Thought of the Day 04.27.09

Checking out at the grocery store the other day, my father and I ran into a problem. I was trying to use a rain check on some ground beef, which was apparently not so easy to do. Even without anyone behind us, the cashier began getting very frustrated about his inability to get the register to process it properly.

As he grew more agitated, I smiled and looked calm, my dad offered a sympathetic joke, and we both offered suggestions to help. But it’s only days later that I realized how badly I missed an opportunity to apply Christ to this man’s life.

I should have said something like, “You know, Jesus got frustrated by things a lot, too. And whenever I feel stressed, it comforts me that Jesus knows what I’m going through and cares about my troubles. And whenever I remember that, whatever is bothering me seems a little less important somehow.”

Would it have worked? Only God knows. But the next time I have the opportunity to comfort someone, I intend to let Jesus be the one to do so.