A Lesson About Independence at Chick-fil-A

A few days ago while walking into God’s chosen lunch destination, Chik fil a, I passed a rugged young man. He wasn’t asking for anything, so we smiled at one another and I kept my eye on the prize. While in line for my golden holy fries, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. What was his story? Was he homeless? Why was he standing there, not asking for anything? I shook it off and ordered my 1st meal of the day at 4pm.

On my way out, we exchanged smiles and I began a race walk to my car, those hot fries were screaming my name. Halfway there, I felt a still small voice that stopped me in the middle of the street, “You say you want me to use you, but you’re choosing hot fries over loving one of mine.” (Have you ever rolled your eyes at Jesus?🙋🏽‍♀️🙄) “But my hot fries, Lord!” I mentally battled. “But, my son.” I heard. 

Begrudgingly, I whipped back around and into chick fil a, a little annoyed. I could feel my fry’s temperature decreasing. “You hungry?” I asked the man. “Yes, ma’am” He replied. So I said, “alright then, let’s get you fed.” In line, I asked where he was from, where he was living, and about himself. A few minutes later (it was a long line) I gathered that he had only moved to Dallas a few weeks ago from LA, was living in a shelter, and had a dad in the military who had moved to Dallas as well. More importantly, this dad wanted him to come home to live.

I wasn’t pulling punches at this point. If my fries were going to be cold, there was GOING to be a good reason. So I asked…lovingly 👀 “Why in the world are you living at a shelter, if your dad wants you to come home??” He explained, “I like doing things on my own. I gotta be independent and have my own.” I squinted at him and chuckled out, “How’s that working out for you?” 

He laughed, “I guess not too good, huh!” Before I could even think, “Boy, if you don’t GO HOME!” slipped out of my mouth. He had a dad who loved him and had a place for him. However, his desire to be independant and “have his own” kept him from not only the love of his father, but from actually having his own!

We are all *unsuccessfully* independent without our Heavenly Father. He calls to us saying, “Come home! I have a place for you.” But many of us call back, “I’d rather be free and independent!” Oblivious that independence doesn’t equal victory. You can be independent and defeated, independent and failing, and independent but displaced. Keep on being an independent woman who “don’t need no man” if you WANT to.

After purchasing his meal, I put a hand on his shoulder and said. “God loves you, He wants you home just like your dad does, and today he wanted to make sure you had a meal.” So if you’re figuring out that independence from the Father isn’t in your best interest...God loves you, He wants you home with him, and if you’ve read this far, the first person to comment #unsuccessfullyindependant gets a $10 chick fil a gift card. Best cold fries I’ve ever had.

John 15:5-8 (MSG)5-8 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relationship is intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.”