The
world of sales reminds me of fishing.
Salesmen live on the adrenaline of reeling in a sale. When they get enough of them, they earn a
reward or a plaque or a trip or all three!
After
check-in at the posh Phoenix resort, I attended the first event on my
agenda. The noisy hospitality room erupted
with cheerful conversations. I collected
happy hugs from co-workers from the company’s numerous locations. Off to the ballroom, we enjoyed an elegant dinner along with a presentation of sales awards.
The
company thanked us for our talent and enthusiasm in selling their homes. A new year of sales competition began and a
reward would dangle in our midst like a lure at the end of a fishing line.
“Who wants to go to Cabo San Lucas? The Vice President asked a room full of
cheering, intoxicated men and women.
I
slept well in the luxurious resort that night.
The hotel catered a breakfast buffet for our group the next morning. Rested and full, we left for the conference
room eager for the unveiling of our company’s newest changes.
My
boss grabbed my arm and asked me to walk with him. We got to the halfway point when his cell
phone rang. He held up one finger, sign
language for me to wait. I browsed in
the gift shop to give the man privacy amusing myself with floppy beach hats. Then I saw it. Oh, my, I must take that maxi sun dress off
the display rack and at least hold it up in front of the mirror.
I
could not hide my pleasure of its perfect color and style.
The
boss beckoned me and I quickly returned the gorgeous showpiece to the rack. At his side again, he commanded: “Go back in there and buy that dress. I’ll pay for it.”
“I
don’t like it that much,” I lied, adding the way hotel gift shops mark up their
dresses over 300%.
Oh,
I could have let him buy me the dress but I reasoned that he would weave the
expense into extra charges on commission sheets somehow chipping away at my
paychecks.
But
what if he thought the dress looked good too? I will never know now will I?
Window
shopping only teases what I wish could materialize.
Do
you ever wonder if Moses felt like he window shopped with God? In Deuteronomy, Chapter 32, Father God takes
Moses to the scenic point. “Look at the
lush promised land, my reward for my people,” Father speaks. “But not for you, Moses.”
Over
and over again in the Old Testament the message repeats:
Obey God and you inherit a blessing. Disobey, and you get zip.
The
concept works everywhere especially in the marketplace. I worked hard that year and learned the Promised
Land, Cabo San Lucas, hints of paradise!
I
should have let him buy me that gorgeous sundress!
The Resort
I love this with the family on the beach in the background!
Living life on the ledge! Don't back up.
Look who I picked up in the Copacabana!
I'm constantly amazed at God's grace and mercy. Moses messed up in a major way and disqualified himself from crossing the Jordan with the people. But God, in His bountiful mercy, took Moses to the pinnacle of the mountain and showed him the place where Moses was leading the tribes of Israel. And then, God took Moses up to a better place--an eternal rest. Thank you for sharing, Mary. Cabo isn't heaven--but it must be next door.
ReplyDeleteHi, Cho!
DeleteI can just picture Father God smiling down on us in our wonderment of our eternal reward and thinking "they have no clue what I have in store for them!" Thanks for reading my story.
God is amazing. Your photos are beautiful. Thank you so much for this wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteHi, Linda!
DeleteThanks for stopping by and sharing my memories of Cabo with me!
Pretty in pink, missy!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking you were smart to listen to your instincts and refuse his offer of the sun dress. "Something for nothing" never bodes well. (... Then again, I may be being overly suspicious.)
So happy you were able to experience Cabo! :)
Hi, Myra!
DeleteNot sure if it's overly suspicious, or maybe just the proper thing to do. You and I may not be a lot of things, but let's face it girl...we are proper. (most of the time.)
Oh, wow! Congratulations on winning this wonderful trip! Looks like you had a wonderful, well-deserved time, sweet friend. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by and splashing in my Cabo joy with me, Cheryl.
DeleteThat was great you won the trip and the hard work you had to put into it to get it! I don't think I would have allowed him to have put the sundress either for me. Some boundaries are good to leave up, I think. It does amaze me when I read the story of Moses how he was so faithful in so much but yet disobedient in a little and not allowed to go into the Promised Land; but I do trust God's reasoning why not
ReplyDeletebetty
I will never comprehend the law vs. grace this side of paradise. God is so not limited and I am truly a tiny spec in comparison.
