Ken: Hi everybody, this is Ken Tada and welcome to “Joni and Friends”.
Joni: I love hearing that voice at the top end of the program. Thanks for coming by today, I’m so glad you did.
Ken: Thank you. I’m excited.
Joni: You know I always love it when you park yourself next to my wheelchair at this microphone and marrying you, I tell you what, we are coming up on 29 years of marriage soon and it has opened up a whole wonderful world of so many interesting things for me… you being Japanese-American, not the least of which is “omiage”. Tell our friends what an omiage is…
Ken: An omiage, Joni, is something we have been able to enjoy for generations and in the Japanese culture it is an “unexpected gift”.
Joni: An unexpected little gift that you give for no reason…
Ken: Well the reason is you are thinking of that person. It doesn’t have to be an expensive gift, but a gift of just being able to say that “I’m thinking of you.”
Joni: You know that’s neat because often when I travel I pick up little omiages at a gift shop for my girlfriends when I get home, sometimes for you as well, and recently Ken you received quite a b-i-g omiage from someone. Do you want to tell us about that?
Ken: Yes I did! Boy, I tell you this was an unbelievable omiage because well as you know you and I were together and we received this mailer tube in the mail and I proceeded to open it and it was a fly rod. It was an unbelievable fly rod and it was given to us by R.C. and Vesta Sproul.
Joni: At first we didn’t realize that. We couldn’t get over the fact that oh my goodness, we unwrapped this and there was this beautiful fly rod… who did this… who would send this and all there was the packing slip, the mailing slip.
Ken: Yes, and we found out later there was a card that was supposed to be in this tube, but the only thing we had was a little return address.
Joni: Well, I know it took some effort to track down R.C.’s phone number. What did he say when you talked with him?
Ken: Well, he was very gracious. What a neat thing for someone to do. R.C. was more than generous, and Vesta as well, in giving me a fly rod that I didn’t expect.
Joni: It was for no good reason other than they were thinking of you.
Ken: Yep!
Joni: That is so sweet and I realize it was prompted just by a sweet thought from these friends from across the country. I thought to myself oh, my goodness R.C. and Vesta you are truly glorifying the generous nature of God. When we give little omiages to each other I think is a wonderful way of showcasing how generous God is with us don’t you think?
Ken: Oh, I agree with that, Joni.
Joni: I love this verse in Romans chapter 8, it kind of reminds me of the Sprouls, it says here in the 32nd verse, “He who did not spare His own son” (talk about generosity) “but gave him up for us all, how will He not also along with Him graciously give us all things.” Isn’t that great! God is so gracious to give us Himself, give us His salvation and give us friends like R.C. and Vesta Sproul. Ken what I love about you is you pass on that generosity.
Ken: Well, I try!
Joni: I watch you with your friends. You are always giving little omiages to them, in fact I’m looking at Jim Sanders – giving a thumbs up – on the other side of the window sitting in the producers chair. You just gave him a gift. I saw you do it as you walked into the studio, bless your heart. And even when you tip at a restaurant you are a generous guy.
Ken: Well, I don’t know about generous, Joni, but it’s just a way of showing your appreciation for that person.
Joni: And it’s a way of showcasing again the generous nature of our wonderful Father. Thanks for doing that sweetheart. You do it so well, keep it up!
Ken: Amen to that and thank you Joni, it’s always a privilege being with you.
Joni: Let’s celebrate God’s omiage for us today – that is our wonderful salvation. Amen?
Ken: Amen.
Joni: Please write or visit me today at joniandfriends.org. Of course you can always call by dialing 1-888-522-5664. Here’s hoping I hear from you today.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends