Attitude Matters

I have a cute little bistro table and chair set on my porch.
It has been used more times than I can count.
It is a place for a friend and I to have a cup of tea and talk.
It is a place to sit and watch the birds that are always nearby.

My side porch has a wonderful server table that is next to the bistro set.
It is a perfect place to put a pitcher of iced tea and some delicious baked goods.
It is also the place that the squirrels decide to use to crack open nuts they have stored away.
I find the open shells and debris everywhere.

I am sure that squirrels, being one of God’s creatures, have value.
Leaving nut shells and debris scattered about sometimes make me wonder.
This year, I noticed more damage the squirrels have done.
As they nibble the crumbs that fall from their paws, they have been nibbling my chairs.

There are tiny holes in the wicker seats.
To say I am annoyed is an understatement.
First, the squirrels are using my table as a nutcracker.
Now, they have nibbled the seats of my chairs.

I am now on a search to find similar chairs.
I am looking for a particular size.
I am looking for a particular style.
I found them as I was looking for something else at a nearby store.

I went back to the store, since the day I found them, I was not driving my mini van.
I saw that only two chairs were left, which was just the number I needed.
I caught the eye of a salesperson who turned and looked away.
I had to intentionally walk over to him to ask my question.

Do you have any more of these chairs? I asked pointing.
I asked because the ones on display were not in great shape.
He grunted an incoherent answer.
He never looked me in the eye.

I asked him again: Do you have any more of these chairs?
Without looking in my direction, he walked over to the sales desk.
He thumbed through some papers without speaking.
I gave him the benefit of the doubt and assumed he was looking at his inventory.

He still never looked up.
He never spoke to me.
He kept thumbing through papers.
He was indifferent about whether he made the sale or not.

Thank you; I changed my mind, I said into the air.
These chairs are not in good shape, I told him pointing in vain.
He remained silent.
He kept thumbing through papers, that may or may not have been in answer to my question.

I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.
We never know the burden that someone else is carrying.
Burdens, I understand.
Rudeness, I do not.

I had to stop at a hardware store on my way home.
I needed a rubber umbrella ring for our glass top table.
A fresh one was in order.
I thought that I got my last one at this particular store.

I went into the small hardware store and saw an older woman wearing a store apron.
She was helping another customer.
When she finished, I asked, Do you have any rubber umbrella rings for a glass table?
With a spring in her step, she walked a few aisles down and took me right to the item I needed.

Excuse our inventory, she said, it’s hard to get shipments these days.
I thought her inventory was just fine.
More than her well stocked inventory, her attitude was wonderful.
She was there to work and help customers with whatever they needed.

She walked quickly to the register to help someone else.
She answered a question from another person.
She waited on me and held a conversation while ringing up my small order.
Her attitude made me want to shop there again.

Attitude matters.
Using Jesus as our example, the bar is set high.
Many of Jesus’ encounters seemed like detours along the way.
They were never detours, but rather sovereign moments the Father ordained.

People were important to Jesus.
The needs of people mattered to Jesus.
Jesus never sinned in His attitude towards them, even as they pressed in against Him.
Jesus never wavered in His love towards them, even at the expense of His own well being.

That kind of attitude is so attractive to others.
To treat people with respect is so important.
The first sales person may have been having a bad day, but that is not an excuse.
We are to serve each other in love despite how we feel.

We cannot do that in our own strength.
We cannot lay aside our wants and needs without looking to our Savior.
Our Lord Jesus made Himself nothing.
Jesus made Himself nothing so that we could be something.

In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross.  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)

Jesus became nothing so that we could become something.
How can we do any less in our interactions with others?
Attitude matters.
We, who are in Christ, are to have the same attitude as our Lord Jesus.

Lord Jesus, by Your grace, may that be so.

2 responses to “Attitude Matters”

1. Love this reminder, Gina, especially when in the presence of our 6 precious littles all at one time, lol! Amazing how often an unpleasant experience can be quickly turned around for the better with a more positive attitude. I strive to ask Jesus to fill me with the ‘fruits of the spirit’ daily (Gal.5:22), realizing my need to be filled full of him each new day. Keep enjoying your quaint side porch with hospitality as you do so well, even in spite of those frisky squirrels and their debris!

   Reply

   • Carolyn, you’re so right. We can completely turn a situation around by our attitude. Prayerfully, we will get the help we need to bring joy to our circumstances. Thank you for your encouragement. I look forward to time with you on my porch.
     Blessings,
     Gina

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