The other day I was on the wine aisle in Publix, looking for a wine Terry and I both enjoy drinking, but one I can also use for cooking. There was a man standing next to me who said not to get the California Sauvignon Blanc, that he could tell by looking at me I wouldn’t like it. I couldn’t tell it he was being funny or flirty so I told him, “My husband and I taste tested a couple of them and we didn’t like any of the California Sauvignon Blancs we tried, so we stick to the ones from New Zealand.”
That guy walked away, but there was someone else standing behind me. The guy stocking wine told me, “I thought you handled that really well! You were polite, but you shut him down. No one would have known, otherwise if you flirted back.” I smiled at him and said, “But I would know. And I would never disrespect my husband like that.” The man smiled, placed his left hand showing me his wedding band over his heart and said, “I’m the same way. My wife is my life.”
When I was a little girl, any time my brother or I would leave the house, Mom would always tell us, “When you leave this house, imagine our family name being on the back of your shirt. Represent us well. Your Daddy and I know lots of people and someone will tell us if they see y’all doing anything you shouldn’t be doing.”
Let me tell you. It was as much the fear of my mother as it was the fear of God. But my point is, Mom instilled in me the fact that someone is always watching me. More than “acting right” because someone might see me and report back to her if I do anything wrong, I need to remember The Holy Spirit is on the clock, 24/7. He is watching me at all times. It would break my heart to do something and know The Holy Spirit is shaking His head saying, “You didn’t handle that well.”
I would never do anything to dishonor or disrespect Terry. He is my husband, my heart, my soulmate, the love of my life. He is so easy to love. But I need to love everyone. It is easy to do this, simply by being kind. When we deal with jerks, be the bigger person. When we see someone going through a difficult time, try to help. There are so many ways to be kind, but during the Christmas season, it seems to come more naturally for some. I say, it’s the perfect opportunity to “get in the Christmas Spirit,” but also get in “His Spirit.”
The Spirit of giving does not have to only be in December, but it is the perfect time to get the ball rolling.
“Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.” - 2 Corinthians 9:11 (NLT)
The easiest way to share a gift with someone is to pay attention to them. Actually stop and look them in the eyes when you ask, “How are you?” Be present and listen to their response. Kindness doesn't cost a thing. But there are also ways to “gift” someone a small gift that could really go a long way on a bad day and make them see Jesus.
Maybe the next time you are at Starbucks, you could pick up some $5 gift cards and keep them in your purse or wallet. When you see that mom struggling in the grocery store or Target with toddlers who are exhausted and in turn exhausting her, hand her a gift card and a smile. Go inside to pay at the gas station and hand the clerk a gift card. Give one to the lady at church who always sits alone. Help your neighbor when you see him/her struggling with something outside. Take a pie to the widow down the street and when she asks you to stay for a minute, stay. Pick up the phone and call your friend to check on them instead of just a text.
There are countless opportunities for us to show love and kindness, and we don’t want to later that night think, “Wow. I let my busyness prevent me from handling that well.” God is certainly always watching us, and more than anything, He wants us to love others.
When I die, I just want to hear Him say, “You handled that well down there. Welcome Home.”