Tag: store

Speak to People!

Jennifred Jones

We must break the self-imposed silent cycle of disacknowledging one another.

This is what I mean.

Today at the gas pump, a young guy on the other side of the pump was throwing something in the trash and I caught his eye and said to him, “It feels warmer today.” He laughed and said, “Yes, if the wind dies down it will be almost balmy!” It was 38*. We wished each other a good day and felt better.

As I walk by someone in the parking lot or inside an aisle at the store, I’ll frequently comment about the weather, the store, their outfit – anything to bring the other person out and be recognized.

We were not made to be hermits in our individual igloos only seeing us and ours. The world has been silenced, and we need to break it! People are starving for communication and just to be seen! Don’t let them down.

Your voice or even your wave can lift another person who is having a bad day. You, me, be the ones to lift and bring hope to the people we see.

The Little Boy

Jennifred Jones

A little boy comes up to the counter where I work with his mom and dad.

He’s probably 5 and has the sweetest smile. His parents and their parents and grandparents have all lived hard lives and are still struggling, yet this little boy seems so full of energy and happiness.

So I thought, ‘What can I do to help him find a different path arriving at a different destination than his parents’…because the childhood often determines the adulthood.

I give fun colorful stickers to girls and boys who come in and several times he has gotten a race-car sticker which really excited him.

The other day I gave him a shiny silver trophy sticker and told him I was giving it to him because he was a winner, and a good little boy.

I don’t know what his home life is like but his father made some comment to him after I said that. I thought, ‘I hope the little boy can remember the words I spoke over him.’

As he left with his parents, I spoke again to him, ‘Tell people, you are a winner!’

I haven’t seen him for a while now, I hope all is well with him and my words settled inside him somewhere.

I want to use my words to encourage as many little people as possible. Growing up, the good words by adults spoken to me are still remembered and cherished.

How can our words bring life to the children we cross paths with today?