Tuesday, October 02, 2007

10.2.07

Today I wasn't having a very good day. Just one of those days when you don't feel well and every little thing just makes you feel a little more sorry for yourself. I even watched Little House on the Prairie this morning and teared up. :)

I had to drive thru a Walmart parking lot to get to my bank to make a deposit. This particular Walmart is under construction, so temporary fencing put up around the store makes it hard to know where to drive. I mistakenly turned down a path that was one way. Only....it wasn't marked one way on my end. Only on the end where I'd eventually end up. What's the point in that? If it IS ok to enter, don't put up a sign. Anyway.....I am almost to the end of the row and this woman in a suburban sees me coming out of the row, going the wrong way. She wanted to drive down that row...and I was delaying her by 3 seconds. She absolutely freaked out and let me have it. She was yelling at me and pointed back and forth to the "one way" sign (again...that was only on her end) and to the row. She repeated the motions about 10 times while I just sat there looking at her, wanting to laugh....and waiting for her to back up so I could move and she could get down the aisle. I couldn't believe how upset she was that I caused her a few seconds delay. And that I'd made a mistake. The nerve of me.

So I laughed a little...pulled out of her way...then pulled into the bank drive thru. And I cried! How dumb. But man...she had no idea what kind of day I'd had. But really, I had no idea what kind of day she'd had either. And I wondered if she'd feel bad about it later. And if she did that to the next person who she saw.

Then as I pulled out of the bank to get Noah from school, an older man was stalled in front of me, sweating as he stood in the sun. But he waved me around when the traffic was clear for me to go. He was stalled but went out of his way to make sure it was safe for me to pull out. And he smiled and waved as I drove by. I thought, "I bet he likes Little House on the Prairie." :)

I want to be like him. How much more effort did it take for him to wave and smile than for the other woman to yell at me? So often I want the world to revolve around and react according to my day and mood. Those two souls were a good lesson for me in patience, first impressions, and being a light for the Lord.

"Consider how much more you often suffer from your anger and grief, than from those very things for which you are angry and grieved." ~Marcus Antonius

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jennifer! I'm sorry you had a bit of a crummy day today. And I hate to say that though I believe I am often like the man who was stalled and waved you around...there is a part of me that is sometimes like the woman who yelled at you. I'm not proud of this and without meaning to, you've made me take another look at myself when I'm not being the light I should be. I'll continue to be human, but hopefully I'll be a better human! I hope your tomorrow is full of sunshine and smiles!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the reminder, Jennifer...I needed that today. I hope your day tomorrow is much better!

God bless!

Anonymous said...

I am new to your blog, but already look forward to reading your post and have recommended it to some of my friends. Thanks for the lesson shared today. So often it is "easier" to be like the woman and not the man. We need to remember that the Bible tells us "we may be hosting angels unaware". Hope your day got better and the rest of the week is great.
Hey, do you ever teach in the Atlanta, GA area? Would love to take one of your classes.

Chiara said...

People are just to much in a rush for me. So Sorry you had a rough day,.

Jana said...

Very little gets to me more than irrate impatient people who are behind the wheel of a large vehicle. Don't they understand that life is too short to get so upset about such small insignificant things like that? Kudos to you for not getting upset back at her, I'd like to think that I wouldn't have made an indecent gesture to her either and would take the higher moral ground but some days you just never know! :-)

Melissa said...

Jen, thanks so much for sharing this insight from your day. God is so good to use regular stuff to mold us. That quote is going up in my kitchen today. :)

Melissa

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for the reminder, Jen. It's something I definitely need to hear and remember these days. Thanks for sharing your experience and insight, and I hope today is happier! :)

Anonymous said...

Awww Jenny I knew you were having a rough day----I'm sorry! You're so insightful to take that jerk lady's rudeness as a lesson! I would have just smiled really big and waved--haha. Oooh Little House---that is always good for a cry---so I never watch it :)

Anonymous said...

What a great quote! It is completely true. I copied into my quote collection.
Sue in Grapevine

Joy said...

This is a great reminder. What's that little saying..."Do unto others..." There's definitely something to that. Start with ourselves, and maybe the world will be a better place.

Becky said...

About your quote at the end of your post...so, so true. I'm sorry you had a bad day!

Unknown said...

HA!
I was completely chemical yesterday too! I wonder what is in the air??

Kara said...

awww!!! jen! hugs!!!

Anonymous said...

Jennifer...so sorry about your day...I had a day like that on Tuesday of this week...so I know how you're feelong! So glad you took the high road...it's so easy to lash back out just like that lady but so much more honorable to act like that sweet man...you are such a jewel! I wanted to email you about someone I recently met that knows you and I couldn't find a link to your email here. So here's mine...email me with yours so I can write you, if you want!
scrapdaisy@comcast.net I'll 'talk' to you soon! Love and hugs!

Anonymous said...

Great post Jen, sorry you had such a bad day! Love that quote- TFS!