After doing some research on these things, we find out that they are mostly just plywood with some felt stapled to it to make it look good. The kind of plywood that you can get for 20 bucks a sheet at the lumber yard. So we decided to build our own and save a few dollars. That's where my Home Depot story begins to unfold:
What you see in the picture above is the "Contractor Entrance" at the store. I have been to Home Depot a hundred times and always entered through the normal entrance for common folks. However on this day, I justified parking in the contractor lot because I was actually picking up some lumber. I was just going to file in there like I knew what I was doing. So I get my big orange lumber cart and head of into the corridors of sweet smelling lumber, brushing shoulders with general contractors, plumbers, drywall experts and handymen. Thank goodness the sheets of plywood were pre-cut to the measurements I needed. It would have blown my cover if I had to ask for a tape measure.Upon checkout is where things got interesting. Now I'm not saying that they aren't friendly to the average Joe, but if the staff think that you're "one of them" then you get some favor. The exchange with something like this:
Lady in orange apron: "Good morning, sir, will you be paying with your Home Depot Pro Card today?"
Me: "No ma'am, not today." (What I did there was I insinuated that I had one, I was just choosing not to use it today.)
Lady in apron: "I see there is a corner on that plywood that is a little damaged. I'm going to go ahead and knock off 5 bucks."
Me: "Well thank you. I guess that's what you call 'cutting corners.'" Ha ha. We shared a laugh together. Our relationship is growing.
Apron lady: "Are you going to need someone to help you take these out to your work truck?" My cover once again could be comprised. The back of my pick up is full of empty apple juice cartons and duck decoys not extension ladders and paint buckets.
Me: "Oh no ma'am. I can handle this little bit." I paid the nice lady and was about to head out when she stops me.
Apron: "I see that you don't have a lanyard for your sunglasses. How about a complimentary one."
Me: "Well bless your heart."
After getting $5 off my board, an offer to have a man carry my wood for me, and a free eyeglasses holder, I was feeling good. But wait. There's more. While trying to fit my two Pieces of future bunkie board through the double sliding doors, I realized that they wouldn't fit sideways. I was beginning to cause a traffic jam of real pros that were trying to get out the door to do some real work with real deadlines.
Out of nowhere appears yet another orange aproned employee. He pushes a button on the wall and the doors opened another 5 feet on each side, allowing me, my bunkie boards and all the folks behind me to pass through with ease. I was informed that "only the contractor doors do that." Sweet.
In all actuality, I probably wasn't shown much favor at all. I'm sure they do that for anyone who comes on that side of the store. But for a little while it felt good to be catered to, if even in my imagination.
It got me thinking of the favor that God shows us on a daily basis. I am a parking lot greeter at church. Last Sunday I asked a lady how she was doing. She replied "Good by man and highly favored by God." Amen sister. Her comment reminded me of Proverbs 3: 3-4 "Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation."
God does us favors all the time. It's just difficult sometimes to see between the lines and realize that He's doing it. We as humans always want to try and take credit for things instead of giving the credit to God. "I worked so hard for that," or "I deserve that." We don't deserve anything but an eternity in hell. But through God's grace and favor and the blood of Christ, we have the opportunity at eternity. We all do.
So the special treatment that I thought I was getting at Home Depot probably wasn't special at all. It's what they do for everyone. Just like God. You don't have to be a "contractor" to get the special favor from God. That is what is so amazing to me about His unfailing love. It is available to anyone who will come over and get it.