I Can Read

I was at the grocery store. The checkout clerk - a teenager - asked, "How are you doing today?" My reply, "Great, Matthew. How are you?" He nodded and kept scanning my items. It was the young man at the end of aisle that was stunned.

"Wait! Do you * know * each other?" Matthew wrinkled up his eyebrow and glared at the bagger. "I have a name tag on." he said, pointing to his chest, as I simultaneously replied, "I can read".

The young bagger spent the rest of the time I was in their lane saying: "Wow. That really freaked me out." "Man, she used his NAME." "Whoa...."

I was amused... And somewhat dismayed that calling someone by name was such a foreign concept to this young man. I also realized that I don't often take the opportunity to use someone's name. Sure, if I know them, I do, but people I don't know....not so much. I am often given the information I need - in a name tag or a placard. I can read. I just don't often choose to make the connection personal.

As Matthew handed me back my debit card receipt, he said "Have a nice day..." He glanced at the paper he was handing to me, ".... Linda." I smiled. The bagger shook his head, wide-eyed. Matthew laughed and shook his head at his partner.

I plan to become intentional about using people's names. There is a gift there in the process. There is power in a name.

Thank you, God, for reminding me - we all have names. You know them all. Help me to use them. Help me make the connection personal.

Moments of Gratitude - Strangers

Today, I am grateful for strangers. I am grateful for the three strangers who, all within an 18 hour period of time, found my blog by searching for the same song: By Your Side. Seeing these three brought it back to the forefront of my mind. Wasn't it only a week or so ago that I blogged about it? How quickly I forget sometimes!

But, seeing these three reminders of the song, I listened to it again (and again!). What a gift.

Frequently, I pass strangers that brighten my day. They may share a smile, a simple curtesy, or merely remind me of the blessings in my life. Often, I'm sure they don't even know how positively they have influenced my life.

I hope that in some small way I have done the same for people that I pass during the day. I'll never know for sure... but I can hope as I smile and extend curtesies to the strangers I meet in the day.

Thank you God for the strangers in my life....