Have you ever been convicted in a T.J. Maxx? No? Just me?
Yesterday I was in a hurry; I had too many things on my list and no time to get them all done. One of my errands was to pick up some bedding items from T.J. Maxx. I should have had a game plan or even an inkling of the color or style I wanted, but I went into the store flying blind. Not good when you are in a hurry. I was heads down; get in; get out.
I rushed to the bedding section where I saw two older women talking casually in the aisle. My only thought was that I needed to go the opposite way to avoid having to maneuver around them or even worse, get pulled into a conversation. I could tell one of the ladies was a talker and I didn’t have time for that. But even in my frenzy, her voice sounded so kind as it lofted over the rows of bedding. As I rounded another corner, there was a younger woman with THE MOST BEAUTIFUL red hair and perfectly sun-kissed skin. Y’all. She was stunning. Being a redhead, I know how rare it is for us to be tan and yet here I was staring at the unicorn of the redheaded world.
But all I could think about was that I needed to scoot past her to reach an item I was interested in. As she rounded the corner, the young woman passed the older lady who immediately stopped her and raved about her beautiful hair. I could hear the younger woman’s voice soften as she talked about her mom’s Lebanese background that gave her such an olive complexion. The older lady’s voice sounded like bells as she poured into this young woman’s soul. A simple act of acknowledging someone’s beauty and yet it created such an impactful moment.
I was instantly convicted. Me, in my own selfish, little world, had ignored an opportunity to give someone a God glimmer moment in their day. To pour into someone and show them the love that is poured into me by my Savior on the daily. I had missed so many opportunities, just in the store alone, not to mention my whole day. I pushed my cart past the pillows I had been eyeing and joined the conversation to tell a stranger how uniquely gorgeous she was. I soaked up the God glimmer that happens when we love one another, even complete strangers.
Matthew 22:39 talks of the second greatest commandment.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
And sometimes loving someone is putting aside your schedule and showing kindness to them. Do we have to share the gospel in that moment? No, but sharing love and showing a person that they are seen gives someone a glimpse of God in a way that they may desperately need in that moment.
The redheaded unicorn in this story may not have needed affirmation that she was beautiful. Or maybe she did. Regardless of what she needed, she walked out of T.J. Maxx blessed with kind words. Every day we have opportunities to sprinkle light and kindness into a world that sees a lot of darkness.
Be the light. Give a God glimmer. Show someone kindness so they can believe there are still godly, good people in this world. Love those around you in simple ways because what is effortlessly given by you could mean the world to someone else.
