There are many new expressions that I noticed being used by this generation over the past few years. One is, “Live Out Loud.” It is often used when people see someone who has a ‘colorful’ way of expressing themselves, in their speaking, living, or fashion statements. Everyone else in the room may be in black, white, or gray, yet they will still be dressed in a full array of colors without apology. I am not suggesting pastels either, but the bright neon lime greens and pinks. Their bubbly personalities may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they are allowing their personalities to fully shine through. Though they may be building notoriety, they are expressing themselves to the fullest in every way, hence living out loud. However, joy and happiness can be very contagious, even to those who may have their feathers ruffled by them at first glance.
The second expression alludes to a similar sentiment as the first. One may say, “That person is EXTRA.” What they are trying to convey is that contrary to myself who am perfectly normal, a little introverted, quiet, and demure, they are over the top, loud, extremely extroverted, and outgoing. They are often accused of being drama queens or kings depending on the gender, or not, and seen as having, ‘no filter.’ Having an enormous over the top personality is not always a terrible thing; however, when dealing with people, we do need to use wisdom. Kenny Rodgers, shared in his song called, ‘The Gambler,’ written by Don Schlitz, “You need to, ‘know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, and know when to run.” Jesus put it this way in Luke 7:35, “But wisdom is justified of all her children.” A happy medium might be a good range to strive for in expressing ourselves.
I have known people who have an extra sense of kindness that supersedes others. They always go above and beyond to make others feel loved and appreciated. I have always admired and been a little envious of them, just to be honest. They do not just do the expected, but the unexpected. They are always the ones who send the cards for holidays, birthdays, get wells, or just because, to make sure others feel encouraged and uplifted. They are the ones who sneak in before you get there and leave a candy bar on your desk at work, just because they thought of you when they were checking out at the grocery store. Unlike those of us who do perhaps think of others often, they go the second mile and act. The selfless gestures that they do, is what is known as, ‘true love’ according to the scriptures. We struggle with selflessness and must often work hard to achieve it. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 states, “Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; Bears all things, believeth all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Charity never fails…” We know that charity, aka love, cannot be accomplished without God. 1 John 4:8 says, “He that loveth not knows not God; for God is love.” We are all doing the best we can daily to strive to be like Jesus, so that we can develop these extraordinary characteristics.
At my employment, we have what is called an ‘Individual Performance Plan’ (IPP) that is made for each employee by their supervisor on a yearly basis. At the beginning of the period, the supervisor will meet with their employees individually to review the plan with them. They will discuss their expectations, and the action steps that will assist them in achieving their goals. Each employee’s plan may look different depending on the specifics of their job description. The plan could also include efforts to do continuing education classes pertaining to the job, or something that will enhance your ability to do the job more effectively and efficiently. It may spell out various goals within the categories pertaining to the job and personal development. They will then meet with them quarterly, to see if they have questions and if they are keeping on track to achieve their expectations. All of this is done to give them a grading for their performance, which is going to affect their pay positively or adversely, and it will gauge whether they will receive a raise or not. It was recently brought to my attention that though the employees hate this process, it is mandated by the Federal Government for it to be done, because of funding we receive from them.
I am relatively new in the department that I work in now, but I have worked for this employer for eleven and a half years. In my very first meeting with my new supervisor, she stated she would like me to start keeping a personal journal of all the projects I am involved in, whether great or small, so that when it came time for her to meet with me again to go over what I had done, as well as report accomplishments on my IPP, it would assist her in remembering things because with multiple employees to manage, she could not keep up with all the details. Of course, this was understandable. She also stated that the reason was because she tries to give all her employees an exceptional rating of ‘exceeds expectations’ and not just ‘meets expectations’, when she can, so they will be able to receive bonuses and raises and continue to grow and contribute to the agency as the years go by. This in turn helps the company to grow and excel as well. She viewed it as a win-win situation, and I must say, I tend to agree with her. Giving employees an incentive to work harder is the only way to keep good, contented employees. I do believe she is the first supervisor I have had who ‘exceeds expectations’ herself! What a way to start a conversation with a new employee! Wanting to see them succeed by offering them above the norm. She got an A+ from me that day.
When we hear the phrase “A Baker’s Dozen,” we immediately think of the number thirteen. However, the origin was just to give an ‘extra’ loaf of bread, no matter how many the customer was buying, to make sure they were not shorted, to avoid being penalized. The story of the ‘Baker’s Dozen,’ albeit a truth, goes like this.
Firstly, the practice of adding an extra loaf originated several centuries before the phrase. England has a long history of regulation of trade; bakers were regulated by a trade guild called ‘The Worshipful Company of Bakers,’ which dates back to at least the reign of Henry II (1154-89).
