An Indian girl walks into a Chick-Fil-A…

(Isn’t this how all great stories start out?)

In case you didn’t figure it out already, I am that Indian girl and I was at Chick-Fil-A this past weekend…on a Saturday of course, because we all know they are closed on Sunday (which is cool but not cool when you are craving a chicken biscuit sandwich after church.  I digress.)

When we were ordering, I noticed that a woman in the line next to me had her sweater inside out.  And this wasn’t one of those sweaters where that was the style.  Her tags were actually showing.

Believe it or not, I have been in a similar predicament before.  Years ago, my husband and I were at an event along with another friend, and we noticed that a woman had orange fuzz balls on her sweater.  My husband and this friend (also a guy) convinced me that I should go over there and let her know.  They said it would be the right thing to do, so I did.  I’ll never forget her response: 

“That is part of the sweater.”  

Oh. the. shame.  I apologized profusely and walked away.

Now, fast forward, 15 years later and here I was again.

Some people do interesting things in the name of fashion.  Tags on baseball caps.  Boxers on display.  Orange fuzzy things on sweaters.  What if this inside-out thing was one of those times?

After having a mini-conversation with myself and mentioning it to my husband, who was also in line with me, I found myself walking over to her and sharing my observation.

This time, my observation was correct.  It was not a fashion statement.  It was a fashion oops-she-didn’t-mean-to-do-that.  And she was so grateful I told her.

Before I walked over to her, I was having flashbacks of orange fuzzy sweater lady.  History was telling me that I should mind my own business, get my chicken sandwich and be on my way. But I knew couldn’t walk away without telling her.  Even if I made a fool of myself…again.

I KNEW I couldn’t walk away…

It’s easy to let a mistake from the past dictate the steps in our present.  After all, we should learn from our mistakes.  But when we let our history determine the rest of our story is when we could be missing out.

I am reminded of the life of Moses.  This man who was called to deliver the children of Israel had previously been chastised for trying to be “ruler and judge” over them.   History would try to tell him that he was not the man for this job.  He told himself that he was not the man for this job.  God had something else in mind.

I think about my own life and what has happened in my past – the words that were spoken against me were enough to make me never want to say another word again.  Meanwhile, God was speaking something else over me.

What is your story my sweet friend?  What dreams do you have that have been deterred by something from your past? Has the enemy convinced you that was the end of your story when really it was just a chapter in a book still to be written?

Whatever it is for you, don’t let it define the rest of your life.  Don’t let it stop you from doing what you know you are meant to do.  

I feel like someone needs to hear this – maybe it’s time to try again.  There could be someone waiting in line for you to come along.
~Anu

 

*featured image from pathway community church

by anitha

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