This morning, my husband picked me up so we could go to the church and get some work done. I needed to print out some more flyers for the Christmas Outreach we are having so we could get them passed out this afternoon. On the way to church, I stopped by Wal-Mart to pick up some ink and then we went to Big Lots to see about a gift we wanted to get the girls.
When we entered the checkout line, I noticed a lady and her son in the next line counting out change. The reason I noticed them was because of the lady running the register on that aisle. She was loudly asking the woman if she had anymore money and she kept asking ... and she kept asking. As the customer searched her purse, pulling out single bills and more change, the employee kept asking her if she had anymore money ... exclaiming loudly that all she needed was twenty more dollars and asking if the customer had it.
The customer's son was mentally handicapped. It was obvious by his behavior and you could tell that whatever their purchase was ... there was something in there for him. He was tickled pink ... but his demeanor changed as he saw his mother searching for more money and not coming up with enough to satisfy the lady at the register. He began to get aggitated and the more the employee loudly exclaimed how much more money they needed ... the more aggitated he became. Then he started to cry.
I was furious! I could not believe that the lady operating that register couldn't be nicer about the situation. She had to have noticed that the woman's son was handicapped. She had to see her humiliation and her confusion. She had to have realized that she was just making it worse. I felt so bad for the woman and her son. I wanted to say something, but I didn't.
Instead, when I was handed my change ... I stepped to the next aisle and handed it to the employee at that register. I asked if it was enough to cover the woman's purchase and left. I didn't say anything to the woman or her son. I didn't tell the employee what I thought of her behavior. I just handed them the money and left ... apologizing to my husband for spending more money than I was supposed to. I just couldn't stand there and do nothing and I knew if I said something ... it wasn't going to be nice.
You would think though ... with it being Christmas and all ... that people could be a little nicer. Show just a little more compassion. Be just a little bit kinder. Exhibit just a little courtesy. You would think that ... and maybe, just maybe ... I didn't need to say anything to that employee. Maybe, just maybe ... my actions spoke enough.
what you did was the right thing, I wonder how many Christians would just walk away in such a circumstance.. God would be very happy for what you did. It might seem like a small thing but its not.
I don't know, Ben. My husband says I was a little testy when I put the money in the woman's hand and asked her if it was enough to cover the purchase. I was so mad, I am sure it showed.
See, if I had been thinking ... I would have been all smiles, wished the lady and her son a Merry Christmas, and said God bless. I suck at not showing my feelings though. I wear them like a loud colorful sweater. I might not say what I am thinking ... but you can see it all over my face.
imho, it's okay to show a bit of anger in those sorts of situations. not yell and tell the cashier off, that won't work, but enough to let her know how she was treating a customer (and an overwhelmed mother and son) is way out of bounds. most people would've done nothing. hopefully the cashier got the message. :)
It would be an excellent thing if pastors had a solid grasp of how to teach on anger from a biblical perspective - we go from be ye angry and sin not on the one hand to be slow to speak, slow to anger (the preferred mode, I'm certain) - but so many folks sincerely believe there is no safe expression of anger, so it gets ignored...and as a culture, we simply have to get out of the mode of "It's not my business" when we see something going on that isn't right. There has to be a continuum of behavior and actions that are acceptable - you wouldn't physically restrain the cashier, but you could talk to her - on up to stepping in to protect a child (or an adult) from being abused, all the way to jumping a guy on an airplane because he's trying to detonate a bomb - that we can practice.
I'm with Monica - its OK to show anger - and maybe she thought about it later.
Sadly, Christmas has become less a time for charity and kindness than impatience.
As materialism has taken over and spirituality has been pushed out, anyone who interferes in the flow of money and goods (by having to look for an extra $20) is just a problem ... not a person in need of compassion.
I'll be honest with you, it's better that you were there than I. Testily handing the cashier the money would be nothing compared to what I would have said ... (Not that I'm proud of it, just being honest.)
You did the right thing.
Good on ya, Angel.
Thanks, everybody! :) I feel a bit better about the situation ... which is good since I had been kicking myself ever since.
I agree with it being okay to be angry and show anger ... I just have a mouth on me! I have to really watch that I don't get ugly and I can get really ugly when I want to and I know that is not what God wants.