Many years ago, I used to work as a cashier at a grocery store. My days were filled with lots of interesting people. One of the most peculiar was a very crabby middle aged woman. Every time she came into the store, she would complain and complain about anything and everything. When the woman neared the front of the store, the cashiers would always send up silent prayers that the woman would not come into their lane.
When the woman entered the check-out line, she would begin a long tyrannical outburst about all the things wrong with the store, wrong with the cashier, wrong with whatever came to the woman's mind. Many cashiers would return the woman's wrath with mean and sarcastic remarks. This only provided fuel to the woman's fury. As I often would observe this scene, I made a silent vow to not follow my colleagues footsteps. No, I would try to be as nice as possible to this woman.
One day, the woman entered my checkout line. Immediately, I sprang into action. "Hello. How are you doing today?" "My, what a pretty shirt you are wearing." "Is there anything you were not able to find in the store?" Over and over again, I tried to engage the woman in a friendly conversation. The woman was very mean to me, but I continued to smile and be polite to her.
The next time I was working and saw the woman, she came into my check-out lane. Again, I was as nice and polite as I could be. Oddly enough, the woman was not as rude and mean as she had been on previous visits. Over the period of several more encounters, the woman opened up to me that she was in chronic severe pain. I sympathized with her as much as possible. I tried to go out of my way to make her visit to the grocery store was enjoyable. I asked her how we could best assist her. She explained how she liked her groceries packed and that it greatly helped her if someone loaded her groceries into her car. From that time forth, I always instructed my bagger how to pack her groceries, and if they did it incorrectly, I would re-pack the bags. I also insisted the bagger took the woman's cart and loaded her groceries into her car. Very slowly, the woman stopped being so wrathful in my check-out lane.
Many months later, the woman came through my line and was smiling! I was shocked! I had never seen anything but a scowl on this woman's face. I eagerly seized the moment and asked her about her joyous mood. She told me she had met a wonderful man and was in love! I was overjoyed for her! From that day forward, the woman was always smiling and always was in a bright cheerful mood. I was so grateful for this woman's new found happiness. Now, the cashiers wished and hoped this woman would come in to their lane because the woman would continually shower the cashier and bagger with words of praise. Oddly enough, whenever I was working, the woman would always come to my lane, even if there were there were other lines open.
I have long since lost touch with this customer, but the lesson I learned from her has never been lost--no matter how mean, how wrathful a person is, there is always hope the person will one day find joy and happiness. Although my days as a cashier in a grocery store have long since passed, I still see the grocery store as a place to spread joy. Whenever I see someone looking sorrowful or angry, I try to catch their eye, smile and say, "Hello! I hope you have a great day!" Not everyone is delighted to see my smile and hear my words, but I think perhaps, my actions can help break-down their icy outer shells and perhaps they might soon find happiness and joy in their lives.
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous." (Matthew 5:38-39, 43-45).
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