First Church of God

I have officially begun my Christmas shopping.  My husband and I went shopping on Friday, and then on Saturday I shopped for most of the day.  The stores were packed.  I could not believe the lines to check out at Kohl's and the parking lots were a mad house.  It didn't help that the temperature was in the 20's and the wind chill was single digits with blowing snow all afternoon.  So, I picked a great day to go shopping!  Let's just say, that most people were in NO mood for polite conversation of any kind. However, there were two bright spots in my day! 

I waited in the long check out line in Kohl's and a young man named Christian was the employee that waited on me.  He had an accent that I believe was European, and he was so polite.  He asked how my shopping was going, and told me of his shopping dilemma over what to buy for his nephew.  He finished our conversation by telling me to have a great holiday season and to be careful as I drove around that day.  Then I went to Bath & Body Works in the mall, and as I walked in a young lady named Carla asked if she could help me.  I said, "Yes", and asked where I could find one particular item.  She showed me where to look, and then she asked me who I was buying for.  I told her and then we had the best conversation about wrapping paper, socks, and how many people we each had to buy for.  After I paid for my items she walked me to the door of the store, and when I left she said, "Have a great day, Crystal!"  I just about fell over!  I felt as if I had just made a new friend! 

Both of these young people on that cold, busy day exemplified a scripture that I have read many times over. In Proverbs 15:30a it says, "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart..."  They brought joy to what could have been a very frustrating day of shopping.  This is an art that is all to extinct in our world today.  We are so caught up in what we need to get done, and most of the time we feel the other people sharing the space we occupy in the store are just in our way!   Oh, we may not say that but we definitely act that way.  We like our personal space, and we don't like visitors because we are on a schedule!  And...has anybody else noticed how customer service seems to be lacking even common courtesy these days? 

But, we have a responsibility to be JOY!  If you belong to Jesus then this holiday shopping season is an opportunity like no other to be His representative.  Joy can be contagious.  It can cause someone to stop and take notice as I did of Christian and Carla.  You will probably stick out like a sore thumb, and you may just annoy some people.  But, it will sure make you feel good when you lay your head on your pillow at night and you don't have to feel ashamed becuase you knocked someone down to get the last $5 scarf!  So, the next time you head out to fight the masses at the department stores, walk with a purpose in mind...BRINGING JOY TO YOUR LITTLE CORNER OF THE WORLD! 

How is your shopping going?  Have you had any interesting experiences as you've shopped?  Or, maybe you just need prayer, because you still have not started shopping, and you could just use someone to do it for you!  Comment and let the rest of us in on your holiday season!