INSPIRASUNS

Yesterday our team of gourmet canners finished up our 2023 inventory. Heavenly Fruited Rice and Savory Spiced Nuts rounded out the selections for this year. We are pretty well set for next week’s Christmas Market. A big shout out to the team of ladies who helped make product, label, count, and just be here to support. So thankful to all of you 🙂 .

After “canning” yesterday I made a run to Hobby Lobby for some final items to round out the decorating, pricing, and display of our items. I have to admit, I could spend all day wandering around that store! As you probably guessed, the store was filled with Christmas, although the very front of the store was filled with Thanksgiving and Harvest decor 🙂 .

I did what I usually do, I went right to where I needed to go and grabbed the items I needed. Then of course I did the next thing that I usually do, I wandered just looking at all the things I “could” be working on. I went through the Christmas lights pondering ideas for lighting up our home. I ventured through the aisles and aisles of Santas, sleighs, tiny Christmas trees, and more. “Ok, Kim, snap out of it and get going, you have other things to do”, I brought myself back to reality!

I made my way to the front of the store and stopped in my tracks. Every checkout lane and I mean all eight of them, was backed up with no less than five or six people in the lane. The checkout area was packed and the store manager was on the intercom calling the names of even more store employees to head to the front. As I looked around the store I noticed how packed it was everywhere. Why hadn’t I noticed this before?

I made my way to what I felt was the shortest line, who could tell at that point. I looked around the store and at the people in the lines and realized something. I hadn’t noticed the incredible crowds, even when I walked through many people in all the aisles, because everyone was being so nice to each other. People were chatting about how they could decorate, they were working through ideas for this project or that project, kids were telling their parents about how they thought this ornament would be a great gift for grandma, etc. In the checkout lines, we were all chatting about how we had never seen the store this busy. But…you know what, everyone, even the cashiers were being so nice, smiling and chuckling about how busy it was. Everyone gave the cashiers grace as they worked to restock the bags or register tape in their lanes. Everyone said please and thank you. It was packed, we waited in lines, and you know what, it was pleasant and I would go so far as to say enjoyable. I know, sounds crazy right?

Yesterday’s time there showed me that we can indeed get through potentially difficult or irritating situations by being nice and respectful. We can indeed help others see the positives like we did yesterday. Strangers chatted about how it was nice to see everyone smiling and doing things they were looking forward to doing.

When I left the store yesterday, I put everything in my car and was headed to return the cart to the store. They had run out as you can imagine and had one team member, a sweet lady making rounds through the parking lot. She came to me just then and asked if I was finished with the cart and I said yes. “I’ll take that for you”, she said. I thanked her and thanked her also for all she was doing. She smiled and said, “Oh thank you, it’s been busy and nice!”. Yes, something as simple as collecting the shopping carts, and she did it with such a positive attitude.

Friends, we’ve all been through such difficult times. We’ve seen or experienced the ugliness that we can do to each other. Yesterday, Father showed me clearly what is possible. Let’s face it, we’ve all been in crowded stores, especially around Christmas and it hasn’t been pretty. Heck, we’ve seen videos of Black Friday sales that literally turn violent. We are better than that, and yesterday I witnessed it. A packed, and I mean packed store, that was pleasant to be in.

We can indeed do what Father has asked, “Love one another: just as I have loved you”. Let’s continue to hear these words as we make our way into the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season. Let’s take the time to say thank you to those who will be working in the retail arena. Let’s take the time to say excuse me, or please when making our way through those shops. And…let’s extend that behavior to our everyday lives 🙂 .

Have a wonderful day my friends 🙂 .

John 15:12
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.