So, for today’s post, I wanted to recount an encounter that I had with a store manager. During my lunch break, I decided to go shopping for Mother’s Day. In my head, I had mapped out the stores that I would visit to best use the single hour allotted for lunch. Luckily, I found the perfect gift at the first store. With my purchase in hand, I patiently awaited my turn at the register behind a lovely couple. To my right, the store manager stood by giving instruction to another sales associate. Suddenly, she looked up and noticed that I had been waiting for some time. Hurriedly, she came over to ring up my purchase as the original sales clerk was trying to push a store card on the couple before me. The store manager frantically scanned my purchase as she apologized for my wait. Since I wasn’t in a rush, I offered a nonchalant smile of understanding. To my surprise, the store manager then returned to her conversation with her fellow coworker. They chattered on as the manager distractedly attempted to complete the sale. Embarrassed by her boss’s actions, the original cashier tried to step in and complete the sale. This resulted in even more frantic actions by the manager, torn receipt and coupon, and exasperated looks from the sales clerk. By this point, I was simply ready to gather my belongings and leave the store. As I turned to leave, the store manager finally paused her conversation to ask me a question. “Oh, a chocolate chip cookie,” she stated hungrily lusting after the cookie bag I had previously purchased at the Great American Cookie store. “I love chocolate chip cookies. I’m not supposed to have hard foods, but I bet if I heat it up then it’ll be soft.” Immediately I became annoyed with her. After barely saying two words to me the entire transaction, she felt compelled to hint at me giving her a cookie. I swallowed the sarcastic remark and instead mustered up a slight laugh. Clearly, she must be joking.
This whole scenario caused me to reflect on human nature. We tend to be concerned with our own needs without giving thought to the needs of others. The Bible says that men will become “lovers of themselves”. This has become increasingly evident today. We live in a culture that lives by the mantra: “Get you before you get me” or “Look out for number one.” It’s become justified in that people truly believe since life is hard that the world owes them. And if it won’t pay up, then its ours for the taking.
As Christians, it can be so easy to get caught up in that mindset. For example, someone rushes to the grocery express line with a cart full while you have only two items. Or again, a male speed walking towards a door only to walk through allowing it to fly back in the young lady’s face. The knee jerk reaction can come all too easy. What if instead we respond in love? Hindsight: I most definitely could have extended love and given my cookie to the store manager. When we spend time in God’s word, it allows the flesh to decrease and the spirit to increase. Its God’s spirit that empowers us to respond with love despite the actions of others. We can live a self-less.
Scripture References:
2 Timothy 3:1-6 “But know this, that in the last days [a]perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, [b]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
1 John 2:5-6 “5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God [a]is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
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