What Do We Deserve?

Our breakfast view from the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Hotel.

A simple act of kindness was unexpected when we arrived in Honolulu. Expectation has several elements. One of them is eager anticipation. That means we are looking for something good at some point in the future. Perhaps it is a trip we planned or the pending arrival of a new baby. Expectation also means waiting. This requires having hope and being willing to accept what we receive, regardless of how it fit our expectations. Perhaps we forget that what we really deserve and what we receive are often so far apart. We deserve far less than we have received.

Altered Expectations and Flexibility

Pineapple popsicles are a delightful afternoon treat.

Sometimes things don’t happen exactly as we anticipated. As I write this, my wife Cindie and I are on the island of Oahu with our oldest granddaughter, Violet. Our time together has been wonderful, even though the weather has not been ideal. We have had more rain than I would like to see. However, our expectation regarding the weather, and the reality of the weather, has not altered our ability to enjoy God’s creation, to marvel at the ocean, to enjoy marvelous food, to feel the warm ocean air, or to enjoy making memories with Violet.

Unexpected Kindness at the Honolulu Airport

After we got through the Covid-19 checkpoint at the Honolulu airport.

Hawaii has strict rules for entering the islands and for entering just about everything when you get here. Everyone wants to see our ID’s and our Covid vaccination records. When we got to Oahu, the line to get through the Covid check was very, very long. I thought, “this will take forever!” The line was moving very slowly, and I was dressed for cold Wisconsin, not wonderfully warm Hawaii. Then an amazing thing happened. A young man monitoring the flow of passengers saw me and my US Navy hat. He came up to us and said that I looked hot and thanked me for my service. He then ushered Cindie, Violet, and me into an express line. Within minutes we were through the checkpoint and on to rent a car. My expectation was a long wait. God provided a kind young man to make my expectation seem quite silly.

We are on Waikiki beach in the rain. Expectation: Smile and enjoy God’s creation!

How to Identify a Follower of Jesus

Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” A follower of Jesus doesn’t lose their joy when the line is long. We shouldn’t forget that small kindnesses can bring great joy. We must exercise self-control when our expectation is not met.

Many did not survive their Navy experience. A sobering reminder to be grateful.

Five Minute Friday

This post is part of the weekly Five Minute Friday link-up.

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.