My husband is a pastor. The church is small and unable to pay a preacher any wages, so to support the family, he works full-time outside the home. Right now, he’s employed by Walmart, in the deli department. His job varies, depending on the day and mood of the managers, sometimes he does freight, sometimes he’s making salads and sandwiches, some days he’s slicing meat and cheese, and sometimes he’s doing the hot case.
One day, while working the hot case another Walmart employee came to the deli to order his lunch. He asked Steve for a certain meal. I don’t know the name or number of it, but one of the items included on it is macaroni and cheese. This man loves the deli’s macaroni and cheese, and when Steve scooped some in the container, the man told Steve to pile it up.
Steve told him he couldn’t do it, for that particular meal, they were allowed one scoop of macaroni and cheese.
The other guy went into a tirade about how he works his fingers to the bone for minimum pay, and who’s really going to know if he gets more macaroni and cheese given to him than Walmart allows? He deserves more macaroni and cheese!
Who’s going to know? God will.
The man kind of huffed. “Don’t put God in the macaroni and cheese!”
Caught between “the customer is always right” and obeying the rules of his employer, my husband opted to do what his boss said. One scoop.
The other guy would’ve been stealing from Walmart. Probably not a big deal where you’re sitting, but businesses tend to take a tough stance on employees stealing from them. One candy bar cost a son his job—though he says he didn’t take it, the wrapper just happened to be on the floor in the room where he was working. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. I don’t know. But God knows. And the business knew someone had taken it without paying.
One of the ten commandments is (in Laura language): You shall not steal. (Exodus 20:15).
The Bible also goes on to say:
Hebrews 13:17 ESV
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Romans 13:1 ESV
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
And:
Colossians 3:23 NIV
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
If you were working for God would you steal from Him?
Should we consider this in everything we do?
God cares about the macaroni and cheese.
He cares about you.
Award-winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and three of their children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom, and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Laura also has two adult children.
Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Bird House in September 2015.
See below for information on Laura's latest, The Christmas Admirer. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.
Connect with Laura
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit her blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ &http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Laura_V_Hilton or@Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/
The Christmas Admirer
by Laura V. Hilton
Benaiah Troyer has loved Susanna King for as long as he can remember, but other than a lone summer filled with romantic buggy rides, marrying her remains an elusive dream. When his parents died in an accident a year ago, he broke up with her—for her own good. After all, they left him as the sole caregiver for his three younger sisters and his grandparents. What woman wants to step into a ready-made family like his? Still, he leaves her monthly gifts from “A Secret Admirer,” hoping she’ll know that someone loves her, even though he isn’t free to step forward.
Susanna has never gotten over losing Benaiah, and hopes he’s her secret admirer, but now the clock is ticking. Susanna’s father is remarrying in January and his wife-to-be doesn’t want to leave her Amish community and family in Iowa. So when Susanna’s daed sells his glass-blowing business to his right-hand man, Benaiah, she’s left with three options: 1) Go with Daed to his new home with a new frau and step-kinner, 2) Flush out her mysterious secret admirer, or 3) Resign herself to life as an old maid. She doesn’t want to follow Daed where his new frau is leading him. And number three isn’t happening. Marrying Benaiah is her greatest desire—but he broke her heart, and now he treats her like a pesky younger sister. Can she make him see her as a woman, one who could stand by his side as he cares for his family?
As Christmas approaches, Susanna and her friends start making gingerbread houses for select members of the community. Susanna plans for hers to go to Benaiah’s family. But while her gingerbread may find a home—will her heart?
For more posts by Laura V. Hilton, click here.
 |
| Laura V. Hilton |
One day, while working the hot case another Walmart employee came to the deli to order his lunch. He asked Steve for a certain meal. I don’t know the name or number of it, but one of the items included on it is macaroni and cheese. This man loves the deli’s macaroni and cheese, and when Steve scooped some in the container, the man told Steve to pile it up.
Steve told him he couldn’t do it, for that particular meal, they were allowed one scoop of macaroni and cheese.
The other guy went into a tirade about how he works his fingers to the bone for minimum pay, and who’s really going to know if he gets more macaroni and cheese given to him than Walmart allows? He deserves more macaroni and cheese!
Who’s going to know? God will.
The man kind of huffed. “Don’t put God in the macaroni and cheese!”
Caught between “the customer is always right” and obeying the rules of his employer, my husband opted to do what his boss said. One scoop.
The other guy would’ve been stealing from Walmart. Probably not a big deal where you’re sitting, but businesses tend to take a tough stance on employees stealing from them. One candy bar cost a son his job—though he says he didn’t take it, the wrapper just happened to be on the floor in the room where he was working. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. I don’t know. But God knows. And the business knew someone had taken it without paying.
One of the ten commandments is (in Laura language): You shall not steal. (Exodus 20:15).
The Bible also goes on to say:
Hebrews 13:17 ESV
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Romans 13:1 ESV
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
And:
Colossians 3:23 NIV
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
If you were working for God would you steal from Him?
Should we consider this in everything we do?
God cares about the macaroni and cheese.
He cares about you.
 |
| About the Author |
Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Bird House in September 2015.
See below for information on Laura's latest, The Christmas Admirer. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.
Connect with Laura
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit her blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ &http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Laura_V_Hilton or@Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/
The Christmas Admirer
 |
| The Christmas Admirer by Laura V. HIlton |
Benaiah Troyer has loved Susanna King for as long as he can remember, but other than a lone summer filled with romantic buggy rides, marrying her remains an elusive dream. When his parents died in an accident a year ago, he broke up with her—for her own good. After all, they left him as the sole caregiver for his three younger sisters and his grandparents. What woman wants to step into a ready-made family like his? Still, he leaves her monthly gifts from “A Secret Admirer,” hoping she’ll know that someone loves her, even though he isn’t free to step forward.
Susanna has never gotten over losing Benaiah, and hopes he’s her secret admirer, but now the clock is ticking. Susanna’s father is remarrying in January and his wife-to-be doesn’t want to leave her Amish community and family in Iowa. So when Susanna’s daed sells his glass-blowing business to his right-hand man, Benaiah, she’s left with three options: 1) Go with Daed to his new home with a new frau and step-kinner, 2) Flush out her mysterious secret admirer, or 3) Resign herself to life as an old maid. She doesn’t want to follow Daed where his new frau is leading him. And number three isn’t happening. Marrying Benaiah is her greatest desire—but he broke her heart, and now he treats her like a pesky younger sister. Can she make him see her as a woman, one who could stand by his side as he cares for his family?
As Christmas approaches, Susanna and her friends start making gingerbread houses for select members of the community. Susanna plans for hers to go to Benaiah’s family. But while her gingerbread may find a home—will her heart?
For more posts by Laura V. Hilton, click here.
