“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.” –Colossians 4:6
“I’m leaving right at 5 today so I can see the news.” Famous last words. Two trains, a closed left turn lane, and 30 minutes later I’m only 13 blocks away from the office with eight miles to go. While most people experience this every day, it was a far cry from my usual 25-minute drive home.
“I wonder why I came this way, what am I supposed to see?”
Another 25 minutes later and I’m at the entrance drive to my favorite little grocery store. Guacamole and chips for dinner sounds perfect, I’ll just dash in. With the addition of apples I head to the cashier with only three items. With no one in line but the open light clearly lit, I put my three items on the checkout belt. The cashier has her back turned to me but I know she will turn around when she is ready. Not a single word, no greeting, no acknowledgement, she just started scanning and huffed at having to weigh the apples. Well, that’s okay, I know very few people work where I work so those tiny courtesies are not on the top of everyone’s list. I glance at the grandmother, mother and little girl behind me in line; they have done their month’s shopping and they all smile at me and I smile back, but I didn’t have any words at all to offer anyone by that time of day.
That beautiful little girl said, “I like your makeup!” She was sure being kind because after 10 hours, there was no makeup remaining on my face. I thanked her from the bottom of my heart. What a difference she made in my evening with her kind words.
And the world will be saved by a child!
If the person in front of you is uncommunicative, unresponsive, rude and arrogant, just look to your side. Your Savior is standing right beside you, whether in Spirit or in the form of a little girl with a kind word. I want to be the next person to save someone’s evening the same way that little girl saved mine.
Sue Gibbons, Administrative Assistant, Worship Team
