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Christmas Shopping 2009


So I was out this weekend shopping for Christmas. The traffic was crazy. The stores were packed. The lines were long. The shoppers were in a hurry. The cashiers, well, the cashiers were beaten down like I had never seen before.

I was at a Toy R Us, and after waiting a bit for an open cashier, I stepped up with my cart, looked up at my cashier. She said in a meek, defeated voice, "Hello". Her eyes were searching mine, looking for any sign of Christmas cheer. I stopped unloading, and met her eyes with mine. I said, "Hi. Merry Christmas!" Her face lit up like a Christmas tree, no joke. I asked, "How are things going, REALLY?"

Her face dropped again, "Oh, gosh, not well. People are so unhappy this year. I don't know why, but customers are not happy."

"Oh, geez, sorry to hear it. It's the wrong season for that," I replied to her. Her answer was interesting, "Yes, I know, isn't that ironic? The time of year to truly be happy, and people aren't. I just don't get it."

Well, you'd think the retail cashiers would be the first to get it. A customer has spent probably two or three hours just getting through traffic, the aisles in the packed store, waiting in the check out line....and then finally when the customer makes first contact with another human, the patience, the cheer is gone. I know after spending 8 hours on Saturday driving here and there, standing in lines and fighting crowds, my patience was low as well, and I admit, I too layed on my horn in frustration a few times.

We can make all kinds of resolutions about being more prepared, shopping earlier etc,etc, and truth be told, we probably will resort to what we've always done, wait until the last minute.

We will all be out there, battling the frustrations of waiting, crowds, and spending more than we'd like....and the challenge is how do we treat people when we are at our most frustrated. Do we take out our frustration on the cashier waiting to check us out? Do we take out our frustration on the horn of our car when we get cut off. Do we allow the crowds to diminish our Christmas happiness? How we handle others in stressful situations, at times, truly defines our character.

How easy is it to be nice, cheerful and pleasant when the stores are empty, no traffic, and you just caught the biggest sale? It's easy. We don't have to work that hard at all to spread a little cheer.

Christmas is, of course, about Christ being born. To make ourselves ready, sometimes it takes work. Here's a suggestion, measure yourself at your weakest, most tired or most frustrated. Take a minute and see how you treat others around you, when it's the most difficult. Measure your strength of character in those moments.....and see....are you ready for the newborn Christ?

There is still time....You've got eleven days. Start small, and just wish those ladies behind the counter a Merry Christmas and smile.
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