Compliments and Insults

Yesterday was an interesting Sunday. First of all my cousin Sandra, who I lived with when Kent and I were dating and engaged, had a missionary homecoming for her son Scott. He gave one of the best talks I have heard at a misson report in a very long time. He gave some amazing faith promoting stories that I would love to post on here in his words if I can get it from him. It was wonderful.

After the meeting we had food back at their house and it was all kinds of delicious. I was having a hard time because while I was hungry I knew that within only a few hours I would be eating a hearty meal again. My next meal was a little bit more difficult for me to attend. Working at Eddie Bauer through the Christmas season there is no time to take a break for a Christmas party. Often working retail you don't even get one, but since we sold well and were able to earn the title of "the best of Bauer" (top 20 selling stores in the company) we were treated to a work party at a fabulous restaurant, the Asian Star.

My hang up was that the party had to fall on Sunday since that is the only time that the store is closed early enough for everyone to come. I am not one who takes keeping the Sabbath day lightly. There have been a handful of times when I have had to shop (for someone who was sick and in need), work, and do other things on Sunday and it makes me incredibly uncomfortable. When I was invited to this dinner I had a dilema. Many of the other employees are LDS and would be attending and I knew that there was really no other way to have a work party where everyone is involved. I decided that since they had worked so hard to put together this dinner in a fashion were everyone could attend that I would come and support my employers and co-workers.

The dinner was fabulous! We had a lettuce wrap (yummy), egg drop soup, candied walnut shrimp (to die for), beef and broccoli (also wonderful), a couple of other dishes whose names I do not know, and finished off with some ice cream. It was all delicious. It was a after the soup that the managers decided to do awards/gifts. Interestingly enough my award had to do with constant talker. I just couldn't seem to figure out if I was supposed to laugh at that or take offense. I admit that I am a big talker and it is really quite difficult for me to sit back and be quiet, but I have had this label placed on me throughout my life and I just never know how to take it. I'm sure it stems from many times growing up when I was put down because I was so talkative. In addition to that I have been around other people who talk a lot and often it is annoying, and I NEVER want to be annoying.

Finally I came to the conclusion that I am me and I can't change that part of me without changing me. Sharing with others is part of who I am. I guess there is a part of me that feels an overwhelming need to connect with others and talking is my way to connect. In addition I know that this disposition to talk is a genetic feature. If you ever have the opportunity to meet the Kunz' (my dad's family) family you will realize where most of my genetics come from. I am proud to come from this family and I love being a part of them. They are vibrant and lively people who are extremely faithful. It's a great heritage. So if there are some who truly do laugh at me instead of with me because I talk too much then so be it. I will take the award proudly and I'll even give a lengthy speach to prove I deserve it.

After I returned from the dinner I had a weekly visit on the phone with my parents who live in New Mexico. At some point in the conversation my mom told me that I have always been one who she had admired because I am very wise for my age. I'm not always the best at taking compliments, but that one really meant a lot to me as I thought about it later. Growing up I often heard from others how I have a good head on my shoulders, I was very wise, or I was very mature for my age. It just meant even more coming from my mom. Especially because my mom isn't a person who says things like that unless she means them. Her compliment reminded me of a time when my brother gave me a blessing and told me that in my time of trial I would have the wisdom of Saul. I haven't forgotten that blessing because I was intrigued as to just how wise Saul was and what that meant about me.

I am so grateful for the wisdom the Lord had blessed me with throughout my life. It is that wisdom that protected me through many years of growing up. Without that wisdom I would have desired to make so many bad choices in the friends I chose, the boys I dated, and the choices I made. I have watched so many young people have this need to make unwise choices because they think they need to test the waters, and it has been difficult for me to understand because I had never felt that way. I always liked staying away from the fence. Call it fear, call it wisdom, call it what you want, but I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father that it was there. I have never been faced with challenges and temptations that I was too young or immature or confidence lacking to withstand. My life truly has been blessed.