Cookie Flow

Andy Andrews shared this story with us at the Women of Faith Conference in Sacramento last weekend. It's been in my mind a lot. Not just because of opportunities that we miss in life when we don't react well to circumstances but because of blessings we miss in life because of an ungrateful heart. When we complain too much and see only the negative side of things, or when we fear things and chose not to have faith, it takes away some of God's pleasure in blessing us. He loves to bless us, but are we responding with a grateful heart to his blessings and to His saving grace? Do we see all that we DO have instead of all the little things we DON'T have? Are we giving God glory by how we react, or are we acting like ungrateful children who fight over things that don't matter?

"And without faith it is impossible to please God" Hebrews 11:6

"For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment." 1 Peter 2:19

"...let us be thankful and please God..." Heb 12:28

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you..." 1 Thes 5:18

It was opening day for the Orange Beach Little League team, and our eight-year-old, Adam, was playing second base. Once into the game, I became distracted, but a roar from the crowd returned my focus. As I looked, a runner slid across home plate, the catcher applied the tag, and the umpire called, “He’s out!”
Then the ball dribbled away. “The catcher dropped it,” we yelled and pointed. “The catcher dropped the ball! The runner’s safe!” But the ump held up his fist.
With that decision, the runner trotted to the dugout; and our coach, who had questioned the call, was now clapping his hands for the next batter. His body language told the team, Let’s move on.
The crowd of mostly parents grumbled then settled to watch the rest of the game. “Hey!” A loud cry came from our side of the fence. All eyes turned to an angry man who screamed, recited rules, and used vulgar language to berate the ump who had volunteered to call the game.
Adam asked me, “Dad, was he safe?”
“Yes,” I answered, “he was safe because the catcher dropped the ball.” “But the umpire called him out!”
“Yes, he did,” I confirmed.
“But that’s not fair,” Adam said a bit louder. “If he was safe and the umpire said he’s out, then that’s not fair.”
“Adam, the runner was safe, but the umpire called him out. You are correct —it is not fair. Life is not always fair— but it is how you react when bad things happen or when things don’t go your way that largely determines how far you go in life.” I could see Adam was confused, so I tried a different tack. “Adam, do you know why mom and I insist that you say ‘yes sir’ and ‘no sir’ and shake hands and look people in the eye and smile when you talk?”
“Because you want people to think we’re good?” he said.
“No, we want people to think you are great. People decide what they will or not do with you every day. You might someday get a great job because of how you act on the field today. You attract or repel opportunity simply by the way you act every day. Do you get it?” I asked.
“Yes sir,” Adam said. “This is like when you told me and Austin that if we argue about who gets the biggest cookie, it takes Mama’s joy away from making cookies. And if she doesn’t enjoy making them, she won’t make them. Which means we control the cookie flow by how we act. Right?”
“Adam,” I said, “that’s it. You remember that for the rest of your life: You control the cookie flow by how you act.”
I invite you to ask yourself: How much does how you act cause people to move you up or down on their list of folks to hire or share opportunity with? How are the cookies flowing in your life? How might you project calm, self-con- trol, and a sense of humor? What be- haviors can you practice to become a person to whom everyone trusts?
Remember: You control the cookie flow by how you act.

Andy Andrews
(article gotten from http://www.glowan.com/pdfs/goal-getting.pdf)