Nov
6
2020
Waiting In Line
Posted in Daily Living 6 Comments
I saw the mother and son as they came into the store.
I was waiting in line at the customer service desk.
Standing on the circles, placed six-feet apart, our line weaved in a strange curve.
We needed to make room for employees carrying returned items back to the store floor.
We also had to make room for anyone who needed to use the restrooms.
Such was the case with this mother and son.
They came into the store and made a beeline to the bathrooms.
The little boy was probably about four-years-old.
The person at the customer service counter was taking a long time.
The woman waiting behind her looked back at me.
She rolled her eyes as if to say, this is ridiculous.
I smiled back with my eyes, since my actual smile was behind my mask.
Finally, the person at the counter was finished.
The line moved forward a bit.
The mother and son came out of the bathroom.
He was holding her hand.
Mommy, my mask! He said in an anxious voice.
Did your mask come off you ear? His mom asked.
That’s easy to fix, she said.
She leaned over and fastened the elastic behind the boy’s ear.
The little boy grabbed his mother’s hand again.
They walked off together.
I turned to watch them.
The woman behind me smiled with her eyes.
So cute, she said to me.
I knew she was watching them, too.
It’s so sad to see children in a mask, she said.
I agree, I said.
I admit that I don’t like wearing a mask, I said to her.
But that is the way I love other people right now, I continued.
Agreed, she answered.
And this world needs a little more love, she went on.
It’s crazy out there, isn’t it? I remarked.
That opened a door for the two of us to lament a bit about the state of the world.
It was not an ugly discussion.
In fact, it was quite pleasant.
Things are so angry right now, she said.
Nobody’s listening to anybody else.
We are so divided.
She stopped and looked at me.
But we’re doing fine, I said, moving my finger between the woman and myself.
She shook her head in agreement.
We are told to distrust the fact that two people with different skin color could possibly get along.
But here we were talking to each other, two women of different colors.
It is very possible.
I don’t believe everyone is as angry as the news suggests, I commented.
I think there are only this many people, I said moving my thumb and forefinger close.
I really don’t think it’s that hard to get along, I said waiting for my turn in line.
All it takes is to be kind to each other, the woman said.
A little smile, I said, even behind our masks.
Listening to each other, the woman added.
Realizing that we are all in this together, I said before I was called forward.
I turned back to her before I stepped up for my turn.
It was so good talking with you, I said and meant it.
We just solved the world’s problems, the woman said with a wink.
I smiled behind my mask and I know she saw my smile with her heart.
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
(John 13:34,35)
There in the customer service line, Jesus’ command was lived out.
There in the customer service line, two women of different color agreed with each other.
Two women of different color solved the problems of the world while we waited.
Two women, behind their masks, smiled at each other, enjoying what we had in common.
It’s not that hard.
Our conversation lifted my spirits.
I thought of my thumb and forefinger coming close together to make a point.
I think there are only this many people.
Put your thumb and forefinger together.
Only that many.
Not as many as the rhetoric would have you believe.
It is possible to love others.
Really.
Really! ♥️ Thank you Gina!
Sherie,
It is possible!
Gina
Truth♥️Thank you Gina!
You are welcome, Sherie!
Let’s press on.
Gina
Dear Gina,
As Jesus prays for us in John 17:21, “that all of them (believers) may be one…”
‘He doesn’t pray for uniformity, but unity, a glorious display of our diversity becoming a bouquet of grace.’
Pastor Scotty Smith, TGC
Thank you for your bouquet of grace today!
You are welcome, Susie!
The whole conversation blessed me tremendously.
The quote you included blessed me as well.
Gina