I love when a hard lesson learned back in the day stands me in good stead today.
Back story: When I had my first dog, a seven-pound Maltese, whenever I flew, I could take him with me in a carrier that fit under the seat in front of me. Once I was flying home so my dad could drive us down to see “the old home place.” I was excited because it was news to me that I hadn’t seen “the old home place”…I thought that’s where we went to visit when I was a kid.
So, in the preparations to go, I had a feeling that I needed to nail down my dog’s reservation to be in the cabin with me…only one pet per cabin was allowed. I went to the airport the day before, bought his ticket, got confirmation that he’d be allowed to fly under the seat in front of me…we were all set.
The next day, we’re at check-in, and the lady behind the counter was having a baaad day. Came our turn, she was having none of this dog-flying-in-the-cabin stuff. No matter the paid ticket I showed her, the reservation that was listed on her manifest…no and no and no.
I could feel my insides turning to stone, my jaw clenching tighter…and all the sudden the voice of reason spoke in my ear, “Think your resentment through. It is a 59-minute flight. That dog can survive one hour in the belly of the plane. If you do not give over, you are going to have a resentment that will be on your mind the entire time you’re at the old home place…all you will see, hear, feel will be your own thoughts grinding about the letter you’re going to write the airlines and the unfairness of it all.”
With which, in mid-sentence, I said, “Fine…whatever needs to happen, we’re fine with it.”
With which, the woman said, “Oh, good Lord, take your dog and go get on the plane.”
I am reminded of that this morning because I just saw Rev. Franklin Graham on television double-talking as fast as he could about President Obama being less-than a Christian and Newt Gingrich, et al., being white lights of Christianity.
I need to start thinking this resentment through, or that “hard lesson learned back in the day” isn’t going to mean a thing today…and hard lessons learned once mightn’t get seconds.
Thank you.
Back story: When I had my first dog, a seven-pound Maltese, whenever I flew, I could take him with me in a carrier that fit under the seat in front of me. Once I was flying home so my dad could drive us down to see “the old home place.” I was excited because it was news to me that I hadn’t seen “the old home place”…I thought that’s where we went to visit when I was a kid.
So, in the preparations to go, I had a feeling that I needed to nail down my dog’s reservation to be in the cabin with me…only one pet per cabin was allowed. I went to the airport the day before, bought his ticket, got confirmation that he’d be allowed to fly under the seat in front of me…we were all set.
The next day, we’re at check-in, and the lady behind the counter was having a baaad day. Came our turn, she was having none of this dog-flying-in-the-cabin stuff. No matter the paid ticket I showed her, the reservation that was listed on her manifest…no and no and no.
I could feel my insides turning to stone, my jaw clenching tighter…and all the sudden the voice of reason spoke in my ear, “Think your resentment through. It is a 59-minute flight. That dog can survive one hour in the belly of the plane. If you do not give over, you are going to have a resentment that will be on your mind the entire time you’re at the old home place…all you will see, hear, feel will be your own thoughts grinding about the letter you’re going to write the airlines and the unfairness of it all.”
With which, in mid-sentence, I said, “Fine…whatever needs to happen, we’re fine with it.”
With which, the woman said, “Oh, good Lord, take your dog and go get on the plane.”
I am reminded of that this morning because I just saw Rev. Franklin Graham on television double-talking as fast as he could about President Obama being less-than a Christian and Newt Gingrich, et al., being white lights of Christianity.
I need to start thinking this resentment through, or that “hard lesson learned back in the day” isn’t going to mean a thing today…and hard lessons learned once mightn’t get seconds.
Thank you.
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