I think this has meaning in our Christian lives, but if it doesn't I apologize ahead of time for posting it on Bible Discussion.
I don't know why, but a memory from about ten years ago just came to me.
I was the lead stocker for a grocery store and was having problems with one of the stockers who thought that he did not have to listen to any of my instructions. I had let it go on for much longer than I should have. Anyway, I finally told him that he was fired (not really wanting to fire him, but I couldn't let things continue as they were). He told me that I could not fire him.
We went to the grocery manager (closing manager that night) and I informed him of the situation. (Main point of story) He backed me up and told this stocker that if I had fired him then he was fired - EVEN THOUGH HE DID NOT AGREE WITH ME. The stocker changed his attitude. I told him that I did not want to fire him and that he could stay if he would listen to my instructions. This stocker became a friend (work place friend - he didn't come over to my house or anything) and went on to become a lead stocker in another store.
The main point that I am trying to make is, that ten years later, without the pressures of the job (baggage that I was carrying at that time), the way that this manager supported me in a kind and respectful way, means a lot more now than it did then.
This also brings to mind bad experiences that seem to stick with me - both from me and toward me.
The way that we handle things and speak to people occasionally, for some reason, come back to us and to others. I am not saying this to add undue pressure in the moments of our lives, but to encourage myself and others to learn to act in caring way, showing the love of the Lord through our actions.
If I were asked to sum up the bible in one word, it would be LOVE (Godly love, not man's love).
PS I literally just realized why (right before I posted this) - because I am a hypocrite. I will not go into why, but I think my conscious was trying to tell me that something that I recently did was not very loving. I handled a situation poorly.
I don't know why, but a memory from about ten years ago just came to me.
I was the lead stocker for a grocery store and was having problems with one of the stockers who thought that he did not have to listen to any of my instructions. I had let it go on for much longer than I should have. Anyway, I finally told him that he was fired (not really wanting to fire him, but I couldn't let things continue as they were). He told me that I could not fire him.
We went to the grocery manager (closing manager that night) and I informed him of the situation. (Main point of story) He backed me up and told this stocker that if I had fired him then he was fired - EVEN THOUGH HE DID NOT AGREE WITH ME. The stocker changed his attitude. I told him that I did not want to fire him and that he could stay if he would listen to my instructions. This stocker became a friend (work place friend - he didn't come over to my house or anything) and went on to become a lead stocker in another store.
The main point that I am trying to make is, that ten years later, without the pressures of the job (baggage that I was carrying at that time), the way that this manager supported me in a kind and respectful way, means a lot more now than it did then.
This also brings to mind bad experiences that seem to stick with me - both from me and toward me.
The way that we handle things and speak to people occasionally, for some reason, come back to us and to others. I am not saying this to add undue pressure in the moments of our lives, but to encourage myself and others to learn to act in caring way, showing the love of the Lord through our actions.
If I were asked to sum up the bible in one word, it would be LOVE (Godly love, not man's love).
PS I literally just realized why (right before I posted this) - because I am a hypocrite. I will not go into why, but I think my conscious was trying to tell me that something that I recently did was not very loving. I handled a situation poorly.
