I'm selfish.
I often find myself making "deals" with others. Business "deals" - those seem to be the easy ones [re: my work/business]. Family "deals" get slightly trickier.
You know, like this, "Mom if I remove your dead toenail - you have to pick up the dog's poop for two days."
OR
"If you let me stay up 20 more minutes - I'll rub your feet for 5 of those minutes".
This "dealing" often reminds meof a show I used to watch almost daily. "Let's Make A Deal" [with Monty Hall].
I loved everything about this show. The weirdness. The suspense. The selfishness of the players. They may already have a new car in curtain #1 but they sit there really stressing about how curtain #3 may have something better. Ya, like a 187 year old camel.
Low point. Yesterday. When [can't believe I am going to admit this but . . ] I actually found myself proposing a "deal" - wait for it. wait for it. . . . with God. Yep, you read that right. The thought/prayer went up something like this [sorry if this is hard to follow, but it's the honest truth]
"....if You can please help me with my "A" [wait that doesn't sound right]."
started again.
"....If You help me with my #1 then I'll do #2 [wait, that sounds even worse]."
[self slap. Emz, stay focused.]
"....if You help me with XYZ then I'll make sure I take care of ABC that I've been putting off."
and before I could get to my next thought my eyes poped open.
Really Emz?! Really?!
He scratches your back and you'll scratch HIS? Get a clue Lady . . . . He is already scratching. Ya, for like 30 something years. Feel it. Realize it. Be grateful for it.
[Note to self.]
A few less deals in life, may be a really good thing. I truly, don't feel like I ask a lot of others. But when I do . . . why are they always in "deal" format?
So please feel free to call me out on this, if I do it.
deal?
32 comments:
You can deal me out of this hand...
loved it when Monty Hall would offer $50 if someone had something random like a pack of gum in their purse.
The reality is that deals are what keep things moving about 95% of the time. I'm always amazed and typically amused by the deals that my kids can dream up, especially my little girl. Trump has nothing on her.
The truly magic moments in life are when you give, with nothing in return. The one-sided deal ... if you will. I don't do enough of this, but the return is typically remarkable. From what I've read of your blog, you broker quite a few of these deals and may not even realize it.
ETR - your comments rock. Always love them.
Cant really better what ETR said. Good stuff.
You carry me on your back during your next marathon (Vegas? Phoenix?) and I will give you change for your juke box and get a shadow box for your belt buckle. Deal?
Hard to follow ETRs comment other than to say, agreed
Deal me in. Also, you seem more Gong Show than Let's Make a Deal. Just sayin'. So the Vegas trip is back on?!
The reality is, deals are how things are done so much in life. Look at Washington. Ahem.
SU&R - deal.
Rio - love it.
ETR we all agree. Rocks.
haha i do the same thing...
Kovas - if I can get SU&R there.... Deal. ;)
deal ;)
Hey EMZ!!! You see my diploma?! ;) (haha, yes... im doing my best to mimick you... doesn't it make you feel special?) They do say that it is the best form of flattery...
Zaneta - love it. You're awesome. Me. You. Ohio. 2011. Deal.
:D YAY!! I happen to like that deal... so I'm not gonna call you out on it ;)
You're too funny Emz! Reading this post brightened up my morning. =)
Just pray and ask it from Him and He will give you what you truly deserve and even more than you asked for =)
My old voice teacher won a microwave on that show. She said it was the best one she ever owned.
I love the scripture that says Heavenly Father already knows what we need before we ask him. All we have to do is ask. :)
The bible is full of deal makers. It's part of human nature. However, being grateful for all the one-sided deal stuff is really cool - and shows you to be a gifted person!
BTW in let's make a deal, always switch when he reveals one of the doors has a goat behind it. You odds are 50% of being right, when at three doors it was only 33%.
I've often fantasized about all the crap I'd bring in my purse if I were ever on that show--loved it!
i think u and me r on similar pages with our relationship with God. I've made deals with him many times, and I'm not sure I ever hold up my end of the bargain. How ridiculous are we? The good news is I'm 99.99999999% sure God has a fabulous sense of humor.
Kelly - after all I've "spam prayers & pyramid schemes I've sent him" he's got to have the best sense of humor ever. ;)
Julie & Sarah - so true & thank you.
Andrew - awesome. Goats. I like percentages. Just not #'s. ;)
So what's the deal?
Ok, that wasn't even funny. But your post was...we all do it, you are not alone.
I always make a deal with God: God, please don't let me die in this marathon and I promise to not beat my kids. Hehe.
oh, btw, you're one of my favorites, too...and I'm not scared :).
Hey - at least you are on talking terms with God! Many of us forget to talk to him at all.
Wasn't it Hannah in the Bible that made a deal with God? It worked out for her in that case. She got her son Samuel :)
I think humility is the key with Him. Deals made in arrogance are gonna get tossed out!
great post.
deal.
My back has been scratched for a long time too. And at 1, 4 and 5 a.m. last night I was praying for any deal that would allow LBM to sleep! ;-)
But just like you can't make "deals" with God you can't make them with 2 year olds either.
Great post! Being grateful is a nice way to be.
I do this with God, too, but in a sneaky way. "God, if you would take care of this life problem, I would have all this free time so I can focus on quiet time/charity/random good deeds." Whatever! I have to tell myself, um, God already HAS STUFF. Whatever He wants. No deals!
It's always nice to read a post like this and know I'm not the only one. Thanks for being so real.
business 101, everything is negotiable. we are talking business here, right?
I recently came across this quote that might be relevant: "When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me - Emo Philips."
More strategy than anything else....
I think I must have inadvertently asked for patients at one point, now I just beg Him! No deals, just begging! Plllleeeeeaaaaaase!
I truly admire your brutal honesty. I have a lot of respect for you, Emz.
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