Tell-a-Marketer

Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. Psalm 66:16 NIV

Brrrriiiiinnngggg! The shrill of the phone interrupts the race across the keyboard as my fingers pour out thoughts.  “Hello,” I say in my nicest “you’ve-just-messed-up-my-thought-process” voice.  “Mrs., umm- Hatcher?” A telemarketer.  I know instantly I’m not interested.  And the battle begins.  The battle between being congenial and cantankerous.  In the past, my philosophy involved getting off the phone as speedy as possible, even if that involved being rude and downright ugly.  I’m not proud.

In steps God.  And with that soft, quiet voice He convicts me. Are you reflecting Me to those poor callers?  Since I make it a habit not to lie to God, I mumbled a humbled, “No, I guess not.” 

For the next several months, I worked at being pleasant to telemarketers.  I dressed in my nicest voice and allowed them finish their practiced speeches.  Then with my most gentle, lady-like voice I sugared, “I don’t believe I’m interested at this time.  But I sure do appreciate you calling, and I wish you the best.”  It felt good to be nice.

So when my phone rang last week, and I knew upon answering a telemarketer was on the other end, I was ready.  Ready to be nice.  In steps God, again.  I’m proud of you for being nice.  Now ask her if she has any prayer requests.  My immediate thought was, “You have got to be kidding me.  I am busy writing a book proposal.  Do you really think the lady working the late shift at the Atlanta Journal and Constitution wants to tell me her prayer requests?”  Yes.   I knew the answer before I asked the question.  And so I asked.  Not because I am a grand crusader of all things holy but because God spoke, and I listened. 

 The sweet lady on the other end opened up and asked me to pray for her daily walk with Jesus.  She was a believer.  I told her I was a Christian writer, and she wanted to know if I had any books.  In a few minutes, I explained how I was in the middle of writing a book proposal to present at the end of the week to several different publishers.  Then she said, “I’m going to pray a heapin’ blessing on you, that the Lord will give you everything you need.”  She was going to pray for me!  It’s amazing how when you think you are doing something for someone else, you are the one to receive the blessing.

Thank you Lord for having patience with one as cantankerous as me.  Help me to always hear your voice calling me to obedience.  Guide me to show kindness to all those who call me on the phone.  Thank you for unexpected blessings and for slowing me down enough to tell-a-marketer about you.  Amen.