Carla M. Friss

Now I realize I’m at risk of sounding like your liberal wayward child who moved to the ‘big city’ and went all left wing. You should probably expect to receive phone calls or messages from friends and family expressing their “concerns”. Have no fear, sweet mother, I still hold fast to my traditional, Godly values that you and my father instilled upon me. I did a little fun-fact checking after our last conversation and found a few things to share with the class…

I like to think that I am fairly intuitive, much like Karen from Mean Girls, I too possess the ability of prediction, ha ha ha! After my investigation via the world wide web, it is only natural that I came to the conclusion that this issue has the makings of becoming another Chick-fil-A debacle. In light of our recent discussion, I thought I’d provide a more sensible perspective for all of those that are swan diving off the deep end with this absurd notion to boycott Starbucks. Below, I have provided a list of some other company’s that also openly support the gay community:

Google, Barnes & Noble, Microsoft, Target, Amazon, Macy’s, Nike, Absolute Vodka and Tiffany & Co (to name a few).

Now Mom, you know that I obviously do not agree with these companies and their political stances. I would merely like to point out that if everyone is going to make such a spectacle out of not going to Starbucks, then there needs to be a reevaluation of the brands/stores/services most of those people are using in their everyday routines. When we start to think rationally and not with our feelings we realize that many of these have become staples in our family, work and educational routines. Two in particular have revolutionized technology, including medical software and equipment used everyday to save millions of lives.

Perhaps, it would be benefical to look beyond Facebook or Twitter for a more factual representation of such passionate topics. I would recommend reading the conversation in its entirety between that ‘lousy, good-for-nothing CEO’ and his fellow board member. Although this man is undoubtedly wrong, I for one am not going to give up good coffee because some idiot decided to run his mouth. I think we as a society would be in big trouble if we began making this a habit, because well, plainly put, there are a lot of men out there who like to run their mouths. [Sidebar: I haven’t become a man-hater either, men just often say dumb things.]

Instead of chastising a multi-billion dollar company through various platforms of social media, can you imagine what could be accomplished with the prayers of the 16,042 people who liked this group on Facebook. Lately, I feel like everyone is getting caught up in The Movement and the berating of simple minded men for their simple minded words. We should be focused more on the actual issues and the root of the problem. All of this talking, sharing, re-tweeting and liking is not actually fulfilling the deeper needs of our lost world. At the end of the day, we all just end up looking like a bunch of babbling idiots and drive away those who we are called to love.

So say what you will but I’m not afraid to shout it from the rooftops… I LOVE STARBUCKS! I love it, I love it, I looooove it! I do not plan to discontinue my patronage, rather I will stand beside these lost people and continue to love them as God loves me. I will support them, pray for them and do my best to exemplify Christ in the hope of positively impacting a single life. 

So I would like to thank you, mom. You have loved and supported me through every decision and mistake that I have made. You have shown me what is to love and while I have been forgiven that I am no less of a sinner than my neighbor. My prayer is that I will one day be able to instill these same wise and sensible values upon my own children.

Love,

Your Firstborn Daughter  

Here we are, time has passed and I am back. As I examine the last few months, nothing is the same. I am living on my own, in a new city, I have a new boyfriend, new friends, a new job, NEW EVERYTHING. New new new… Lately, I find myself reminiscing over what has passed and I find myself missing that chapter of my life. Life is humorous that way; as a society I think we have grown discontent with what we have been blessed with. We never seem to be content in the moment. I look at my life and I have nothing to be ungrateful for, and don’t get me wrong, I am not. However, in moments of weakness, I long for that youthfulness and lack of responsibility. I will never be too old to miss my parents, my family home, that sense of security and being surrounded by love. This new part of my life has a lot of responsibility, unknown, and uncertainty. I am faced with the challenge of relinquishing my desire for control and whole-heartedly putting my faith and life in God’s hands. I have realized in these few short months, that these changes are not as a result to anything that I could have done. As I write, I am reminded once more of the sheer grace the Lord has continued to show me in my life and how despite my selfishness and often, a lack of gratitude, He still continues to bless me. I could not have chosen a more perfect job, wonderful coworkers, an adoring and thoughtful boyfriend, or perfectly located apartment if I had hand-selected them myself. I find beauty in this life that God has provided for me. He continues to demonstrate his love, gracefulness and generosity when I am least deserving. Before I was created, he had a plan. One designed to encounter specific people, face certain events and grow in a certain environment; all leading me to where I am today, transforming me into the woman that I have become. Although my path is uncertain, I am comforted in knowing that it has not only been laid out before me but I will never walk it alone. It is only human to fear change, to fear what is unknown but my prayer is that I never lose faith in the One who continues to provide for me. Thank you  to the incredible people in my life who continue to support me in more way than one. You get me through my days of weakness and unwelcoming doubt. I cannot begin to praise each of you for the countless things you have generously done. I hold each of you near to my heart.

XO