INSPIRASUNS

Like most people, my husband and I run our standard errands on the weekends. They usually include a stop at the car wash, a run to the hardware store, and, of course, a stop at the grocery store to stock up for the week.

Last Sunday, as usual, we made our way through the aisles of the grocery store. We were pretty focused and it didn’t take long before we were in the checkout line. As we began to put our items on the belt the clerk, a young man, well, dare I say a kid, I’m thinking he was still in high school, said, “Hello”, as he began to scan our items. We returned the greeting and as we finished unloading the cart, we made our way to the end of the lane where the bagger, an older woman, was already getting things loaded for us. She too said hello.

I began noticing how our clerk was scanning and almost throwing things toward the bagger, sliding them harshly down the lane. He was scanning some gift bags that I was buying, four of them. He scanned several of them multiple times, and I noticed six appear on the screen. I stopped him and noted that there were only four in his hand. He looked and counted and begrudgingly removed two from the order, almost as if it was a chore. His behavior did not improve. At that point, I looked at his nametag which read Jayden. I looked at his face more closely and this young man just seemed so unhappy, he so didn’t want to be where he was for whatever reason. When he finished scanning all the items my husband paid the bill and Jayden grabbed the receipt and handed it to us without even looking at us, he was already looking at the next order coming his way. No thank you, have a good day, nothing, zip.

My husband and I made our way to our car and commented on how sad the whole experience was. I thought at that point about this young man who, 1) had a job, 2) seemed very healthy, 3) has his whole life ahead of him. Then I thought about young people in North Carolina, some of whom are living in a tent with temperatures in the teens. Some youth in North Carolina watched their parents wash away in raging flood waters. It made me sad. Admittedly, I don’t know Jayden’s story, of course, he may have sadness he is dealing with as well. I just know at that moment, leaving the store, it made me sad to see his behavior.

I pray for our youth. I pray that they may have all the opportunities that this life can bring them. I pray that they experience the joy and love that children and youth deserve. I pray that Jesus will watch over the “little ones” as He so lovingly called them. I pray that next time I handle the situation with the next Jayden differently. I could have shared Jesus’ love that day and missed an opportunity, that’s on me for sure. I’m sure there was something I could have said that would have brightened his day, and mine at that point.

Yes, I felt sad, next time, I will handle things differently. Say a prayer today my friends for our youth. Let us give them every opportunity to be young and to experience the joys of youth with all the love that Jesus gives.

Matthew 18:10
See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.