God's return policy

Yesterday was our turn to join the crowds returning certain Christmas gifts. We actually didn’t have many … there were 3 to return and one to exchange … not bad. It helped that we had all the receipts … no hassle … no “reason for returning” questions … just a simple, quick and painless process … a quick in-and-out.

I do have to admit that I am amazed at the variety of return policies. Some are limited as to when you can return an item, usually 90 days and only if you have a receipt. One store in particular, Best Buy, charges a 15% restocking fee … we don’t shop there any longer.

Remember, I’m a part of an older generation who remembers an old department store by the name of Montgomery Wards. They would take back any item period … and I mean any item, it didn’t matter if they sold a particular item or not. Maybe that is why they are not around any longer, but I doubt it. It was an era where the customer was king. The customer was more important than the store policy.

It was during this era that while Sears wouldn’t take back just any item, their service department would help you locate which department store sold the item that you were seeking to return. People went out of their way to assist you. They wanted your business. They cared about what you thought of them and the company they worked for. Times have changed.

I’m glad that God has a no limit return policy, aren’t you. It doesn’t matter how damaged the “merchandise” (you and me) is God will always take us back … fixes the damage and then return us to active service. There isn’t a restocking fee accept a desire to be forgiven. There isn’t a 90-day time period and we do not need to have a receipt. God is always open 24/7 ready to receive us. He never asks us why, although it probably would be helpful for us to do some personal reflection as to why we wandered away from God in the process of our living and God does care, but he already knows the reason.

Within the Kingdom of God we are always important. God wants to know what we think, how we feel, what we are doing, In God’s Kingdom the “customer” is most important. And, while we cannot be king so to speak, since his Kingdom can only have one King and we got into trouble when we tried to usurp his authority in the first place, nevertheless we are important … most important. The entire event that we just celebrated along with the Calvary and resurrection events, to be celebrated in the next few months, are totally for our benefit. We are that important to the Creator of the Universe.

The King’s policy is to take us back, fix us up and love us into becoming what we were created to become … that is worth celebrating … that is reason enough to string up a few lights, bake a few cookies, act a little crazy, hug as many people as you, sing a few carols, drive through a snow storm, spend a little money … it is a celebration worth having!

Quote for today: Author Leo Buscaglia tells this story about his mother and their "misery dinner." It was the night after his father came home and said it looked as if he would have to go into bankruptcy because his partner had absconded with their firm's funds. His mother went out and sold some jewelry to buy food for a sumptuous feast. Other members of the family scolded her for it. But she told them that "the time for joy is now, when we need it most, not next week." Her courageous act rallied the family. ~Christopher News Notes