Bothering People
Hi. I'm Andrea, and I'm afraid of bothering people. No, this isn't a new problem, but it often stops me from meeting people and loving people. But at least they are comfortable, right? Or is it just me that is comfortable? Hmm.
Thankfully, I have friends that are not so worried about it. Today was a good example. We were driving around Palau, checking out the Capitol building, and then we decided to find a beach where we could look for shells for a camp craft we have planned for next week. We turned down one little road, and then found an empty little "park" (really, we knew it was owned by somebody) with a beach. I was a bit hesitant. I mean, what if the owners found us and blew out our tires with blow darts? Ok, I wasn't even nervous about that. I just feel bad when people are mad, and I didn't want to make anyone mad. We looked around there a bit and found a few shells, and some places that looked like great homes for crocodiles, then decided to try to find another beach. On our way back on the same road, we saw a really nice beach behind a house. In front of the house was a girl, about 11 years old. If it was just me in the car, I would have waved and smiled...and kept driving. But Aila thought we should stop and ask if we could use their beach to look for shells. So we sent Alex, who can make friends with kids instantly. Sure enough, it worked. Not only did she say we could look for shells, she also came out with a big container of ones she collected and gave them to us! We hung out with her for quite a while as we collected shells, and talked to her and skipped coral. She told us about the sharks and crocodiles they've seen in the water (we didn't ask to swim :) and just enjoyed one of the most beautiful beaches. Then, Aila saw a cool tree-house thing next door that went out over the water a bit in a huge tree. She asked the man who was sitting in a porch swing if we could go look at it, and he said that was fine. So pretty soon, all four of us found our way up in the most incredible tree house ever. It had polished wood floors and tables, and a big tree limb going right through it. Then finally, I got over my fear, and suggested we have worship together there to open the Sabbath. Marla, the 11 year-old, stayed with us as we sang, and then had to leave as it started getting dark. We talked about how God has blessed us so much in Yap and now in Palau. We really don't deserve it.
I'm glad God isn't worried about bothering us. If He didn't interrupt my life, there wouldn't be much to live for. And I am glad for reminders that it's ok to bother people...sometimes. At least it's a good way to make new friends.
Thankfully, I have friends that are not so worried about it. Today was a good example. We were driving around Palau, checking out the Capitol building, and then we decided to find a beach where we could look for shells for a camp craft we have planned for next week. We turned down one little road, and then found an empty little "park" (really, we knew it was owned by somebody) with a beach. I was a bit hesitant. I mean, what if the owners found us and blew out our tires with blow darts? Ok, I wasn't even nervous about that. I just feel bad when people are mad, and I didn't want to make anyone mad. We looked around there a bit and found a few shells, and some places that looked like great homes for crocodiles, then decided to try to find another beach. On our way back on the same road, we saw a really nice beach behind a house. In front of the house was a girl, about 11 years old. If it was just me in the car, I would have waved and smiled...and kept driving. But Aila thought we should stop and ask if we could use their beach to look for shells. So we sent Alex, who can make friends with kids instantly. Sure enough, it worked. Not only did she say we could look for shells, she also came out with a big container of ones she collected and gave them to us! We hung out with her for quite a while as we collected shells, and talked to her and skipped coral. She told us about the sharks and crocodiles they've seen in the water (we didn't ask to swim :) and just enjoyed one of the most beautiful beaches. Then, Aila saw a cool tree-house thing next door that went out over the water a bit in a huge tree. She asked the man who was sitting in a porch swing if we could go look at it, and he said that was fine. So pretty soon, all four of us found our way up in the most incredible tree house ever. It had polished wood floors and tables, and a big tree limb going right through it. Then finally, I got over my fear, and suggested we have worship together there to open the Sabbath. Marla, the 11 year-old, stayed with us as we sang, and then had to leave as it started getting dark. We talked about how God has blessed us so much in Yap and now in Palau. We really don't deserve it.
I'm glad God isn't worried about bothering us. If He didn't interrupt my life, there wouldn't be much to live for. And I am glad for reminders that it's ok to bother people...sometimes. At least it's a good way to make new friends.
YEAH! You will make so many new friends next year too when you bother them for Jesus!
ReplyDeleteI bet Alex is rubbing off on you :)
ReplyDelete