Gracious

I went to an 80th birthday party for a boss of many years ago when I used to work at the Hyatt Regency Houston in the PR dept. His name was Dick Nelson, and he is now VP emeritus of the Hyatt Corp. The players of that thirty five year ago reign were all present and the flood of memories just came rushing in at the sight of them. And great memories they were. We have all changed and our families have grown and we have all gone off in different directions....but some things remain the same...the voices...for example...I could close my eyes and hear the voice and know immediately who it was that was talking....and even remember past conversations. And the builds...some were tall and some not so tall...and facial expressions...but one thing that I recognized about Mr Nelson in particular was that his mannerisms remained in tack. Though he was a great boss and leader...his Graciousness was one of his most highly acclaimed strengths.

An example of this was when the evening was coming to a close, and the feast of this celebration at the newly remodeled Hyatt had been consumed, all five courses...Mr. Nelson stood up, made his way to the front of the dance floor with crown in tack on his head (we used to call him King Richard) thanked his guests for their time and involvement and friendship over the past years...thanked his most precious and adored wife Stella for all of her detailed planning and organization....and then he called for the kitchen staff...and out came the chef and all of his merry men....clad in their white starched chef jackets and the chief chef in his tall pleated hat of distinction. And Mr. Nelson proceeded to thank all of them for the beautiful food presentation and fresh and carefully prepared courses.

It was genuine...and it was thoughtful but it was what Mr. Nelson is known for: Gracious courtesy.....not just to the presidents and dignitaries who he has entertained throughout the years....but to the ones who were behind the scenes in positions that were not so highly acclaimed. He made it his job to know what was going on behind the scenes and who was behind what was going on behind the scenes....and because he was so involved and such a hands on overseer....he was not only highly respected but also truly loved by his employees.

Graciousness is a trait that sometimes slides by as important. But it doesn't matter who we are or what we are doing....be it a huge project or a menial task that may appear insignificant but is often times the basis for something grander....we all like a little recognition...or an "at a boy" or "at a girl" especially from someone who is in a position of standing....from our own viewpoint. Each of us has responsibility to some degree or another....that ultimately effects the life of someone else. And thought we often cast our them as insignificant...or ordinary ...God looks at each thing that we do for one another to be commendable. in His eyes. He too notices what is going on behind the scenes...and the people who are behind what is going on behind the scenes. For they too are making a difference in His kingdom. The caregivers, or the the ones who make time to stop when they see a need, or the ones who pay attention to the cry of someone in need, or the ones who do what they can, and use the talents they have to help make a project successful, the ones who help pick up pieces when someone's life has been crumbled by circumstances that are our of their hands.

Christ, in his position of majesty cares about all of those he loves. And he does give recognition to each deed of kindness and of unselfishness that we are involved in. He calls us out of the back room and says "well done good an faithful servant..." when we have done something in regard to His merit out of His love and through compassion of His Holy Spirit. He is a gracious God who day by day pours his grace unto us. And we may not hear his audible voice or shake his royal hand...but in our hearts we know when we have been served with a gracious recognition. We know when we have take time out for someone else...because we have been nudged by God to do so. and those are the times when God is pleased....and he lets us know through the joy and blissful contentment that we feel as a result.

Mr. Nelson was gracious not because he wanted something in return...but because he recognized and appreciated the work that others were contributing to make the hotel a better place. ...and as a result he got everything in return...a hotel of excellence. Christ too wants us to be contributors to His kingdom ...to help make His world a better place. But we have to be willing to do our best at whatever job is presented to us....on behalf of our spiritual leader in Christ. If we do what we do for the sake of Christ because we love and adore him...and appreciate his graciousness and daily recognition in the blessings that abound...it is then that we are content in even the most menial job undertaking. For it is sometimes in the menial, ordinary, behind the scene activities that we do for others and unto Christ that are most significance in making our lives and our relationships stronger.

Matthew 25:40
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

But it is not just about the little things that we can do for others but also in our recognition of the little things that others do for us.
Think about the folks who pick up our trash, or housekeepers who help with our homes....or yardmen...or grocery store clerks...Just as Christ continues to be gracious unto us we too are to be gracious unto others...for all that they do behind the scenes....so that things are better for our lives.

Being gracious takes very little time...but it can truly make a world of difference in a relationship....When we take the time to be gracious...we are accepting the graciousness that we have been given through Christ and are passing it on. We are all in this world together to help out one another when we are nudged to do so and are able. And it when we take the time to try to fully recognize what has been freely given unto us by Christ and through Christ.....that we in turn, in appreciation, are called to return that grace unto others. It only takes a moment of grace to begin a fellowship of trust. And trust is where the foundation of a relationship begins....on earth and in the heavenly realms of Christ himself.

Dear Lord, Help us be reminded to be gracious to those around us. To not only be concerned with those who are in high positions but also to be mindful for those who are working behind the scenes to make this world a better place....and let us be gracious to others as you have been gracious to us. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!

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www.cathyjodeit.com

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