Every person around us each day is a living, breathing, soul created by our Heavenly Father.
So many times, we miss truly seeing people.
Everyone wants to be known and loved. Praise God that He knows us by the hairs on our heads and even calls the stars by name. Perhaps you and I know this truth and find shelter in the “being known,” because we rest in our relationship with God. Do the people around us know Him? Do they live with the peace of being known by God or are they wrestling with emptiness? Look into their eyes and see.
I’ve found this in the grocery store time and time again. {I know, I know. I lead an exciting life.} Really though, where else do we see such a diverse group of strangers on a regular basis? Allow that to soak in. Most of the large groups we are in have connections that make us aquaintances and friends. The grocery store? That’s a lot of strangers.
The grocery store is one, gigantic stranger-fest. We don’t know what might be happening in the lives of the person next to us in the produce.
May I give you a few practical tips for sharing the love of Jesus in the grocery store? These are all tried and true. I spend a lot of time with my shopping cart and a grocery list. What can I say? Here we go!
1) Smile. Smile at the people you pass. It sounds simple but so often we don’t make eye contact with the people we see on the quest for milk and eggs.
2) Help reach an item on a high shelf. Many shoppers are elderly, older Senior adults, injured, or health impaired in some way that prevents them from reaching the items needed. I’ve even known one friend to say, “May I stay with you and help you finish your shopping?” How kind!
3) Encourage moms with young children, toddlers, and babies. As a mom with littles, I promise you that shopping with multiple small children is the equivalent to climbing Mount Everest. Tell her she is doing an awesome job. I’ve often seen moms with crying newborns in the diaper aisle. I like to smile at those new moms and say, “I have three little guys and this will get easier so soon! You’re doing a great job, I can tell.”
4) Pay for the person in front of you in the check-out. I haven’t done this, but a few of our friends do this from time to time. If you have the extra funds, what a way to spread joy and to lighten someone else’s financial burden!! I’d faint if someone paid for my groceries, I do believe. Our friends have simply said, “Hey, let me get that for you today,” and then swiped their debit card. Isn’t that precious?
5) Sincerely converse with the checker. I’ve found that our general response to the checker is to ignore. We can do better, dear readers. Instead of avoiding the checker, ask them about themselves. “Have you had a busy day in here? I bet this time of year is busy for you. Have you worked all week? Is your day off coming up? I hope your day gets better. I hope you have a nice day off tomorrow. That’s great that you get to spend the afternoon with your grandchildren! Do you always have Sunday off? Do you have a church you guys enjoy attending? You are welcome at my church anytime. I teach a Sunday School class. Want to come?” I usually talk to my checkers with similar conversation topics to the above. Give it a try! Your checker will be thrilled to chat! Can you imagine the monotony if everyone ignored you all day? Yikes!
Sweet friends, these small random acts of kindness and seemingly insignificant gestures may appear to be obvious, but I assure you that our society often functions with minimal engagement and interaction. We never know which soul may desperately need that smile or conversation. We cannot foretell the difference a kind gesture would make in the life of another. We can, however, be faithful in the small things. God is at work in the seemingly insignificant. Be the hands and feet. Choose to live a life of kindness wherever you go. Live like Jesus in the produce aisle.
From my list making, price matching, & coupon clipping heart to yours, ~Courtney
Great article! It’s always good to give folks the benefit of the doubt if the person giving service, kind of, is having a bad day. Recently we were out of state and stopped for coffee. Service was less than wonderful and employees irritable. Initially it made us grumble but in the car we prayed for them. We tried again the next day and there were smiles. I mentioned the contrast with the day prior, only find out the server was having a boutt of horrible morning sickness, there had been other issues and she was very glad we had not acted on that one experience alone. We were able to tell her we had prayed for their day to improve and she was appreciative.
When our kids were very young we had a snarls checker during Christmas in a card store at a small post office selling stamps. She was brusque and not happy. Gathering all the change we had we went across the street, got a single carnation explaining why we were giving them change for a flower (gathered out of seat cushions). The florist added some greenery and we took it back with a smile and a “hope your day gets better” which was met with a beaming smile. The cost was minimal but the reward and lesson was huge. Those in line were greatly relieved as well!
Love the tips you gave. My hubby actually sent me your post.
Blessings,
Ginger
Ginger, I absolutely love the ideas you just added, as well! The prayer for cranky servers…wow! That was the perfect way for you to handle that scenario. I’m going to take a cue from you because prayer changes hearts and it will also teach my children how to love those who are less than kind. The carnation story brought a tear to my eye. We never know what someone is facing, do we? I love the simple, “Hope your day gets better,” that you left with. How kind and effective! I’m sure she was blessed to know that someone cared. Thank you for stopping by, Ginger. I hope we’ll connect again. I’d love to learn more from you! It sounds like you have been living missionally for far longer than I have! I’d love to hear more of your stories! Please send me an email at CourtneyDStanford.com if you’d like to share more ideas and resources on Missional living!