I like to look at life and laugh. Ok, so I like to look at people and laugh. I know this sounds mean, but truly that is not my intention. You see, my real job requires that I work in Customer Service at a local Department Store. Sometimes this job is fun. Sometimes it's not so fun.
In my job, I see so many different kinds of people. Some of them seem angry at the world. You know the ones?they don't smile for ANYTHING. They act as if they have to return their merchandise because YOU made the outfit bigger or smaller than it should've been. They throw the package on the counter expecting you to know whether or not they are returning or exchanging, or if they have a receipt or not. I smile and wonder what on earth could've made them so angry at the world. To my surprise sometimes these are the people who have scriptures on their checks. I just laugh and pray that God will make their way merry so that they might be a light in a dark world.
Then there are those who have the wandering kids and try to return merchandise. These are the kids who get into EVERYTHING and make you wonder what your parents would've done to you if you ever left their side. Then you hear yourself saying, "if those were my kids?" You look at mom and she is exhausted already at 9:00 am and wonder what she will be like at 5:00pm. I laugh and pray that God will calm the kids, so that the mother can relax and do what she needs to do.
Of course, there are those men who come to return the merchandise that their wives don't want to return. This is probably one of the most comical of all our customers. "Why are you returning this," I ask. After a little bit of stuttering and stammering, the only response I get is "uhm, I don't know, she doesn't like it I guess". I laugh and pray that God will bless their day in some way so that they forget they had to do this most embarrassing thing.
Oh, we can't forget about the kids who bring merchandise back. They are usually doing it for their parents who are in the car waiting on them. These are the kids that you wonder if they really have parents and why aren't their parents taking care of them instead of using them as slaves. I laugh and pray that God will allow them to grow up knowing that He is a good God, and will never use them for His own advantage unless they're willing and He'll never abuse their love.
There are more, I could probably go on all day. I'm such a people watcher. Since my job is in the Mall, I go out and watch people for the fun of it sometimes. I wonder where they came from, where they are going, what they're thinking (sometimes what they were thinking when they got dressed that morning), and more. I wonder if they have true love? if they know what it means to be loved. Do they have a family to go home to?
So, then I come home and get online and read discussions that are going on here at SoGospelNews.com. We discuss things like the future of Southern Gospel, the past, the songs, the artists, and I wonder too about each of these people. Where are they in their life? Do they know true love? Where are they going? What were they thinking when they spelled that word? But, most importantly, I laugh and wonder how in the world they ever came up with their opinions. **laugh** How can anyone have a differing opinion than me and still be of any good? (Come on, you know you've thought it too). I struggled with this for awhile until I saw this:
** God reserves the right to use someone who disagrees with me. ~ Unknown **
OUCH! Yes, God got me with that one. It's ok for some to be angry at the world and still be used by God. It's ok for someone to have a differing opinion than me, and still be of good in God's Kingdom. Most importantly, this little sentence taught me that it's ok for someone to be different than me. I laugh and pray that God will show me good in every person before I make a decision about them, their personality, or their lifestyle. So, now, I laugh at myself and pray that God would use me (one who disagrees with others) to possibly bring a smile to the angry, comfort to the lonely, a laugh to the embarrassed, and maybe?maybe just a little bit of understanding to those who disagree with me. 
Author: Amy Marie Unthank
| Author's Website: http://southernspin.com
Written: 06/30/2003
| 
Category: Monthly ArticlesFrom The Heart
Comments: 4
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Very good, Amy. Makes me think. Thanks for an article that hits home with me. I needed that.
God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
Bravo! Well written, and with a very good message. This is something we all need to keep in mind every day.
Nice article... are you makking fun of my spelling?
Love your article, Amy. I, too, work in the Mall, and I can relate to every part of your story! (When I'm sitting in the mall people watching, my husband sometimes reminds me to close my mouth. I'm shocked at some of the things I see!
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