“Yeah, but before you know it it’ll be cold,” she said, “and I hate cold.”
“I guess, but cold weather means the holidays are coming, and I hate the holidays.”
“Whaaat? Don’t you like visiting with your family and eating all those delicious Christmas cookies?” I said.
“Yeah, I do, but as soon as they leave, I’ll have a mess to clean up. It’ll take days to get my house back in order. And Christmas cookies? Hmph. All that butter and sugar. My cholesterol will never recover.”
No matter what I did to steer the conversation to the positive, my patient was determined to reroute it. Like a magnet with a negative charge, this lady was headed in one direction and one direction only. Even the happy news that she had no cavities didn’t brighten her smile.
“I’ll probably have five next time,” she grumbled as she made her way out the door.
“Wow,” my boss said, “her glass was certainly half empty.”
“More like half empty with a bug at the bottom,” I said, shaking my head.
We encounter negative people every day.
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Words to remember when we think the little things we do don't make a difference. Those words may have been small things to that teacher but were huge to you and then you had the chance to encourage her in return. I'm sure your words will stay with her the rest of her life.
ReplyDeleteI hope so, Barbara. I certainly owe her a debt of gratitude. Thanks for chiming in :)
DeleteVacation Bible School ladies were difference makers in my life with their kind words and teachings. They fed me more than cookies and Kool-aid. They built me up when I was abandoned with the Gospel stories that I get to serve now a days over a teacup. Kindness is always a sweet treat.
ReplyDeleteOh my, Carolyn, to pair kindness with the Gospel? Now that's a powerful punch. (And that's not a koolaide joke.) I, too, had a life-changing VBS moment. I wonder how many of us were spiritually impacted by kind ladies at VBS? Hugs to you!
DeleteWhat a blessing! Thanks so much for sharing your heart Ms. Lori. Caused me to think back to some of the kindness shown by others in my life. I've got some Thank You cards to send.
ReplyDeleteYay! May God be glorified. :)
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