Sean Dietrich was at the supermarket and witnessed a scene that troubled him. A young man approached the juice section in the store. Just as an older woman was reaching for the last carton of pulp-free orange juice, the teenager reached over her arm and took the only carton that remained on the shelf. The teenager then walked off and resumed his shopping, without even acknowledging what he had done. Dietrich immediately noticed that the lady was teary eyed. As he began to question what was happening in our society, another teenager entered the picture. The employee had observed the situation and immediately went to the back of the store and retrieved another carton of the pulp-free orange juice. The young man approached the lady and said, “We had some extra juice in the back. I thought you’d like to have it.” In addition, he gave the woman a buy-one-get-one-free coupon. Then he handed her the second carton of orange juice and gave her a hug.
Due to the recent change of the way they do the order lanes at the local Chick-fil-A, Linda accidentally cut in front of someone when she entered the line. Not the least bit pleased about the situation, the man behind her got out of his car and came to her car to make sure she was aware of what she had done. It somewhat scared Linda and daughter Emily, but she quickly expressed an apology and acknowledged that she was wrong. When it was time to pay, Linda also paid for the man’s order. Emily wanted to know why her mother did that when the man was so mean to them. It opened a conversation about “owning up to things when we’re wrong, and also being kind to people even when they aren’t kind to us.” When it was time for the man to purchase his order, the CFA worker informed him that his meal had been paid for. Linda recounted, “He got out of his car again, walked up to my window again, thanked me, and even shook my hand. And? He brought us a treat.” As they left CFA, Linda prayed for the man. Emily was able to witness how an act of kindness can change someone’s day. Laura took a teachable moment to show Emily the difference actions make. Laura concluded, “As Christians we are still called to follow the example of Christ. Loving people the best we can, sharing His kindness and His good news as often as we can. I don’t know that people have needed it more.”
Whether we witness the wrongdoing or commit it, may we be willing to do what we can to make things right.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and truth.
1 John 3:18
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