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Love in the Checkout Line

  • A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34 WEB

    If you study Jesus in the gospels, His defining characteristics were love, compassion, and grace. He was humble, kind, and He cared for the people. He touched the outcasts and ate with the sinners. He is rich in love. He told us to love one another, and then people would know that we were truly His disciples.

    I once read that patience is not our ability to wait, but our ability to keep a good attitude while we wait. To be slow to anger, loving, gracious, and compassionate, while waiting. I am still working on that as well, so don't feel bad if you fail to measure up as you are not the only one. When I am waiting in line, I begin to feel like my life-force is draining away.

    Recently we went shopping for juicing supplies at Sam's Club during a long fast. When we got to the checkout lines, the one on the right had two people in it. One of the men there was buying for a restaurant and had a long commercial flat cart with supplies stacked up about three feet high, at least 75 items, and then there was a cart in front of him, and another cart joined behind him.

    The other checkout line had one little lady with three items, so we chose that one and got behind her. Mistake... By the time we got to the cash register, the restauranteur had completed his purchase, parked his cart and went over and gotten a hotdog. The next people in his line had gone through as well. The conversation in our line went something like this:

    Cashier: 'You could save 5 percent if you sign up for our credit card.'

    Lady: 'Oh yes, I have been meaning to get one of those.'

    Cashier: 'Great! Then fill out this form.'

    Lady: 'Ok. Do you have a pen?'

    (Slowly scratches on the paper for a while with a pen.)

    Cashier: 'I see that your membership is going to expire in three months, would you like us to go ahead and renew it?'

    Lady: 'Oh yes, I almost forgot about that. Let's renew it.'

    Cashier: 'We offer an extended warranty on that toaster for $4.99. Would you like to add that on as well?'

    Lady: 'I guess it is better to be safe than sorry.'

    (At this point she turned and smiled at us.)

    Cashier: 'Excellent, just fill out this registration card for me.'

    By the end, it took so long that I was struggling to not laugh out loud. We had clearly been chosen for a test. I tried hard to bite my tongue and laugh it off, really hard. I could feel something inside me screaming, but as I refused to react, it slowly died.

    So if you have to stand in a checkout line today, and the cashier is completely incompetent, and the people are digging through their purse for coupons, and the line has not moved in thirty minutes: Try to smile, be kind, be rich in love, and be glad that you are not the one that all of those angry people are looking at. Though I must say that it is difficult...

    As a Child of the King, you are carrying the Lord's name with you, wherever you go. People watch you, and your actions speak much louder than your words. Live a life that gives glory to God and does not bring disgrace on His family. Do not give His enemies a chance to blaspheme His name as David did (2 Samuel 12:14). Remember that what you feed in your life will grow, and what you starve will die.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for loving me and ask that You help me love others as well. Help me see the big picture. Walk with me today and help me make the right decisions. Put a guard over my mouth, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

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32 comments
  • 1
Joseph Adams, Jr.
Joseph Adams, Jr.

Amen

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Yvette York
Yvette York

Amen 

May 19, 2017
  • 2
Tracy Carroll
Tracy Carroll

LOL  I find this story of the line to be quite funny!!  I always tell people that are in the store with me "don't get behind me because, any line 'I' pick, is ALWAYS the long one".  What a timely message!  Thank you & Amen  :o)

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Joseph Adams, Jr.
Joseph Adams, Jr.

I ended up in a line at the Social Security office this morning, there were only two people in the office when I went in, but the customer at the window was there for a half hour after I got there, no telling how long she had been there, but this message made me laugh to myself while there.

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

We must have been blessed with the same skills, Tracy, lol :)! Joe, I feel your pain with standing in any government office ;)!

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Amen. 

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen!

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

lol, Perry, that's our story, too ;)!

May 19, 2017
  • 1
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles

Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for loving me and ask that You help me love others as well. Help me see the big picture. Walk with me today and help me make the right decisions. Put a guard over my mouth, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen <3 Thank you

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Amen, Dianna <3!

May 19, 2017
  • 1
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Amen,Jesus please give me patience and wait for your time.I love and worship you.

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Amen and amen, brother <3!

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt

Col. 3:12, As Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Whin I put these on I react like God wants me too. I need to remind myself of these things every day. I put scripture on cards and put them where I can see them to remind me what God wants me to do daily.

Really good devotion!

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

That is a great idea, Twila <3!

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Carol Pady
Carol Pady

Amen!

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

Amen

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Amen. 

