Helping to create a place where everybody knows our names and we can drink deep of God's pure kindness (Peter 2:2-3)

SCRIPTURE: Peter 2:2-3 (TM) – larger reading Peter 2:1-10

Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God. You've had a taste of God.

STORY:

Mamie Adams always went to a branch post office in her town because the postal employees there were friendly. She went there to buy stamps just before Christmas one year and the lines were particularly long. Someone pointed out that there was no need to wait in line because there was a stamp machine in the lobby. "I know," said Mamie, 'but the machine won't ask me about my arthritis."

OBSERVATION:

We all could hum the tune. We could even sing a line or two. Some might have even traveled to the city to visit the sight of the famous bar. CHEERS stood as a testimony as to what we all desired in life… a place that we are accepted… a place where everybody knows our name… and asks about our arthritis.

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.

Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name,

and they're always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same

You wanna be where everybody knows your name.

You wanna go where people know, people are all the same,

You wanna go where everybody knows your name.

Call it what you want – mercy, kindness, love – it goes by several names, but all we know is that we are accepted regardless of our peculiarities we are loved beyond measure… and they are actually glad to see us.

MOE’S tries to achieve that kind of attitude by having all of their employees yell out, “Welcome to Moe’s,” but then they all get back to fulfilling orders for other customers… and I’m guessing, but I would doubt it if they cared about your arthritis… or even remember if you had been there before.

Don’t we all desire a place with the CHEERS attitude? A place where we are known? A place filled with people that actually care about our arthritis or whatever is bothering us? Shouldn’t the church be such a place? Is our place of worship more like CHEERS or more like MOE’S? And what are we doing to change it… making it a place where we can “drink deep of God’s pure kindness.”

PRAYER:

Make us instruments of your kindness, oh God. Help us to really care for people. Help us to really remember their names. Allow your mercy and grace to work through us so that they will find in us genuine friends who really care if they are there or not. Make us instruments of your mercy.