Choose Love
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
On Saturday, I sat in a chair at my regular salon waiting to get my hair done and wondered what had gone wrong. The shop once filled with stylists and clients was close to empty and yet I was still waiting. The day prior, I hear that the shop’s owner held a staff meeting were she presented a non-compete agreement that everyone who was to remain at the shop had to sign. The agreement restricted stylists who left from working at another shop or opening her own shop within twenty miles. Clearly, all those who left instead of signing thought this was unreasonable, exactly the opposite impact the owner wanted.
I can see how the owner arrived at the decision to present the contract. When she started her shop more than 10 years ago it was the only one like it in the area and women flocked within the doors. Now, 10 years later, it seems that every week another salon is opening up taking customers and staff. The money and security she counted on is now walking out the door and she tried to stop it. Unfortunately, she chose to approach the problem from a perspective of fear. She must have visualized the worse case scenario and unknowingly began the process of creating the fear and anxiety she held in her heart.
What should she have done differently? She should have reminded herself to first cast her anxiety on the Lord and remember that God wants to give her the desires of her heart. In her meeting with the women, she could have asked them what would make the shop a better place to work and worked to figure out what would make customers happier. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think it would be easy, but I think it is doable. How could she have done it? Instead of thinking of her potential loss, she should focus on what she wanted and how she could have an inspired staff and satisfied customers and it is not all about money. Afterall, we are talking about the hair of black women.
The owner became sidetracked because of her focus on loss, fear and anxiety rather than on love and the blessings that surround her. Most importantly, she forgot that God is her help. She can’t do it by herself, but with God she can move mountains as it says in Mark 11:23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.” Fortunately, we have a forgiving and reconciling Lord who loves us. The moment that she or any of us choose God’s love we are on a better path. There will be challenge and serious work on this path that will also be filled with joy and increasing peace.
On our journey to Divine Health, are we choosing love or are we choosing fear? Love is a verb that requires our action to give and our openness to receive. We have to choose to love ourselves as God loves us in each moment. Choose love today, give and receive.
On Saturday, I sat in a chair at my regular salon waiting to get my hair done and wondered what had gone wrong. The shop once filled with stylists and clients was close to empty and yet I was still waiting. The day prior, I hear that the shop’s owner held a staff meeting were she presented a non-compete agreement that everyone who was to remain at the shop had to sign. The agreement restricted stylists who left from working at another shop or opening her own shop within twenty miles. Clearly, all those who left instead of signing thought this was unreasonable, exactly the opposite impact the owner wanted.
I can see how the owner arrived at the decision to present the contract. When she started her shop more than 10 years ago it was the only one like it in the area and women flocked within the doors. Now, 10 years later, it seems that every week another salon is opening up taking customers and staff. The money and security she counted on is now walking out the door and she tried to stop it. Unfortunately, she chose to approach the problem from a perspective of fear. She must have visualized the worse case scenario and unknowingly began the process of creating the fear and anxiety she held in her heart.
What should she have done differently? She should have reminded herself to first cast her anxiety on the Lord and remember that God wants to give her the desires of her heart. In her meeting with the women, she could have asked them what would make the shop a better place to work and worked to figure out what would make customers happier. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think it would be easy, but I think it is doable. How could she have done it? Instead of thinking of her potential loss, she should focus on what she wanted and how she could have an inspired staff and satisfied customers and it is not all about money. Afterall, we are talking about the hair of black women.
The owner became sidetracked because of her focus on loss, fear and anxiety rather than on love and the blessings that surround her. Most importantly, she forgot that God is her help. She can’t do it by herself, but with God she can move mountains as it says in Mark 11:23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.” Fortunately, we have a forgiving and reconciling Lord who loves us. The moment that she or any of us choose God’s love we are on a better path. There will be challenge and serious work on this path that will also be filled with joy and increasing peace.
On our journey to Divine Health, are we choosing love or are we choosing fear? Love is a verb that requires our action to give and our openness to receive. We have to choose to love ourselves as God loves us in each moment. Choose love today, give and receive.
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