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Audry Reddy
Audry Reddy

Excellent!! When we realize that God is testing us it makes things so much easier! Thank you for making me laugh!! :D

May 19, 2017
  • 2
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

That is true, Audry, then it becomes an opportunity :)!

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Audry Reddy
Audry Reddy

Definitely!  I like to smile at the cashier and let her not feel so pressured when there's impatient people in line. I also like to say good things to the impatient people in line to try to make them smile.

May 20, 2017
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Exactly, Audry :)! They recently started a thing at our local Sam's Club, where instead of customers placing their items on the belt, they make the cashier sort through them all in the cart. I guess they are trying to compete with the local Costco, but there they have two people involved - one to facilitate the items and one to run the register. At the Sam's they only have one person, digging through piles of things in the cart and running the register. We feel so sorry for the poor cashiers and try to say friendly and comforting things to them whenever it's taking a long time there :)

May 20, 2017
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Picking the wrong line is apparently one of our "gifts" ;). It's all good though, we have met some lovely people in line :)!

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Rachael Burke
Rachael Burke

Amen

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Tyler Velau
Tyler Velau

Oh, I've definitely been there, and quite recently too. I was groccery shopping and I was in line behind a lady with a cartful of grocceries and when after I had placed all of my purchases on the belt, she was nearly done(or so I thought). Then I saw her dig though her purse and pull out a handfull of cupons. And every store has a process for handling cupons, so I had to wait. I was waiting for probably 20 minutes for all of the cupons to be processed and purchases to be completed and bagged. I tried my best to be polite and respectful, and to not tap my foot. She even apologized to me a few times, and each time I said "it's ok, it's not a problem." I can understand trying to save money at the groccery store, and cupons do help people to do that. But I could feel my foot tapping and my mood souring because of waiting for so long. I come from a line of impatient men and I am no exception.  And the funny thing is, when it was finally my turn to go up to the cashier and pay for my goods, i was done in only maybe 3 or 4 minutes and out the door.  I tried my very best to be patient, and to maintain a positive attitude but it was a challenge. 

May 19, 2017
  • 2
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Haha, Lord, save us from the coupons :D! I agree, can't exactly fault people for being careful with their money, but yikes ;). Fortunately for me as and introvert and a woman, I can retreat into my own mind and dwell on the multititudes of thoughts that are generally spinning around anyway :D (from this: https://youtu.be/0BxckAMaTDc)

May 20, 2017
  • 1
Tyler Velau
Tyler Velau

Ikr? It wasn't really that big of a deal anyways. I just don't like to wait for so long. Well, yea lol, being able to retreat into your mind might help to eliviate the boredom, but you have to be careful while doing that. I've done that before and stood there 10 minutes not realizing it was my turn to go while bowling with some friends. 

May 20, 2017
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

lol, I know the feeling too of one's life slipping away waiting for that last coupon :D! Also, yes, that is probably a reason I've never been a very consistent bowler. I might be focused on the lane at one turn, and thinking about something else at the next ;).

May 20, 2017
  • 2
Diane Symborski✝
Diane Symborski✝

Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for loving me and ask that You help me love others as well. Help me see the big picture. Walk with me today and help me make the right decisions. Put a guard over my mouth, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. <3

 

When I was done reading this I thought about myself. I have a hard time waiting in check out lines. It's because of my anxiest I start to get anxious. I do my best I might tuun and talk to someone if it gets to bad my husband gives me the keys and I'll fo to the car. I pray with time and help through Jesus that my doctor gets me well when the time comes. I pray in Jesus, name. Amen. <3

 

Thank you Pastor for you devotion today. :-)

May 19, 2017
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Diane, do you have a smart phone? It helps us to pass the time sometimes when the lines get too long and probably people won't talk to you if you are on it. You can post to us while you're waiting :)!

May 20, 2017
  • 2
Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann

Amen thank you sir for loving enough to write all these everyday God bless you my brother! 

May 19, 2017
  • 2
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams

Praise God!  Thanks Pastor Todd!  I need to work on this!  Heavenly Father I thank You for loving me and ask that You help me love others as well. Help me see the big picture. Walk with me today and help me make the right decisions. Put a guard over my mouth, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray.  Amen.

May 20, 2017
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen! Pastors prayer, Heavenly Father,I  thank you for loving me and ask that you help me love others as well. Help me see the big picture. Walk with me today and help me make the right decisions. Put a guard over my mouth, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray Amen!!

May 20, 2017