I was tired, irate,
impatient, and hot. Not a pleasant combination and I was
not in a pleasant mood.
circumstances dont determine our treatment of
others as much as our attitude about life
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A Bucket of Kindness
s
hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk!
We sure do know what
thats like this summer in Central Texas.
Blistering hot days, no rain, high humidity, lakes
disappearing
this summer has been a scorcher.
The heat also takes its toll on our dispositions.
Caught in rush hour traffic, with the cars
overheating and stalling out makes getting home a
royal pain in the back side. Yet it was precisely
these conditions which allowed me to receive a
blessing from a most unlikely source.
My school teacher
wife was busily preparing for a new school year in a
brand new school. Along with the other teachers, she
was up there working late to make sure this inaugural
year started off on the right foot. Both of us
arrived home late with no supper. She threw some
veggies in the microwave and I ran to the chicken
place. Obviously a whole bunch of other folks had the
same idea since I had to wait in line behind four or
five cars.
The temperature on
the bank sign still said 101 even though it was 7:00
in the evening. The temperature on the black asphalt
around the chicken place was much hotter. There was
no breeze. As I rolled down my window to talk into
the squawk box and place my order, the heat was
suffocating. I was tired, irate, impatient, and hot.
Not a pleasant combination and I was not in a
pleasant mood.
Despite the raspy
squawk, I could tell the voice on the other end of my
order was a pleasant Hispanic woman. When I finally
got around to pick up my chicken, I learned she was
not only pleasant, but friendly, kind, and courteous.
I dont know if it was the heat, my weariness
with the long day, or if I have just come to expect
rude people in these situations, but her politeness
and genuine smile and kind words touched me with a
blessing.
She had been stuck
at a blazing hot drive through window, surrounded by
the heat and smell of frying chicken, and waiting on
tired and impatient customers. Yet she maintained an
air of genuine joy and interest in the people she
served. It was a blessing. A cup of cool water. A
reminder that circumstances dont determine our
treatment of others as much as our attitude about
life.
I left feeling
better about my day and went home in a better mood
about my supper. Most of all, I thanked God for a
bucket of kindness that came with my chicken. I vowed
to the Father that I would try to recycle this
blessing and be more intentional in my kindness and
courtesy because I knew now how it can change a bad
day for someone else.
I tell you the truth, anyone who
gives you a cup of water in my name because you
belong to Christ will certainly not lose his
reward Mark 9:41
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