DeleteI love the way you connected your experience with another faith-filled lessons here. We never learn, don't we? We know how richly blessed we are with God yet, sometimes, men still fail to fully trust Him when He leads. I enjoyed all the photos you shared!
ReplyDeleteWith the hard work you did, you did deserve that reward! I felt it was your honest and dedicated work that made your boss give that offer for him to buy you that dress! I don't believe in giving bosses special gifts at work, but I think it is always a nice gesture if it's them rewarding those employees who have good work habits. I knew if there was a bad intention with that offer, there was that guy in Copacabana who would always protect you ;) Blessings.
Again, I see your amazing insight. Whether in the world or the church, we learn from our leaders. The boss is a southern gent full of charm and generosity. I learned so much from him. Maybe that’s why I traveled light so I could fill my suitcase with gifts for my co-workers who protected my interests in my office. Thank you for stopping by and speaking a blessing over me today!
DeleteHi Mary, I perused the story about Liz and Tony,it was so touching... I scrolled to read mama's lip stick and I smiled. So I thought I just leave a note to say Hi.
ReplyDeleteI have missed you much and your humorous words!!!! I hope you are smiling.
Thank you for putting smiles on our faces.
God Bless friend.
Plenty hugs
Thanks, Ifeoma, for visiting me today and reading my stories. On a scale of one to ten, you're a ten when it comes to encouragement!
DeleteCongratulations to you for winning this well-deserved trip. God is faithful and He blessing is always overflowing.
ReplyDeleteNancy, it truly is the faithfulness of God! Only in Him can I succeed at anything. That's what David said in my study of Goliath this morning and that's what I agree upon as well!
DeleteLove the pictures sweet lady. Oh I must say that I will have to totally agree that the correct answer was the NO one on the boss buying the dress. As my man would remind me often....NOTHING IS EVER TRULY FREE but our Salvation but even that came at a big price for our Lord. You are blessed my friend beyond measure. And you will look good in anything on your trip! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteEven on sale those gift shop dress prices are too extravagant for my budget, Cindy. Who shops in resort gift shops? They are there only for a gal who wants to kill time while the boss is on the phone.
DeleteFirst those resort hotels gouge you on the price, and then they try to lure you into their over-priced gift shops! I try to resist...
ReplyDeleteAnd really, after all is said and done, the best things in life are free! Salvation cost Jesus everything, but He offers it to us as the best gift ever...for FREE! What a bargain - my sin for His righteousness!!
GOD BLESS!
It's fun to window shop. Our salvation is the ultimate reward, thanks to Jesus!
DeleteIt sounds like you had a wonderful time! You should have got the dress! I think that's a woman thing. We find it easy to give but hard to receive.;-)
ReplyDeleteNot to mention self esteem issues -- pricey glad rags for 'lil ole me!
DeleteWhat a wonderful reward for work well done. Yes, you should have let him buy you that lovely dress. LOL.
ReplyDeleteYes God says to the disobedient - - look what you could have had if you had only obeyed. Sorry about they he says. :-) Thank you for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.
Seems every story in the Old Testament points to the consequences of obedience or not...sigh.
DeleteI'm with you. Feeling indebted for an amount of money is usually never worth the cost. And the joy that comes on the outside is so fleeting... I wonder of Moses figured that out...
ReplyDeleteThose are great shots! Hope you had a blast! Love that yellow hibiscus. They're my favorite.
What is it about yellow flowers? They brighten my spirit.
DeleteI agree with Floyd... better to not feel indebted! So happy for you to have won this vacation! You certainly deserve this relaxing time! Loved all your pictures, especially the waves crashing on the beach, there is something so relaxing about the beach! Hugs to you today :)
ReplyDeleteThose waves are dramatic. That's a story in itself!
DeleteYou are a wise women, discerning that situation with your boss and the dress.
ReplyDeleteYou are a wise women, discerning that situation with your boss and the dress.
ReplyDelete