Scripture: Sure nuff
Silence: Yes, but it was vertical silence which leads to sleep. Not good.
The Day/The Deed: I went to Publix today with a renewed sense of resolve on the "encourage someone" front. But today, I just had a few things to toss in my cart — so this deeding was going to have to happen quick. I thought it was a total bust until I wheeled into the check out line. Noticeably, a deed presented itself. It was a woman holding a roll of paper towels, nothing else. I asked her if she'd like to go ahead of me. She was thankful and obliged (at least one deed done, I thought!)
As I repositioned my cart I noticed the guy behind me was holding nothing more than a banana. (I mean, who gets ONE thing at Publix? I have found this an impossible task, yet this is no problem for the folks in checkout aisle one) When I motioned to him to go in front of me, he said he was in no hurry and was happy to wait. He had a doctor's appointment in an hour so he had plenty of time. Then I noticed his right arm was completely bandaged.
I usually keep to myself when I'm at the store. I prefer to gittur dun, and gittur dun without much chit chat. At Publix, I am usually a load up, unload — peruse a skanky gossip magazine — swipe, smile and go kind of gal. I do not enjoy or feel comfortable initiating conversations with strangers. But today I did the unthinkable — I blurted. I asked the guy what was wrong with his arm. And after he told me about his surgery and his upcoming therapy, I willed encouragement to come forth. The only thing that spewed forth was a fumbling but sincere, "Good luck!" Not exactly words to hang on. But it was a good first swing effort at encouraging a stranger in the check out line a Publix.
I also had an opportunity to encourage a friend whose child is struggling with mean kids. Earlier, I encouraged Ben & Marley to not be mean kids to one another. And I mean it! All told, a successful day of encouraging strangers, friends and families. The stranger one was the hardest by far.
Words of encouragement/advice:
These two stories resonated today. It has been interesting to see how you start seeing do-gooding and encouraging stories more clearly when they're top of mind:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/16/japan-earthquake-2011-emperor-akihito-address_n_836388.html
Final thoughts: Encourage kids to stand up for anyone being teased or tormented. Friend-Who-Goes-to-Bed-Earlier-Than-I-Do reminded her son that Jesus didn't hang out the "cool kids," he hung out with the most despised people in society. That's a great reminder — and a big time encouragement, for kids to be the hero and not the goat when it comes to doing what's right.
One of the stock men at Publix came up to me and told me that his son had been stabbed with a pencil by a girl on the bus the day before. I told him that I would pray for his son to not become bitter. And I have.
ReplyDeleteThe workers at Publix think I'm some kind of Norma Rae because I'm fighting for the cashiers to have rotating stools to sit on like they do in Europe. Can you imagine standing in one place for 8 hours a day with only a couple of breaks?
Any ideas on how to take this campaign to the next level?
I've spoken to and written to Corporate but all I get is "We've always done it this way".