The law that caused bakers to be so wary was the ‘Assize of Bread and Ale.’ In 1266, Henry III revived an ancient statute that regulated the price of bread according to the price of wheat. Bakers or brewers who gave short measure could be fined, pilloried, or flogged, as in 1477 when the Chronicle of London reported that a baker called John Mund[e]w was ‘schryved [forced to admit his guilt] upon the pyllory’ for selling bread that was underweight.
Remember that the Assize company regulated weight not number. What the bakers were doing whenever they sold bread in any quantity was adding something extra to make sure the total weight wasn’t short. The addition was called the ‘in-bread’ or ‘vantage loaf.’ When selling in quantity to middlemen or wholesalers they would add an extra loaf or two. When selling single loaves to individuals they would offer a small extra piece of bread. ‘The Worshipful Company’ still exists and reports that this carried on within living memory and that a small ‘in-bread’ was often given with each loaf.
The baker’s dozen is more than a quirky fact. It reflects the lasting influence of past practices on our culture today. The term “Baker’s Dozen” has grown beyond just receiving thirteen items instead of twelve. It shows how language captures the idea of giving more generously.
With so many ways to market items nowadays, such as ‘Buy One Get One Free,’ (BOGO) or ‘Cheaper by the Dozen,’ etc., and there are no regulations on the weight of wheat versus the weight of the product, a Baker’s Dozen is not heard of much anymore. However, I have been to donut shops on occasion, where they would throw in thirteen when you buy a dozen, as good customer service and to ensure repeat customers. This shows that they value their customers’ business and want to go the extra mile to please them. Everyone loves a good deal and loves to receive something extra. It makes them feel appreciated. Sometimes when bakers are trying a new cupcake, donut, or bread recipe, they will offer a free sample for regular customers to try. This shows that they value their customers’ opinion and patronage.
I had not thought of this for a while, until I began to count heads for our latest family get together to see how many we would have, so we could know where to sit everyone. I realized that our family is growing too large for all of us to be at one table. With the addition of three sons-in-law, and four grandchildren to our family, over the last ten years, we now total a Baker’s Dozen. We have exceeded the “Cheaper by the dozen” mark and I am sure there will be more to come! People are superstitious when it comes to the number thirteen, and Lord forbid it should fall on a Friday, they have double worries, but I am not one of them. I think thirteen, or a Baker’s dozen is a sign of extra, a blessing, an unexpected kindness shown. In fact, I consider our last grandbaby the extra, the icing on the cake, and the cherry on top. She is a blessing to us all. Psalm 25:13 states,“His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.” I will take that verse thirteen as a direct promise regarding my family.
Another bible passage that has teachings and promises that I will gladly receive for myself and my family, which has the number thirteen is, 1 Corinthians 13 that contains thirteen verses, and it says,“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have no charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have no charity, it profits me nothing. Charity suffers long and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; Bears all things, believeth all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Charity never fails but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now, we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
Though it is not found in the bible in chapter or verse thirteen, the scripture tells us in Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” God always goes above and beyond what we could ever imagine when answering our prayers, meeting our needs, and taking care of our families. He is always going to throw in an extra donut or loaf of bread. He uses his own calculator, not ours. Philippians 4:19 says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” In Luke 6:38 Jesus was trying to give them a tutorial of how his calculator works, when he said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
When we ask the Lord for needed transportation or employment, or finances to pay our bills, he will always provide above and beyond. He will never leave us hanging when we have our lives aligned with His will. The writer of Hebrews states in Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” We do not have to envy others, want what they have, worry, or fret that our children will be without, because He is with us, and it gives Him pleasure to provide for us. We can be content and be at peace. David said in Psalm 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” In Luke 12:32 Jesus stated, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Fear is taken out of the equation when we know where our source of help comes from. We will always be treated fairly and with equity. The measure will not be tampered with, and we will not be cheated when we go to the Lord. He will also throw in a little extra to make sure we are taken care of.
Many good things come from the number thirteen which we can see from history shared with us on the trusty rusty internet:
“One of the most influential inventions of the 1300s was the clock. During the late Middle Ages, Europe was focusing intensely on measuring the day, organizing time, and distinguishing between different segments of time. After years of struggling, during the early part of the 14th century European scientists finally were able to effectively create a toothed wheel that with a heavy weight and massive machinery turned one tooth at a time to indicate hours. After this early form of clock was invented, people in the 1300s began dividing and counting time in hours.”
“The invention of the cannon is traced by most researchers to the middle of the 1300s. Although scholars still debate their specific origins, either the Chinese, the Hindus, the Arabs, or the Turks were likely responsible for inventing cannons. The earliest references to cannons occurred in manuscripts dated to 1327,1336, and 1347. The development of cannons led to the invention of the handgun, which first appeared in the 1360s. This early gun was like a hand-held cannon made of a 1-foot-long metal tube. The gunner inserted a glowing coal or a red-hot wire into a small touch hole in the loaded barrel to fire the weapon.”
