I have a confession – I used to feel strong by putting people in their place. I had a habit of pointing out faults and weaknesses in people – especially when it came to customer service. The way I saw it, people needed to do their jobs well and it was my job to let them know when they were not. Thank God He changed that attitude in me – and he used the post-holiday return line at Walmart to do it.
I was standing in a group of people waiting to return a gift that didn’t work. It was the week after Christmas and the store manager had not yet figured out a good system for returns. There were no markers or ropes to define a line, and the poor girl at the register was so busy she hadn’t had time to look up. No one knew who was next – we only knew we were tired of waiting. The result was a crowd of irritated people and a frazzled clerk on the verge of tears.
A lady I recognized from church pushed her way to the front and begin to give the girl at the register a piece of her mind. She was loud and accusatory, and I remember thinking how ugly she appeared as she yelled at the already-defeated worker. Suddenly, it was as if God tapped me on the shoulder and held a mirror to my face. “That is the way you look when you try to put people in their place.”
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Ephesians 4:29
It was the most clarifying, convicting event of my life. And at that very moment an encourager was born.
Fast forward 15 years or so. I was in the bread aisle at Walmart (why does God use Walmart to speak to me so often?). The bread man was stocking the shelves and he realized he was blocking me from moving forward. “I’m sorry I am in your way.” he said as he moved. Then under his breath he began to mumble, “I’m always in the way. I feel like I am in the way when I am sleeping.”
“You are not in the way,” I retorted as I smiled at him. “I appreciate the work you are doing – otherwise I couldn’t buy bread.” It was a simple show of gratitude and it came easily after years of intentional encouraging.
He smiled back and continued stocking as I rolled on to the next aisle. Suddenly, he popped around the end and cheerily said, “Have a great day!” He had a pep in his step and he was no longer mumbling.
That’s when I figured it out – encouragement is a superpower!
I no longer find my strength in putting people in their place, instead I feel strong when I help people find their place, appreciate their place, and excel in their place. I am so grateful for God, for mirrors, and for a chance to change – and for superpowers. Life is really fun as an encourager!
“You were taught, with regard to your former self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24