February 6, 2020
Updated (made better) 9/2022
Being better. And why we do it. The noble deed of doing your best to serve toward a good ending. Want to hear my “better” story?
BETTER.
The word on the computer screen.
I saw it there, in the room at the children’s hospital.
We were waiting to find out about our sick little grandson.
WAIT
That four-letter word. Nobody wants to wait. Not at the bedside, not in the room made for it, not anywhere.
But we did.
Finally, test results revealed the cause of his sickness.
Treatment was started, and over the next five days we watched our little sick grandboy get better.
Waiting got easier every hour, and fear was conquered. Normal life returned, and soon it was over. Just a memory. (One day maybe I will tell you that story. Just not today.)
But, you know what I couldn’t stop thinking about? That message flashing across the resting computer screen. The screen the staff used.
“Better.”
It was a part of their mission statement.
Every time an employee approached to enter another bit of information, the screen was murmuring “better” in silent computer color to them. Not to us, to them.
“Better.”
They were reminded of that goal in every moment, reminded to be brought into forward motion in their thoughts, to keep their focus on the objective.
Oh yes, I know it’s their job, the only reason they are there: to make things better.
But you know how it is. You find yourself doing your work, following the computer prompts, or protocol steps, or multitasking, and your focus tends to shift to completing your tasks.
Then you remember just one thing that lifts your eyes to the future, to the healing, to the completion, and you have the better frame for your assignment.
“The noble deed of doing your best
to serve toward a good ending.”
So what will you do today?
Your to-do list, of course.
What else?
The school transportation? Are you working?
What if you install a tiny screensaver in the margin of your viewfinder?
It’s scrolling “Better” all day.
Better attitude.
Better work.
Better relationships.
And sometime,
tell me what you wanted to make better.
The image below is a link to a printable download, a Scripture Memory Tool. Colossians 3:17 reminds us that God’s glory is our motivation as believers.
If you’d like to know more about this memorization method, please see Memorizing Scripture.
Did you enjoy this?
The actual story has finally been written in a newer post.
You may also want to read What You Don’t See, or maybe Multigenerational Living.
Related topic: What Does It Mean To Serve?
In fact, check out more topics in the “Make Things Better” category.
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-Grammye
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Ditto. See you on the porch.
So comfy and warm! Love your porch! Wish we were neighbors. We could visit and enjoy the early morning sunrise. I love to drink coffee on my porch, weather permitting, wrapped in a cozy blanket, listening to birds, planning the day, conversing with the creator of all as the daylight envelopes the morning.
Oh, Emily! THAT is good porch talk! Thanks for a beautiful picture.