Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Another Lesson at Walmart

Usually the lessons I learn at Walmart are not lessons I want to learn. (see What Happens at Walmart Shouldn't But once in a while I'm caught off guard.  Like this time....

A while back I drove into Walmart's parking lot.  When I opened my car door I heard a woman screaming the most insulting, heart-hurting, ear-burning language you can imagine.  Expecting to see the boyfriend/husband she was abusing I turned to see a little boy probably 3-4 years old.  The woman was mad at him for something and wanted him to get in the car while she loaded her groceries.  He wasn't as fast as she'd wanted and she was letting him know what she thought of him because of it.  Honestly, I got ticked and decided to give her a piece of my mind.  How dare she talk to her child like that.  Clearly he couldn't stand up for himself so I would.  Someone had to stop her after all.  I bet she wouldn't talk to her dog that way.

There were only a couple cars between us - I started marching toward her.  I wanted to rip her vocal chords out and choke her with them.  Just then, when I was still a car away an older gentleman approached her and said, "It looks like you're having a hard time.  Please let me help you."  He started to unload the rest of her groceries into the trunk and said, "Why don't you help that sweet little boy into the car, I'll finish this."  Guess what her reply was?  Absolutely nothing.  She was speechless and so was I.  And that state was much better (especially for the little boy) than how she'd have been if I'd have handled it my way.  I realized that not only did he diffuse the situation between her and her little guy - she actually handled her son quietly and much better, but he taught me a lesson - and hopefully her, too. 

If Christ was to witness the same situation I think he'd have handled it the same way as that gentleman.  With love.  Just like he did so many others.  Humbled...lesson learned.


10 comments:

  1. WOW!!! What a beautiful lesson! I will remember this...

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  2. Thank you. What a great lesson we all can use.

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  3. Oh goodness, what a beautiful lesson - thank you so much for sharing this!

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  4. Thank you for a reminder of Christ-like love, even on a parking lot.

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  5. You are such a GREAT reminder of HOW WE should be. Amazing story, thanks.

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  6. Just happened to stumble across your blog and I am so glad I found this post - there have been times when I've felt like doing exactly what you were about to do... What a wonderful teaching moment, and what a fantastic perspective this man had! I need to work so that kind of reaction can be my first thought, too!

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  7. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing :-)

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  8. I love that story. I wish I could have seen where it was going, I was with you ready to say something to the mother. That man was brilliant. What a lesson.

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  9. I love that story. I wish I could have seen where it was going, I was with you ready to say something to the mother. That man was brilliant. What a lesson.

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