People aren’t used to smiles. They aren’t used to others being kind to
them. Sadly, they aren’t even used to civility anymore. This applies especially
to those who serve us at cash registers, restaurants, or anything that involves
customer service.
Last night, I drove out of my church parking
lot at a quarter of 10 on a completely empty stomach and decided to pass by the
McDonald’s by the rectory to get what passes as a Fillet O’Fish these
days. When I drove up to the cashier window,
the young girl asked me how I was doing.
I responded with a sincere smile and said, “I’m doing great.” She was taken aback and said, “Wow! Great?
I never hear that one.” We both
shared a laugh and then I started thinking about all the people that drive past
that window who don’t treat this child of God as she deserves to be
treated. All the insults, all the
frustration thrown at her, all the lack of basic human decency....as
Christians, we cannot treat people this way no matter impatient or frustrated
we get.
So the next time you’re in a long line at
the store or sitting forever at a restaurant or waiting for 30 minutes to talk
with someone at the cable company, remember that you may be the only person
that day that treats them like a child of God.
