Speak Up…Kindly

In June, I took a road trip with my kids to visit my parents. I was enjoying the drive, but like most people, I just wanted to get to my destination. On the way, we stopped at a Walmart to get some food, water, and snacks for the week. I was in “let’s get this shopping done so we can get there” mode. I was unaware that a valuable life lesson was about to be learned.

Normally, I’m nice, kind, or patient when salesmen come up to me, but this time was different. As I heard a salesman talking to a lady by her car next to me,  I was putting my items in my car and thought “He better not talk to me”. It didn’t help that on a previous thought and day I had already made up my mind that the next time some random strange salesman came up to bug me, I was just going to get right to the point and let them know I was not to be bothered, basically let them “have it”.

Sure enough, I was next. I was putting the big package of water bottles in the trunk and he came up and started talking to me. Without even turning around to look at him or let him get through his first sentence, I said “Don’t talk to me!”. I said it pretty mean. He replied “Sorry to bother you ma’am, have a good day”.

I instantly felt horrible and foolish. Did I really just do that? Was I really that rude and cruel to someone? It went against my nature, it was completely unkind. It hit me like a ton of bricks. Immediately that line from the movie You’ve Got Mail came into my mind “When you finally have the pleasure of saying the thing you mean to say…at the moment you mean to say it, remorse inevitably follows”.   

As I was driving for the next hour, till we got to my parents house, a number of thoughts and feelings of guilt went through my head. It was also a time to explain to the kids that just because someone is annoying you, doesn’t give us the right or excuse to be unkind. I even told them that even though Jesus was mistreated, He was always kind.

Lesson learned! For me, I will try to always be kind. The instant remorse and guilt I felt was my conscience letting me know that that behavior was unacceptable.

So now, I’m learning a kinder and gentler way to speak to salesmen or anyone else that I don’t think should be disturbing me.

It was a valuable lesson for me and I hope it helped my kids see that being unkind is unnecessary.

Thank you for sharing your time with me. Enjoy your day!

❤️ Jenn

p.s. I did find the guy and apologize.