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| First Impressions |
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Interesting. We have new neighbors. Oh, they aren't that new. Moved in some time in the spring. But, as with most people, we come and go and seldom see each other. We introduced ourselves when they first moved in, but we have very little in common. They are half our age - or appear to be anyway. Just married. Just starting out.
I was walking the dog late one night. Probably about midnight. I had shorts and shirt on like I usually do when I lounge around the house. I was barefoot, though. Figured I would step out into the yard while Bay, our dog, went into the woods, did his business and came back. Wanting to be a good neighbor, I have taught him diligently to stay out of the neighbor's yard. While we don't have many close neighbors, this house is right next to ours.
While Bay is in the woods, the new neighbors come out with their two new additions to their family - two cock-a-poos. I am not sure why this dog exists. It looks too small for any good, squeeks instead of barks, and runs around in circles. Still, these two dogs are their pets, so that is ok...
Bay doesn't think it is ok, though. He bolts from the woods and runs into their yard to chase these little tiny things that are scared for their life. Bay isn't looking to hurt them. He is looking to play, but they have no clue and neither do the neighbors who are frantically chasing their little dogs around the yard.
I limp briskly across the gravel driveway in my barefeet, getting angrier at Bay with each step on the sharp rocks. I get over to the neighbors and corral my dog. They are not in the mood to talk. I apologize and take Bay by the collar back home. I think to myself "What a great first impression we (Bay and I) made." Then this scripture came to mind:
8:12 I, wisdom, have made wise behaviour my near relation; I am seen to be the special friend of wise purposes. 8:13 The fear of the Lord is seen in hating evil: pride, a high opinion of oneself, the evil way, and the false tongue, are unpleasing to me. 8:14 Wise design and good sense are mine; reason and strength are mine. 8:15 Through me kings have their power, and rulers give right decisions. 8:16 Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness. 8:17 Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.
I think about first impressions. Having lived on this planet for almost 50 orbits, I have learned that first impressions mean a lot. They shouldn't. Wisdom tells us to reason things out, don't have a high opinion of ourselves, and give others second chances. However, we don't always walk in wisdom...or should I say "I" don't always walk in wisdom. I do try very hard not to have strong first impressions about people unless they are good. This has taken a lot of practice, though, and I still haven't perfected it.
As I walk back to the house with Bay, I wonder what kind of first impression we have made on this young couple. Will they still want to meet us and be good neighbors or will they stay away as long as me and my dog are around? Hard to tell.
As I walked back on our front porch, I looked down at my legs. Covered with over 40 chigger bites. Then I saw them. My toes. They made me laugh...
...while I had been sitting on the porch "treating" the chigger bites with clear nail polish from my daughter's nail-polishing kit earlier in the day, my wife and daughter had taken it upon themselves to paint my toenails...not just any color, but a bright, shiny purple. A very loud purple. A purple that glows. I stood there looking at those painted toes and I laughed out loud. Here I was so concerned about the first impression the neighbors had of me because my dog was out of control, and I had walked over there with my toenails painted bright purple. Yes, pride, a high opinion of oneself is unpleasing to Him (verse 13). I guess that was a real reason God had brought that scripture to mind. Any pride I had about being a good dog owner was now gone. I suppose the neighbors are going to have to get to know me better...give me a second chance.
 Yeah, first impressions are important. We should always remember that. When we have time, we should make sure the impression others have of us is a good reflection on our Lord. Yet, we need to know that we can't always make good first impressions. We can just do the best we can and depend on God, working through others, to give us a second chance.
That was a couple of weeks ago. Haven't seen the neighbors since. Guess they are protecting those little squeeky dogs.
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| To add a comment to "First Impressions" |
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| August 31, 2007 |
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| Nice color ! I'm jealous! |
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| August 31, 2007 |
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| I'm thinkin of doin my toes that color, just in case dexter decides to leave an impression. |
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| August 31, 2007 |
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| OK another star is in order that's my favorite BLOG for a while, I needed a little humor from a brother. |
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| August 31, 2007 |
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| DC, this is a good blog. First impressions are almost always wrong...at least the ones I have of others. So if your neighbors give you (and your dog) another chance, they might get to see the real you...or maybe that WAS the real you??? lol |
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| August 31, 2007 |
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On the lighter side of things, it's too bad DC is so far away, I need a good pedicure. Hehe.
Seriously though, great point. I find myself really analyzing people upon my first meeting with them. I really shouldn't, and I think it's really hard for me because I've been burned by my own mis-judgements in the past. The people I thought would be great people to hang out with (and were at first) turned out to not be so great. (I'm sure I'm not completely blameless in those situations.) And the people that I really didn't like at first, turned out to be the ones that loved me the most for who I am and what I'm about. (I gave them second, third, fourth chances...as we all should...which is VERY difficult!)
I guess I am so worried about the impression that I leave on people too. Though, once I meet people, it's very seldom that I don't like them or vice versa. I usually make friends easily. It's very hard to "keep" the friends in the military because we're always moving, but it's nice to think that I'm likeable...for the most part. :)
Anyways, I'm rambling...(yet another ramble from the "not-so-caught-up-on-sleep-yet-again" mommy of 2. ...I've heard this doesn't end for about 18 years...EEK!) |
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| September 01, 2007 |
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Amanda, cool pic of Kaydence! This is the first time I saw it. On a side note, we are in the "lull" years right now. Kids old enough to take care of themselves but too young to be out late at night. Nice.
Folks, thanks for all of your comments. My wife says it is time to take the nail polish off. Probably should before the pastor decides to have a foot washing.
...and, in some ways, Deb, it was the real me...not the nail polish per se, but the whole idea of having fun with my girls, and in some ways, when I see the purple toes, it reminds me of the way they were both giggling when they were putting it on. Yep, that is me. Just a dad who loves his wife and kids. |
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| September 01, 2007 |
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| Well voice you found out why those dogs are...so bigger dogs will have a playtoy....As far as the nails go well you are one good dad and husband.....more men should be like you... |
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| September 01, 2007 |
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50 orbits? (lol) Never heard it put that way before. And when I saw that pic of the toes, I thought, "my gosh, please don't tell me those below to him!" Thanks for the laugh!
This is a good blog. We recently moved out of a neighborhood we lived in for 2.5 yrs. I thought our family collectively made a pretty good impression when we first moved in, BUT we rarely saw our next-door neighbors the entire time we lived there. It is true that we could have done a LOT more to reach out to them, and I deeply regret not doing so. But I see our experience there as further evidence that first impressions aren't everything -- that example shows the opposite of what you were getting across, that bad impressions can be overcome. In our case, the good 1st impressions just didn't accomplish enough, and the weight of the ensuing day-to-day crushed any good will that was initially generated.
Thanks for your story, ViDC! ~mike |
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| October 27, 2007 |
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| D.C.-just when I thought your blog couldn't get any better,it went to LOL funny.When we moved into our neighborhood,our Golendoodle pup took off and barely missed plowing over our neighbors 3 year old.Thankfully they didn't hold their 1st impression of us or our crazy puppy against us & were great neighbors. |
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| October 27, 2007 |
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Racunpoodle, thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoy the story.
I have never heard of a Goldendoodle...will have to look that one up.
Our neighbors have become good neighbors - so far so good. |
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| October 29, 2007 |
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| A golden doodle is a golden retreiver & standard poodle.The labadoodle (lab/poodle) is what most people hear about.Full grown ours is 75 lb. |
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