Sculptor and Flea Markets – Sunday Thought For The Day

Recently as the lone clerk working the service counter of a particular store was assisting me, I noticed the gentleman waiting at the counter next to me was a sculptor whose work is world renown. As it happens my wife knows the gentleman, which brings me to my “Thought for Today.”

My wife and her best friend visited the gentleman’s exhibit and gallery several years ago. I admit going to see a sculptor exhibit, be it known the world over or not wasn’t on my “I can’t wait to do that” list. So about three years ago when my wife decided to make visiting this sculptor’s exhibit a social outing with friends, I put on my happy face and went.

Secretly I was prepared not to like anything about the exhibit or famous restaurant located on the exhibit grounds, where we would be having lunch. I could not have been more wrong. Since that time, I am the one each year that cannot wait to visit his exhibit. I’ve told friends about the exhibit and they also have enjoyed visiting the exhibit each year.

It is the same with flea markets and pottery exhibits. Not wanting my wife to miss one of the major flea market events in our area, I offered to go with her when at the last minute her friend was unable to go. I could not have guessed the pleasure I would experience attending the event with my wife.

However, my appreciation for the sculptor exhibit and outdoor flea market event, paled in comparison to realizing after the fact how special my attending was to my wife. Theretofore I had little interest in sculpture and even less interest in flea markets. And truth be told I went grudgingly to the one and ambivalently to the other.

But, as I discovered, not only was my wife happy that I honestly enjoyed both events, but it made her even happier that I enjoyed the time at both events with her. There was also the unexpected blessing that came out of same and that was the blessing of sharing time with her doing things she likes.

How often in our lives have we missed blessings and special moments together with loved ones because of our personal selfishness? More importantly how often do we realize we are being selfish in refusing to enjoy the pleasure(s) of our spouse, children or parents? Our time on earth with our loved ones is at best fleeting. Do we really want to look back with disappointment and realize the moments we could have spent together and didn’t, because we weren’t able to dictate the moment? Or would we rather look back and say, I didn’t like whatever it might have been, but I will never forget the joy I derived from knowing what it meant to the other person, that we loved them enough to be with them?

READ: Philippians 2:1-4 (KJV)
2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.