I am not a greeter at Wal-Mart

I once had a manager ask, “Do you feel greeted or do you feel welcomed when you walk into Wal-Mart?” I thought it was a great question. It was a question he had asked to encourage the employees to think about welcoming customers into our retail store, but it made me think. What is the difference between being greeted and being welcomed?

I thought about it and realized being greeted is more in the moment. It is a polite gesture that says, “Good morning” or “We’re glad you’re here,” but it doesn’t go beyond that. Being welcomed, however, is much more. It invites people in. It accepts them. People get a sense that they will be genuinely loved and cared for. When I welcome people I ask open ended questions that should ultimately lead to open ended relationships. I want to get to know them. I want to learn more about who they are. I ask things like, “What brings you in today?” I find out what they are in search of. If I want to know how I can best serve someone I have to ask these kinds of questions. I must be willing to take the time to hear their story. I also need to follow up with people. This isn’t a, “How are you today?” “Fine thank you.” exchange. This is so much more.

I guess that is why I have never been a fan of “greeters” at church. I know that seems so outrageous and you are probably wondering without a welcoming committee how in the world would people feel welcomed and new people know where to go? How would people get information on where to check their children in or where the bathrooms are located? Who would hold the door open for people as they came in and smile politely saying words like “hello” and “welcome”? Do you have any idea who might be able to do all of those things? I am going to suggest something crazy for a moment. I am going to suggest the answer is God’s people.

That’s right! I said it. I mean what would our churches be like if we move from greeters to welcomers? What would our families be like? What would our neighborhoods be like? What would our cities be like? What would our world be like? If we really understood how deep and how wide God’s love is for each one of His people, wouldn’t we live differently? Think about it for a moment. If Christ is in us and we are His glory on display through the work of the Holy Spirit in and through us then I ask, “Is our love deep and wide enough for each person who should walk into a building?” What about the people who live with us? Our children, our spouses, our roommates, our parents. What about the people that live next door or drive the same route to work as we do? Shouldn’t we move towards all people, both the lost and the found, and ask how we can serve them? Or maybe we should leave that up to a handful of people who have the gift of greeting and wear a lanyard. Or worse yet, leave it up to a handful of people who don’t have the gift of greeting and wear a lanyard.

Is it just me or should we not be the ones looking to open the doors of the church for one another? Should we not be the ones looking for how we can serve one another? Should we not be the ones looking to help parents and their children? Not just in checking into classes in a building but helping them find their way through the often overwhelming responsibility of parenting? Do we now need classes for such a thing? Should it not start with dying to ourselves and laying down our lives for the sake of another as Christ did for us?

If we slow down and open our eyes to the people around us could we be transformed from greeters to welcomers? Maybe we could ask open ended questions and respond with love and service. Maybe we could follow up with the people we are in contact with and make sure they have everything they need. I believe we can all become welcomers if we ask God to fill us with His love and His desires for His people. He chose each and every one of us and invites us all to participate it the great work of His Kingdom. All we have to do is say “yes” and we get the great privilege of welcoming for His glory.

No, God did not call me to be a greeter at Walmart. I have been welcomed and now being a greeter will not satisfy.

“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Romans 15:7

Letting GO

It has been eighteen years since my oldest was born. I loved Him before I even knew he was being formed inside of me. He was a part of me and I would do anything to protect him. He was my son and I would do anything to provide for him.  And I think I caught a glimpse of what God must have felt when He created man.

While I carried him inside of me I would walk by an old delivery truck on my way to college every morning. The exhaust was so terrible I remember holding my breath to keep it from hurting him and his immature lungs. After he was born I walked by that same truck as I pushed him tucked securely in his stroller. And I held my breath. In that moment I knew that I could no longer protect him in the same way I had for nine months. He was in the world now and the things of this world would try to come against my provisions for him. I would do my best to keep him safe, comforted, and protected. I would do my best to love him unconditionally, teach him truth, and provide him with the things he needed. But I knew one day he would make his own choices. I couldn’t protect him forever. I couldn’t choose for him forever. I had to let go and choose to trust in God’s provisions for him.

Through the teenage years this was tough. As a parent you really want to protect your child from making any mistakes. You want to protect your child from getting hurt or experiencing any pain at all. And I think I caught a glimpse of what God felt when Eve chose to eat the fruit.

You can give your children everything that is good, right and true and they still will choose to believe the lies of the enemy. They will still need to find out for themselves if what they were told is truly good, right and true. We don’t want that for them because we know that if they chase anything but their creator they will be right where Eve was and right where you and I have been. But that is the amazing thing about grace and about who God is. Even after Eve ate the fruit God did not stop the conversation with her. When we look to other things to fulfill us He still chases us. He still chooses to come after us with His unrelenting, steadfast love.

So chase your teen. By that I mean, love them and teach them about the garden and how you too were there. Don’t give up trying to have conversations. Tell them the reason you want to hold tightly is that you are afraid to let go because you know that they will want to chase after things. And chasing anything but bringing glory to God is a dead end. Teach them that there are consequences to disobedience. But most importantly show them the cross and how much they are loved. Model for them that they don’t have to hide like Eve did. They don’t have to pretend. They can come to you just as they are and you will have ring and robe in hand. And then let them choose. Because that is what a loving parent would do.


“While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’

 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let’s have a big dinner and celebrate. This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.’ “So they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:20-24

eight-TEEN

It has been eighteen years since my oldest was born. I loved Him before I even knew he was being formed inside of me. He was a part of me and I would do anything to protect him. He was my son and I would do anything to provide for him.  And I think I caught a glimpse of what God must have felt when He created man.

 

While I carried him inside of me I would walk by an old delivery truck on my way to college every morning. The exhaust was so terrible I remember holding my breath to keep it from hurting him and his immature lungs. After he was born I walked by that same truck as I pushed him tucked securely in his stroller. And I held my breath. In that moment I knew that I could no longer protect him in the same way I had for nine months. He was in the world now and the things of this world would try to come against my provisions for him. I would do my best to keep him safe, comforted, and protected. I would do my best to love him unconditionally, teach him truth, and provide him with the things he needed. But I knew one day he would make his own choices. I couldn’t protect him forever. I couldn’t choose for him forever. I had to let go and choose to trust in God’s provisions for him.

 

Through the teenage years this was tough. As a parent you really want to protect your child from making any mistakes. You want to protect your child from getting hurt or experiencing any pain at all. And I think I caught a glimpse of what God felt when Eve chose to eat the fruit.

 

You can give your children everything that is good, right and true and they still will choose to believe the lies of the enemy. They will still need to find out for themselves if what they were told is truly good, right and true. We don’t want that for them because we know that if they chase anything but their creator they will be right where Eve was and right where you and I have been. But that is the amazing thing about grace and about who God is. Even after Eve ate the fruit God did not stop the conversation with her. When we look to other things to fulfill us He still chases us. He still chooses to come after us with His unrelenting, steadfast love.

 

So chase your teen. By that I mean, love them and teach them about the garden and how you too were there. Don’t give up trying to have conversations. Tell them the reason you want to hold tightly is that you are afraid to let go because you know that they will want to chase after things. And chasing anything but bringing glory to God is a dead end. Teach them that there are consequences to disobedience. But most importantly show them the cross and how much they are loved. Model for them that they don’t have to hide like Eve did. They don’t have to pretend. They can come to you just as they are and you will have ring and robe in hand. And then let them choose. Because that is what a loving parent would do.

 

“While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’

 

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let’s have a big dinner and celebrate. This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.’ “So they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:20-24