potential

just a note of caution...do not proceed unless you enjoy late night rambling.

tonite we ran to wendy's on our way to miniature golf (for family night). it's been a very long time since i've been inside a wendy's. i had an experience that i've been thinking about all night.

ryan and the girls ordered their meals and then it was my turn, which always includes a few special requests :). so, i asked for the number 1 with cheese, and the meat on the side. ryan likes to add my burger to his, since i don't eat it. i then asked if they could melt the cheese on the bun. well, they don't actually melt the cheese on the bun, so i said that's fine. the girl taking my order then had to turn her head and tell the other girl about my special request for the meat on the side. this girl then rolled her eyes and said something that sounded like, "whatever".
you would think i had asked for the cheese to be flown in from vermont.
anyway, when i received my meal there was no cheese to be found. i politely walked up and asked for a slice of cheese. there was a big fuss (with laughter and more eye rolling) and i was finally given a slice of cheese.

my second experience, this all will have a point eventually, was after talking to my sister on the phone about a friend of ours who doesn't realize there is more to life than just going through the motions day in and day out. this person has tremendous potential, i believe, but doesn't really know that and wouldn't really know how to go about finding a greater path/future.

my point is this...i was thinking about the girls at wendy's and wondering what i could personally do to help these girls understand that there is more to life than the crazy customers asking for crazy requests. i thought...could i take them to a really nice dinner to let them see something really special? (silverware, cloth napkins, beautifully presented food, a lovely atmosphere) could i take them under my wing and share the knowledge that i have about the purpose of life? if i had billions of dollars, could i send them to college to get an education? could i find a mentor for them to teach them about business and encourage them to find a career? could i teach them about being positive role models? could i show them the joy of being a mother? could i help them understand that there are good men in the world that treat women well?

then i thought...maybe they've reached their potential. maybe they were raised in downtown buffalo where it's not nice to live. maybe because they're working in the suburbs, they've made it out of downtown buffalo. maybe they do realize their potential and are working at wendy's to pay for their education. i don't know.

my dad's life, so far, is one of the greatest success stories i've ever heard. he came from a very unstable home life, but somehow saw his potential. he accepted the gospel, graduated from college, had a family, took risks in business, and worked hard. he continues to do so and he continues to be a great example to me. i hardly have the work ethic he does, but i do know how to work hard, should i choose to do so!

i guess it just goes to show how very blessed i have been. it's not really important to be taken to a fancy restaurant, and we don't go on a regular basis. but the point is, it's not unthinkable. we were both raised by parents who worked hard and were involved in our lives. i think we learned from them to keep trying to do our very best.

now i think i'm just rambling. i do feel better after writing this all down. i wish i could help others to see the positive side of life. maybe a school for positive thinking? amy's school of happy thoughts?