Thank you, Toby Keith
I was just a few feet from the stage when country music singer Toby Keith looked at me, smiled, and winked. He was singing the line I like my truck. And I like my Girlfriend in, “I Love This Bar” when he gave me and the girl next to me a wink and a grin. THAT was fun!!! Now every time I sing that song I remember that moment.
It was the State Fairgrounds 2014. I splurged on front row tickets for a road trip with my daughters. My youngest, Emilie, and I were belting out the words to one song after another at the top of our lungs. We were surrounded by drunk people, but we weren’t going to let that stop us from having a great time. Toby had his Red Solo Cup in hand to make sure he stayed hydrated between songs. And during the songs.
Then it happened. He took out a guitar pick and held it up to give away. He scanned the crowd to pick someone then made eye contact with Emilie. She was twelve years old. Was she really going to get his guitar pick? My heart raced as I watched him start to move toward her. As his cowboy hat came closer, the sitution looked sketchy for a moment. Could he bend over that far? Then this drunk older lady next to my daughter decided she wanted the guitar pick for herself. She threw an elbow at Emilie and tried to snatch it out of Toby’s hands. Not to be fooled, he saw the whole thing and pulled back. Then, still looking at Emilie, he placed it in HER hands and kept singing. She screamed happily and a big smile came over her face as she looked at me in shock. He chose her!!!
That is one of my favorite memories, yet it made me angry to know that an adult wasn’t nice to my child and was willing to hurt her to get what she wanted… over an insignificant guitar pick. There have been a lot of times in life when we parents worry about our kids and how other people are treating them. It makes us sad and angry to see them mistreated, passed over, or hurt.
But in that moment, Toby Keith showed my daughter and I the heart of God. You see, God loves you more than we can imagine. When God decides to bless you, there is no human that can get in the way, take it away, or make Him change His mind. Go to God when you’re worried. Go to God when you’re scared. Go to God when your heart is broken. Go to God when you feel disrespected. Make Him your refuge and you will find great blessings and comfort no human can steal.
yes, my soul, find rest in god;
my hope comes from him.
truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, i will not be shaken.
my salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
He’s got me. He’s got you. He’s got our kids, our families, and our friends. God has not forgotten about us. God will honor us in His timing and He doesn’t need our enemies’ permission to do it. We can even find freedom by praying for our enemies because they will never hold the key to our future. All the heroes of the faith endured suffering and waiting. Instead of why, maybe there is a better question we can ask while we wait… if we want to be happy, anyway.