The “Go-To” on Lookin’ Good!

Well… I’ve been in my new home city and state for about six months now and I am glad to say that I am finally beginning to feel fairly confident in finding my way around!  But while I can find them okay, I’m still getting used to the layout of the two grocery stores that I’ve been shopping at.  In Oklahoma, I was pretty much satisfied with the two Walmart’s near my home.  Turning left from my neighborhood was the Super Walmart where you could literally get anything from food, to clothes, paint, plants, garden supplies and hardware for the kitchen sink or turning to the right, there was the smaller Neighborhood Walmart which is basically just groceries and a pharmacy.  That was sort of my “Go-To’ store for quick in and out purchases.

Here in Tennessee, I have the luxury of a Kroger that is very close to my home (which reminds me of the Raley’s in Santa Rosa that Piper, the kids and I used to shop at) and then a Super Walmart about 10 minutes away… Oh… and don’t let me forget… there is a Dollar General which is literally just outside our gated community and works extremely well as my “Go-To” store for almost anything!  I’m constantly amazed at the variety of name-brand merchandise that they stuff into that store!

But… back to Walmart!  Each Walmart that I’ve been in from the West Coast to the East, is laid out a little differently.  My store here is more familiar to the store we frequented in Fuquay-Varina (NC) than the Super Walmart near us in Broken Arrow (OK).  But I still find myself, at times, walking in circles… like yesterday when I couldn’t find the pharmacy department!

So, while I was trying to get my memory re-centered on the particular layout of this store… in contrast to the other Walmart on the other side of town where my daughter likes to shop… my attention was drawn to a heavy-set, well and brightly dressed (and made-up) woman, wearing sunglasses, driving one of the motorized store carts while she spoke loudly to another lady on her cell phone… with the speaker phone on! 

She was a few aisles away from me, so I slipped in behind the Pepsi distributor who was restocking the shelves… shared a laugh with him and picked up a six pack of Coke Zero (he wasn’t pleased with my choice!) and continued on.  What I noticed pretty quickly was that the gal was totally oblivious to anyone or anything around her.  She was whole heartedly laughing and joking with the gal on the other end of the call and then in response to something that was said, broke out into… what sounded to me to be… a black, full of soul, jazz solo! (of which I have to admit… she was pretty good!)  What I also observed, was that the other shoppers weren’t necessarily turning away from her… but were actually smiling as the seemed to draw closer to her!

 

Well… I finally figured out where the pharmacy was (at the other end of the store) and pointed my cart in that direction… while the singing behind me slowly drifted away from my hearing.  But, the thought of the Gal’s boldness lingered on in my mind as I walked through the parking lot to my car.  When I moved the bags from the cart to the back of my car, I got to thinking what it would be like if we Christians were just as outgoing and confident as the lady in the store seemed to be.

What if we sang praise songs to the Lord… when we’re out and about on our daily activities… with the same heart and smile that that lady did with the music that emanated from her?  I came across a scripture yesterday, before my shopping trip, where the Psalmist declared,

“Good people, cheer GOD! Right-living people sound best when praising.” (Psalm 33:1 - The Message Bible)

Hummm… think about that… the Psalmist states that Christians “sound (and most-likely look) best” when their singing!  But… Ah-Oh… I know what YOUR thinking… “I don’t have a good voice!”  Hah… let me dispel that thought!  The word “CHEER” in this psalm is the word “REJOICE” in the King James Version which, according to Strong’s Greek and Hebrew Definitions, means “to creak or admit a stridulous sound!”  With “stridulous” defined in Dictionary.com as “making or having a harsh or grating sound.”  So, therefore, the melody that comes from your heart is of more importance than the tone of your voice.

My mom was very musical, loved to play the piano and sing and had a very nice voice… but her best friend Norma couldn’t… as they say… carry a tune in a bucket!  My mom would joke about how they would be standing together at church and when the music started Norma would sing out loud and to her heart’s content… totally off key!  But you know what?  My mom and the people at St Rose Catholic Church knew Norma.  They knew the goodness of her heart and her dynamic, caring and quite funny personality that she lived before the world 24/7… and they loved her and her voice… even the more!

It was kind of funny… as I was driving back home from the store yesterday morning, I found myself humming and even attempting to sing the song that the colorful lady was singing in the store!  I wasn’t familiar with the song… and in fact… hardly ever listen to any music that does not have Christian lyrics… but that song caught my attention… so much so that… I was thinking about it throughout the rest of the day!

What if a PRAISE song that you or I was singing in a store, walking down the street or waiting in the doctor’s office (where I was earlier in the week, listening to the receptionist singing along with the songs that were playing in the waiting room…) caught the attention of those around us… and got them thinking about having a relationship with Jesus?  What if someone came up to you and asked you about the song you were singing (or creaking from your heart!)? 

Wouldn’t that be COOL!

I sure think that it would be special!  Why let the world have all the fun!  So… what would I suggest?  Very simple… Fill up your heart with your love of God through the truth of His Word… and then sing it out!

Oooh!  What Fun!  I can’t wait to hear your stories!

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!  We are in the midst of beautiful weather in the mid-80’s with bright blue skies and soft breezes!  I’m hoping that this short’s wearing weather is here to stay (although we had a freeze last week!).  And there… wherever you are as well!