in a special way, maybe because Mama had so many health problems and Daddy was gone so much plus we lived from day to day never knowing if that day would be the last day in that school and town. Often when Daddy would come home from work late at night (he usually worked swing shift) he would rouse us up and we would pack what we could into the car and be off to somewhere new, following Daddy's dreams of greener pastures. Donnie and I depended on one another. we were each the only real constant in the other's life.
Friday morning found me sound asleep on the couch and Donnie already gone to work. After I awakened, made his bed and tidied the place up, etc., I headed to the job site to say goodbye. On a whim I went to see the time share folks and was able to do all the needed paperwork for Donnie (it was already signed) so he wouldn't have to take off work for that chore.
Back to the job site I went and delivered the papers, which he handed back and asked that I send them to his daughter in California (who handles much of his business when he's on the road, which is always). We took pictures of one another taking pictures of one another, then I was heading home, my heart full. Joy and an ache mingled therein and I spent the drive home in concentrated prayer for Donnie and my other loved ones who do not really know the Lord.
I try not to preach, but how do you stand on the shore when you know someone you love is drowning even as they are slowly being drawn ever further out to sea. Some say they believe in God, but so does the devil. They don't want to hear about Jesus' great love for them; they seem uncomfortable with even the mention of the Master's name, yet they feel they are spiritually fine. Or they don't like how God runs things.
I am such an inadequate witness, too, for I am so far from the picture of Christ I long to be. I am still too full of me and not full enough of Him. So I pray that some how and some way, those I love so much will come to know the real Jesus, not one of the many false versions created by people who have not met Him. That they would know the joy of their salvation and the depth of the sacrifice that made it possible.
© 2006 by Iona Hoeppner
| 8:09 PM
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