Captain of My Ship

March 17, 2022

From Pastor Joe Wamack

A woman in a supermarket, pushing her cart observes a grandfather and his badly behaved 3 year-old grandson. As she watches the grandfather go up one aisle and down another, it is obvious to her that grandpa has his hands full with the child screaming for sweets in the sweet aisle, cookies in the cookie aisle; Fruit Loops in the Fruit Loops aisle and soda in the soft drink aisle. Meanwhile, as Gramps continues to work his way around the large store, the observing woman hears him saying in a controlled voice, "Easy, William, we won't be long. Easy, boy."

After another outburst in the ice cream section, she hears him calmly say, "It's okay, William, just a couple more minutes and we'll be out of here. Hang In there, boy."

At the checkout, the little terror is throwing items out of the cart, and yelling for Skittles and the woman hears Gramps says again in a controlled voice, "William, William, relax buddy, don't get upset. We'll be home in five minutes; stay cool, William."

As the woman checks out and heads into the parking lot, she sees grandpa just finishing loading his groceries into the car, with the young lad safe and secure-though screaming-in his car seat. She approaches the gentleman and says, "It's none of my business, but you were amazing in there. I don't know how you did it. That whole time, you kept your composure, and no matter how loud and disruptive the boy got, you just calmly kept saying things would be okay. William is very lucky to have you as his Grandpa!"

"Thanks, lady," said the grandfather, "but I'm William…the little guy’s name is Michael.”

Grandpa had been verbally, out loud, talking himself down from a full blown anxiety attack and a public Publix melt down. It reminds me that much of what happens to us is not what happens to us but how we react to what happens to us. I need to remind myself that I cannot control anyone but myself. No one can make me feel a certain way. I can choose to respond, react or reply any way I want, but it is up to me. In this regard, I am the ‘captain of my ship.”

Starting today-I want to choose the best for me. I want to allow God to have full reign and influence in my life. I want to choose life, to stay away from things that are destructive and dark for me. I want to do more for others and do to them as I would have them do to me.

God is good and will lead me in the path that is best for me-yet I must say “yes” to Him. Starting today-may this be the best year of your life. May you choose life and create good things for you and others.

And don’t be afraid to talk to yourself...it just might work!