Lessons from a doorbell, a DirecTV wire, and chocolate chip cookies

Yay!  I was hoping that title would attract your attention!  I wanted to share a little about what the Lord has been doing in our lives here on Backwater Way since we’ve moved in.  The following three things are now constant reminders of what our Great Commission is here on this earth – “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel” – a doorbell, a DirecTV wire, and some yummy chocolate chip cookies. 🙂

FIrst, the doorbell:  We’ve been trying to get to know our neighbors, and have been able to meet three different families with very different needs and backgrounds.  As the weather has gotten warmer, though, we’ve noticed several kids outside playing with their rollerblades, skateboards, and basketballs.  We wanted to get to know them better in hopes of starting a Bible Club up in the summer, so we sat around one Saturday morning wondering how we could go about getting to know these kids. . . . when. . . .ding-dong.   The doorbell rang.  A little 10 year old boy (who would later try to tell us that he messed up and that he REALLY is 12!) was at our door with a lawnmower and asked if he could cut our grass.  Mind you, we had mostly weeds, but we were in need of a grass cutting.  So, I said ‘Yes’, and offered to pay him for his troubles.  We also happened to be having a teen activity that day, so having our weeds cut for the occasion was a huge blessing! (We haven’t bought a lawnmower yet – that’s why our weeds were so tall!)

Later that day, we had several of our teens over for some bbq and french fries and had a blast playing games with them!  The little boy that cut our lawn was able to come with us, and he had a great time hanging out with some “church” kids. 

After our busy day, we were hoping to sit down with a glass of lemonade, some extra bbq and watch our favorite show – Boy Meets Grill – a Bobby Flay special on the food network. 🙂  We noticed that our satellite wasn’t getting a signal.  Hmmmm. . . that’s odd.  So Chris went out to check the wires.

That’s where the second thing came in – the DirecTV wire:  Our little neighbor boy had cut the wire with his lawnmower!  First, we were pretty upset, then we felt kinda silly for letting such a young boy cut our lawn – we should have known better!  Unfortunately, our primary goal was not foremost in our minds at the time.  Later that night, our neighbor-ly Jr. landscaper came by to ask us a question, and we brought up the wire.  He told us that he knew about it, but didn’t want to tell us in case we got upset.  Chris had an amazing opportunity to show him Christ’s forgiveness and love, and we hope to use this illustration with him when we get an opportunity to witness to him later on.

So, now I’m on to the chocolate chip cookies:  I had some leftovers that I sent home with our neighbor boy for his sisters.  Every day – literally, every day – they now ring our doorbell and ask for cookies!  So, I’ve started baking chocolate chip cookies for them every day for them to come by and get on there way to their house after they get dropped off by the school bus driver.  (Thankfully, I’ve found almost free chocolate chips at every food yard sale I’ve gone to! 🙂 )  True the doorbell usually wakes Chloe up from her nap, and seems to interrupt us at the most in-opportune moments (like during Chris’ candlelight birthday dinner Friday night!), and it’s so easy for us to groan whenever it happens.  But then we remember what an amazing opportunity we have!

Here we thought we’d have to go pass out fliers, beg parents, and bribe kids to come to a Bible Club – but they come to our door every afternoon – like clockwork (they’re NEVER late!) – at 4:15 –   Ready for their cookies.  I love to take them on a plate outside and sit with them in the driveway and find out about their day, and tell them a little about Jesus.  It’s not long after the cookies are gone that they’re ready to head back out to get their rollerblades from home, or dribble the basketball a little.   But seeds are being planted every day, and soon, we know the Lord’s harvest will come!

May this be an encouragement to you as you are the “light” on your “hilltop” in your own neighborhood.  The best way to start a conversation is with a plate of cookies – and always take them over to your neighbor on your nicest plate.  That way they’ll have to come back to return it, and you’ll have yet another opportunity to show Christ’s love! 🙂