“Although scholars debate the specific time and location in which spectacles were invented, most agree that some people wore eyeglasses during the late 13th to early 14th centuries. In around 1287 paintings first began to depict people wearing or holding glasses, and because Italy was responsible for many of these paintings, many scholars contend that Italians invented eyeglasses. Around 1300 regulations were established regarding glass lenses in Venice, and around 1352 eyeglasses were commonly worn by well-educated and rich noblemen and Italian clergymen. The glasses were constructed from crystals with curved surfaces that served as a magnifying glass.”
“In 1397 Hermann Poll invented the clavicembalum, which is also known as the harpsichord. Poll took the keyboard of an organ and adapted it to play notes via the striking of strings. The harpsichord soon became one of the more widely played and commonly heard instruments in much of Europe and led to the development of the piano.”
These are just small glimpses into history. Look at all the wonderful things we would have missed if we had eliminated the 1300’s.
The superstitious folks who hate the number thirteen will not even go to the thirteenth floor of a building, and some buildings will not have the thirteenth floor numerated as such. They will not wear the number thirteen for any team sport or activity. They will not open a package that has a thirteen on it, go anywhere that is thirteen miles away, or if the count lands on a thirteen they will add or take away to avoid it. They literally live in fear. 1 John 4:18 tells us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.” They do not realize that the number thirteen represents the extra blessing, aka the ‘Baker’s Dozen.’ This is how I feel about our crew of thirteen. We have been blessed beyond measure. It is God opening the brown paper bag and throwing in another fresh, deliciously baked loaf of bread, just because. Just because He loves us!
We would be amiss to leave this article with everyone thinking that everything in life even in the Christian life is all ‘peaches and cream’ all the time. We know that thirteen years ago, all our lives were changed forever. Whatever our political affiliations were and are, our country experienced an unthinkable tragedy. A short portion of “THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT” called, “A NATION TRANSFORMED”, gives this synopsis:
At 8:46 on the morning of September 11, 2001, the United States became a nation transformed.
An airliner traveling at hundreds of miles per hour and carrying some 10,000 gallons of jet fuel plowed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. At 9:03, a second airliner hit the South Tower. Fire and smoke billowed upward. Steel, glass, ash, and bodies fell below. The Twin Towers, where up to 50,000 people worked each day, both collapsed less than 90 minutes later.
At 9:37 that same morning, a third airliner slammed into the western face of the Pentagon. At 10:03, a fourth airliner crashed in a field in southern Pennsylvania. It had been aimed at the United States Capitol or the White House and was forced down by heroic passengers armed with the knowledge that America was under attack.
More than 2,600 people died at the World Trade Center; 125 died at the Pentagon; 256 died on the four planes. The death toll surpassed that at Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
This immeasurable pain was inflicted by nineteen young Arabs acting at the behest of Islamist extremists headquartered in distant Afghanistan. Some had been in the United States for more than a year, mixing with the rest of the population. Though four had training as pilots, most were not well-educated. Most spoke English poorly, some hardly at all. In groups of four or five, carrying with them only small knives, box cutters, and cans of Mace or pepper spray, they had hijacked the four planes and turned them into deadly guided missiles.
Why did they do this? How was the attack planned and conceived? How did the U.S. government fail to anticipate and prevent it? What can we do in the future to prevent similar acts of terrorism?
We will never have the full answer to the whys, but one thing we do know is that we cannot live in fear. The years will tick by, and though we will never forget, and our country and families will still bear the scars, we must take the opportunity daily to look around us and see the goodness of God and embrace the togetherness and unity that can result from us going through hard times together.
Job was not only going through a trial of a lifetime where he had lost literally everything but his own life and a disgruntled wife, but he had those who were supposedly his friends questioning his integrity and faith. In Job 13:13-16 he replies to them, “Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will. Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand? Though he slay me, yet I will trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation.” Job 42:12 tells us, “So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning.” We can safely ‘Live out loud’ and ‘Be extra’ without apologies as Job. He knew that God had his back and that He would be faithful and bring him through to the other side.
Finally, my husband made a request to the Lord decades ago, that he would grant us a viable retirement. We all know this is a tricky thing to plan and manage on our own. However, we know that God is faithful and goes above and beyond. I started in my position with this company I am with, in March of 2013, and my husband was hired by the same company in 2016, thirteen years before his retirement age. If you ask me why, I will say, God just opened the donut box and put in another donut, just because that is his style. He works with fair measures and then adds a little extra. There is quite a lot of good that can be said for the classic, ‘Baker’s Dozen.’