It happened at the Supermarket
This is what one might say is a comical approach to a problem which has been a problem man has fought with ever since Adam and Eve.
I was at the local super market picking up some groceries. When I had collected everything on my list I proceeded to the checkout. Have you ever noticed that although many super markets have a whole line of registers they will often have only one open?
That was the case yesterday. There was a line extending toward the back of the store and one person trying the check them all out.
An old man (I should be careful with that, I am an old man) was complaining about having to wait in line so long.
“It’s cheap of these people,” he said. “They have all these cash registers sitting unused but they will expect us to wait.”
Another gentleman, who probably about my age was trying to take a light-hearted view so he began to joke about the closed registers, Soon one of them opened and called,
“I can take someone.” Shoppers hurried to the second line but the older gentleman just stayed put but continued to complain. After a few minutes another register opened. The second gentleman nudged the first to head for it. He did along with a host of other shoppers.
Before long we heard another person yelling that she could help someone on register five. This time it was my turn to move and I was followed closely by the gentleman who had been encouraging the older man to move on to the third register that had opened.
When we got to the register, the woman who was ringing up my groceries didn’t smile. She seemed agitated. The gentleman behind me said,
“Well, we got another register to open,” to which I replied,
“Yes, I guess all our complaining paid off.” I said this in jest but the lady on the other side, ringing up my groceries did not smile or look at either of us.
We have all been in stores under this same set of circumstances, I am sure. My point is this. I was joking with the man behind me as he was with me. The lady checking out our groceries were not and she probably knew nothing about the man whose complaining started the whole conversation.
This is how it is with us all. Sometimes we have the feeling the whole world should be revolving around us. We were not the only people who had to wait. Who knows what kind of day the workers at this supermarket were having.
We also are sometimes guilty of showing a lack of consideration for others. If they are there to serve us, they should do better. That is our thoughts. Are they right?
Actually, sometimes we need to be a little careful about what we say. Maybe I should have explained to the lady that I was just trying to take a light-hearted approach to the first man’s attitude. I am not sure she would have understood but I might have tried.
After I paid for my groceries I saw the first man walking out of the super market. Ironically, he was behind me even though he was the first to change lanes and he was now still complaining about the service.
The whole thing took five minutes of my day. What’s more, I had a healthy exchange with the second man, who seemed to be as light-hearted as I was.
This is my prayer for today and everyday.
“Dear Lord, give me patients to be a little more forgiving with others. Let me always remember that each minute is worth living and savoring whether it is at a checkout while waiting for the cashier or at home with a grandchild. Help me to realize that I am not the center of the universe. I am a creation of yours and I should live my life to show your love. Please bless the lady at the checkout who was trying to get us moving as fast as she can and make me always aware that what I say does have the ability to hurt.”
My friend, the bottom line is this. Words can sting like a sword when flung around without careful consideration for what they can do. Don’t wield those swords without care.
God Bless you and God bless the Supermarket checkout lady.
God Bless
Lena