{ L O V E }

The Small Things That Don’t Matter

Last night, I had to run to Walmart, and you know how that goes. When I was ready to check out, so were about 1000 other customers. The entire right side of cashiers were closed, and there were a handful of cashiers open to the left. And of course, I choose the slowest line. There were two carts in front of me, and I did not realize that the first cart was fuller than the one in front of me.

Then the cashier next to me opened up, but by this time, I was boxed in! I could not move! I felt frustration creeping in the pit of my stomach as I looked around to see how I could move out of that line and into the other one before the line grew. Everyone around me were distracted with their cell phones no one even noticed that we all had a better opportunity on the other line!

Once I realized that the newly opened cashier was building a line of her own, and even though it was not fair that I had to continue to wait while others just walked up to pay (with no wait) I had to take a deep breath, just accept that there was no way out, and that I just had to make the best of it.

Before it was my turn to pay, I made a decision that I could be the customer that every cashier hates, or that I could make it easy on her and be on my way.

By the time I finally reached the cashier, I smiled and I said, “I guess it’s your lucky day! You get to take care of all of us!” She smiled back and said, “I was supposed to get off a little while ago, but then my line just grew.” Just then, I realize that if any of us had it bad, it was her, this sweet cashier! She was getting ready to leave, clock out, go home, but then all of a sudden, she had to stay to check us out…to check me out! And all I did as I stood in line was complain that there were not enough cashiers open.  So, I sympathetically said, “Oh, I’m so sorry! Hang in there, you’re almost done,” and with her continued smile, never giving me an attitude, never a hint of negativity in her tone, she replied, “I know,” as we carried on a pleasant conversation.

I thank God for that reminder, at Walmart, while waiting in line for at least 20 minutes. It is not always about me! Her time is just as precious as mine, her family matters just as much as mine does, getting off on time is valuable to her as it is to me. 

I am also grateful for God’s lesson. Imagine if I would have approached the cashier with thoughtless remarks. She might have responded with frustration in her tone, which I might have taken as being rude to the customer, which might have prompted me to speak to a supervisor, then I would have left angry at first, but then I would have felt awful …a lose-lose situation. My opportunity to show her Jesus would have been lost! But instead, I decided to show a smile, softness and sympathy in my tone, a loving and compassionate attitude. I poured out kindness and love, and it was returned. I felt joy in my heart.

Just a small, small way to show the world love.

How have you showed love today?

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Love and Blessings, Bea