My daughter Ashley says this is “Unapologetically Mom”- Ha  So, if you have an appointment to be at in five minutes, you don’t have time to read this. My 3 am rant.  Just saying!

So here goes… How did it get to be “ACCEPTABLE” for so many people to be late for everything? Because as far as I am concerned, it’s not ACCEPTABLE.

A meeting is set to start at 9 am, for some people that means in the general vicinity of any time which starts with the numeral ‘9’. Like 9:30 for example.
People drift in at 9:30 or even later. They smile warmly at the waiting group, totally unconcerned that others have been there since five to nine, prepared and ready to start.

PLEASE do not use the excuse we lead “busy lives”. We ALL do, and it’s a cop out to use that as an excuse. It’s simply that some people no longer even pretend that they think your time is as important as theirs. Technology makes it worse. It seems texting or emailing that you are late somehow means you are no longer late. “I’m sorry”, does that help me any that I am having to rearrange ALL my appointments because you are late. It makes me late, it is like a row of dominoes.

I understand things happen sometimes. PLAN. When you know 280 traffic is bad, LEAVE EARLIER. My time is so booked lately that I literally have to write down everything in my daytime, (YES, I am old school and still like an old fashioned calendar) Getting up earlier because I have to take care of the horses again, Watching over/supervising  farm renovations, getting houses ready to put on the market, learning a new system, getting ready to move, dog scheduled for surgery, two horses lame, paying bills, taking care of pets, cleaning and the laundry that never ends.  Got to find time to go to the grocery store. Check on dear friends who are having health problems. All the while, driving down Highway 150 last week and thinking I am having another heart attack scare. I couldn’t breath. I was thinking, I simply do not have time for this. Drive to the Doctor and anyone that knows me knows I do NOT go to Doctors if at all possible, EKG and chest X rays again and poked and prodded and two hours later, I am diagnosed with severe allergies and given an inhaler. I am simply not getting enough air. Also, the Doctor addressed anxiety. Need to control anxiety and stress. HUM….

I think if people were more considerate there would be A LOT less anxiety and stress, JUST SAYING ! All the while being constantly reminded of my bracelet that says, ” Pray First”.

Also, while I am at it. It would be nice if people need to change their appointments, not come into work, cancel on a showing that they give as much notice as possible. Other people are depending on you. They have scheduled lives also. They are happy to adjust their schedule if you can kindly give them the appropriate time to do so !

Waiting and Waiting on people has become the norm. I am not sure why some people are ALWAYS late. It would be a miracle from God if they were ever on time. It goes back to the golden rule. Treat others the way you want to be treated!

My Mother and Father taught us growing up that being late is RUDE and SELFISH. My Mom said that when people do this constantly they think THEIR time is more important than yours. Thanks Mom, once again you were right !

I will never forget a story growing up. My Mom worked at an ELITE salon in Memphis when I was growing up. Very high end and some famous people went there. There was a certain woman who was always late for her appointment with my Mom. My Mom finally said, ” IF you are late again, I will not be available for you again. It is NOT fair to everyone of my other customers to wait because you put us ALL behind schedule and they were on time.” Next time, same thing, she was late. Mom said she does not have an  opening. The lady was fuming. She went to the owner of the salon and he said, “Sorry, be on time.”
This lesson stuck with me from an early age.

There was a dentist that kept someone waiting 50 minutes past their appointment. She has done it for years and years. But enough! The patient walked out, past a literally open-mouthed receptionist who had never seen a patient act on their frustration, only to get a frantic call from the dentist herself as she got into her car.

Sure, she was “busy”, another patient took longer than she expected, blah blah. WAIT…. we are busy too! They told her, “I have been coming to you for 15 years but don’t take me for granted. See fewer patients in a day if you have to, but see me on time or close to it.” She has never been kept waiting again.

I am not talking about the odd occasion of lateness. I am talking about people who are routinely late. In fact, never on time.

People today have mistaken being nice as weakness.  Seems like being a Christian today means you can walk all over us because we are to represent Christ and be on our best behavior at all times. So sorry, not on my watch !!! I love the Lord with all my heart. Sold out for him. The character of the God I know is kind, he is a gentleman and he is not rude and he is considerate.  If we are called to be Christ followers, we need to set the bar high. Under promise and over deliver not the other way around. It is time to show respect to others !!!

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

Psalm 89:34

I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.

Matthew 5:37

Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’….

Your word should mean something…… Accountability….. it is a good thing. R-e-s-p-e-c-t- ……. Hearing Aretha Franklin in my head ~