Sep
4
2015
Kingdom Speak
Posted in Daily Living 6 Comments
I watched him work so efficiently as he rung up all the groceries.
He talked to the customer in front of me without missing a beat.
The total of her order was a series of sevens.
Someone in line suggested she play the lottery.
This young man began to tell her all the reasons why gambling was not a good idea.
It’s really sad when people use their whole paycheck and just gamble it away.
He was young and I wondered how he knew that.
He has a good head on his shoulders, I assessed.
I looked at his arms that were covered with tattoos.
I looked at his neck that had some sort of picture going all the way around it.
He was the kindest, gentlest person.
He drew you in without even trying.
He was the type of person many would dismiss.
He didn’t fit the mold.
He can’t be a hard worker, some would say as they judged him by appearance.
Oh, but he was; perhaps the mold is wrong.
A young woman was bagging groceries at the end of the checkout line.
I see her week after week always working hard.
She does the menial tasks that a new employee must do.
Except she has been there a while, but she moves a bit slower than most.
She doesn’t fit the mold either.
The mold that is fast and efficient and expects you to look a certain way.
That mold.
That boring mold.
I listened as the lady with the total of all sevens walked away.
The young man leaned over and said quietly, thanks so much for bagging for me.
I never have any help and you are doing a great job.
I looked at the young woman’s face at the end of the checkout line; she was beaming.
He made her day.
He was not trying to make points.
He was genuinely grateful for her help.
His kindness towards her warmed my heart.
I agree, I told her, I always see you each week and you work very hard.
She smiled and began to tell me how she has to watch her back and her neck.
Oh, that can be so painful, I said from experience.
She proceeded to tell me stories of times when her back hurt her.
She had someone to listen to her.
Someone who could absolutely understand.
I looked at the next checkout line and a woman there was shaking her head.
Shaking her head as if to say this young woman’s complaints were inappropriate.
But they weren’t.
I asked, she answered.
I cared; she knew it.
Her story was not burdensome to hear; it is the lament of a fallen world.
Everyone is broken.
We just have different degrees of brokenness.
We all need a listening ear, even in a grocery line.
We all need a little encouragement and a reminder that we are doing a good job.
I watch you each week, too, I said to the tattooed cashier.
You are kind to your customers, you are efficient, and you are a hard worker.
The young man looked around as if I couldn’t possibly be talking to him.
Are you talking to me, he asked teasingly?
I am, I said emphatically.
I think you have to tell someone when they are doing a good job; you just did.
He realized that I heard him compliment the young woman who was bagging.
Except you never hear the good stuff, he said.
You never hear the good stuff.
I thought about that simple statement as I drove home.
Why is that?
Why are we so quick to criticize but so slow to encourage.
We have it all backwards.
I saw the young woman’s demeanor change when she heard an encouraging word.
I saw the disbelief in the young man’s face to think that I was truly talking to him.
Are we that stingy with words of affirmation?
Are we that hesitant to encourage another?
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:5,6)
In the first century, salt was used to preserve food.
Salt was highly valued since it was difficult to obtain.
In some places where salt was traded, it was considered a type of currency.
Yet we are told in God’s Word to make sure our conversation is seasoned with salt.
We are to preserve the dignity and worth of another.
We do that in the way we treat them and in the words we say to them.
We are to be full of grace when we talk to other people.
How are we doing?
Jesus was open with everyone.
No one was beyond His salvation.
Jesus associated with the lowest of the low, the outcasts, the people no one else wanted.
Jesus loved them, He sought after them, and He engaged them in conversation.
Jesus’ conversations always pointed to His Father.
When Jesus spoke, it was Kingdom-speak.
For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent Me commanded Me what to say and how to say it. (John 12:49)
Jesus’ words were full of grace and seasoned with salt.
Jesus’ words were the words of His Father.
Jesus was open to everyone.
No one was beyond the Kingdom.
How are we doing?
How well are we following Jesus’ example?
We put people in categories and decide if they are worth our time.
They were always worth Jesus’ time; they energized Him.
A little word of encouragement goes a long way.
Can you imagine what this world would be like if we all were kinder to each other?
At first, we would turn around as if to say, are you talking to me?
Before long, it would catch on.
The encouragement would catch on.
The kind words would become contagious.
The smiles would become second nature.
Our daily life would be wonderfully different.
Try a little Kingdom-speak today and see the ripple effect all around you.
You will be amazed.
I just love this. I firmly believe we do need to recognize everyone big and small as we go about our day. Everyone matters and most do not know that.
You are so right, Monty! Everyone matters! What a difference we would see in this world if we all remembered that!
Gina
So true, and what a great reminder of what it should look like, and sound like to be followers of Jesus. Thank you for always being salt and light to those around you.
Diane,
We all are to be salt and light to those around us. What a difference it would make to this dark world if we all took that seriously. Can you imagine?
Gina
What you wrote is so true! It is easier to smile and speak a kind word (and easier on your body and mind) than to go around looking for negative things to complain about. I always try to smile or say hello to people I see, thinking that God living in me wants them to know they are worthwhile. They usually smile back! If only everyone in the world would do this, there would be no wars, no murders, etc. Just people loving each other. I can’t wait to get to heaven to live in a world like this!
Sue,
Can you imagine what the world would look like if we were intentional to do this each day? It would surely make the world a different place. It would be a little glimpse of heaven.
Gina