my father is the type of guy, who can go into the gas station and while paying for his gas, make friends with everyone inside! he just possesses this ‘thing’ that invites people in for conversation. he is a people person! and if i like it or not, i have inherited this gift.
a girlfriend and i have this on going joke when traveling. you see, when she arrives on a plane and settles into her seat, almost religiously the first thing she does is: puts in her ear phones, turns on her ipod and purposely shuts out the world around her. and, in return - people actually LEAVE HER ALONE! now, I on the other hand - can do the EXACT same thing and the person next to me does not understand that this is a ‘do not disturb’ sign. and, in return engages me in conversation! EVERY. TIME. i (the queen of avoiding) can not avoid it.
last tuesday has been permanently stamped into my memory. it was a lesson that i will not forget. after work, i headed to walmart with ONE intention: to rent a movie from the infamous RedBox. i stood staring at the screen - and realized that none of these movies captured my interest. so i then ventured into the store & headed back to the electronic department to see if there were any good movies on sale.
i have a tendency, to sometimes bite the inner wall of my cheek, or bottom of my lip. i don’t know why. blame it on nerves or chalk it up to pure boredom - but its what i do. so, as i was walking (on a mission to get a dvd!) i heard this old (grumpy) man bark at me and say “are you biting your lip! you’re too pretty to do that, you should be smiling!” i awkwardly laugh as i turn around to see who’s speaking to me. and in front of me stood a man - who was wearing these massive (old man) thick framed glasses & smelled like a mix of an auto garage and cigarette smoke.
i immediately felt my walls come up. and i TRIED to gracefully walk away! and then the next question came “did you have a good christmas?” “i did, thank you. how bout yourself?” “oh yes … i ate way to much.” he chuckles. and steps closer. i take a step back. “and what about your new year. how was that?” i thought to myself … he’s not going to stop talking to me, is he? and he didn’t! he talked to me about sports, vegas, and … “you know, hugh hefner? you hear he’s getting married … AGAIN! can you believe that? shes probably only 22.” he says … almost as if he’s poud of mr. hefner! i laugh.
i stood there with this gentleman for about 10 minutes (remember, i was only coming to walmart for a dvd from the RedBox!) listening, laughing, & taking one step back as he took one step forward. :) at the end of the conversation he says “well, thanks for talking with me!” (though, he did most of the talking!) and then … it happens … this stranger … HUGS ME! haha.
i walked away - and immediately heard in my heart “amanda, sometimes people just need a little love.” and i realized that i had gotten away form the gift that i had inherited from my father … the ability to love people. but life is about taking the time to actually SEE people, and not just walking past them. sometimes people need a little encouragement, joy, a smile, or just a simple conversation at walmart. be encouraged and inspired today to impact someone’s world around you with a little “sunshine” (as my momma calls it)!
till next time … x
“Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.” - 1 cor. 13:13
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