Humility

I was standing at the precooked chicken counter, looking for a free-range chook. A young woman was busily arranging the display. 

On closer inspection, I noticed that although the bags had a small free-range logo on them, they didn’t have their usual labeling.

“Excuse me, are these free-range?”

“No”. 

“They have a free-range logo on them?”

“They’re not.”

I’m not sure I like your attitude, young lady.

“You should probably cover up the logo. It’s misleading otherwise.”

“We don’t have any other bags,” she says, turning away.

I should have too but instead; I ask one more question…

“Why are you talking to me like this?”

“I’m going to find some labels to cover up the free-range logo,” she said and walked off.

I walked away too, feeling a bit huffy.

This happened at what I call the “friendliest supermarket in town”. This experience wasn’t what I’m used to.

Later, a little Holy Spirit nudging …

The upset I had experienced, caused by my choice to be offended, was most likely nothing compared to what she may have been experiencing within herself.

I didn’t consider her feelings at that moment, just my own. I didn’t consider the person behind the words, just my reaction to them.

Did my way of being, add another layer to an already hard day for her? Four weeks from Christmas?

Philippians 2, speaks of a better way….

“… Live in harmony by showing love for each other. Be united in what you think, as if you were only one person. Don’t be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourselves and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought…” Philippians 2:1-5 CEV https://bible.com/bible/392/php.2.1-5.CEV

Photo by Eduardo Soares on Unsplash