Show people favor. You never know what people are going through. When something doesn’t go as planned, and you’re about to get upset, angry or have an outburst, stop yourself. Take a look—a really good look—at the situation and show them favor. They may be in desperate need of it.
I’ve blogged about my morning routine before. I’m an early riser. I get a lot of work done in the mornings. Computer work. Jewelry work. Painting work. Writing work. I’m more inspired in the mornings and my mind is clearer. So, unless I have something planned outside the normal morning work hours, my morning routine is about the same.
I’m up by 5:00. I’ve gotten a lot of work done by 7:00 and me and my two babies—my Yorkies—head to McDonald’s for my caramel mocha coffee. Sometimes I use my iPad and sip my coffee there in the car with my two babies passed out in the car. Tori sits in the dash and Jayce is in the passenger seat beside me. They love it. Every morning at the same time they start jumping around, running from my office to the kitchen. They are telling me it’s time to go. They live for their morning trip. If, for some reason, we don’t get to go, they are so upset. J
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| Tori (left) and Jayce |
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| Jayce (left) and Tori |
This morning was a little different. We had our trip, but on yesterday I rushed and got extra done so that after our morning trip today, I could take them to a new groomer that has opened up about 15 miles from our home. I made the appointment on last Monday and I was reeeeaallly excited that we had found a new groomer. It seems that every time I find someone that Tori and Jayce get used to and they trust, they leave from wherever they are working. I always prefer a local, private groomer (opposed to the large, national chains), but the ones that open anywhere near us always close after a few months or one year in service. So I’ve groomed them myself, my mother has groomed them, but with six horses to care for and a company to run, I am less able to keep them groomed the way I would like. So, I emphasize, I was reeeeeealllly excited about finding someone.
It is a great little shop. Little “stalls” for each baby, a “pawrk” for them to run around in, a beautiful bath and grooming area and, most importantly, lots of friendly staff who love babies. J
So, I arrive for my scheduled appointment and the girl at the desk looked a little alarmed. Not a good sign. I gave her my name and my babies’ names. She got a little fidgety and said underneath her breath, “I think the owner tried to leave you a message”. This was said as she made a quick exit from the reception area behind a closed door. I’m not going to lie. I was upset. I immediately thought, ‘Oh, no. All this preparation and they’ve tried to call me to cancel the appointment. I must have just missed their call.’
Within 20 seconds of the receptionist heading toward the back, the owner came out. She looked very stressed and was shaking a little bit. It was clear that she had been crying.
Her first words were, “I’m so sorry. I tried to call you and leave you a message.” I reminded her that I live out in the sticks and sometimes my cell coverage is spotty at best and I missed her call. By now the tears were streaming down her face. She said, “My husband is sick…I have to take him back to the hospital today for tests…I’m trying to get finished with my earliest appointments so that I can leave. I’m so sorry. I know that you are a new customer and I don’t want to lose you.” All of this was said without taking a breath. Everything just rushed out of her.
My heart was hurting for her. I reached across the counter, put my hand on her shoulder and told her to just breathe, that everything is OK with me and to tell me when I could bring them back. She acted like she didn’t hear me. “I’m sorry,” she began again. I placed my hand over hers on the counter. “It’s okay. Your priority needs to be your sick loved one. Just tell me when you want me to bring them back.” The light came on. You would have thought that I handed her a million dollars. She dropped her head in her hands and sobbed, “Thank you for understanding. Thank you so much”. She opened the calendar and asked me about a date and time. I told her that it worked for us and we would see her then. I headed out to my car with my two very confused babies. J
Almost to the car, I heard, “Mrs. Bentley?!” I stopped and looked around.
One of the young staff members had followed me out to the car. “I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for being kind and understanding. The person before you took her head off. And that’s just not something she can deal with right now. And you were so kind and understanding. You’ll never know how much your kindness meant to her, to all of us.”
By then I was crying and I thanked her for her words, got into my car and headed back home.
We are all getting through life the best we know how. Each of us has our own struggles to deal with. We have sickness, relationship issues, financial problems, family burdens, and many, many more things that we are all dealing with. Show people favor. Extend to them kindness, compassion, sympathy and empathy. Try to put yourself in their shoes before you lose your temper or become angry at a situation that is beyond everyone’s control.
There’s going to come a time when you need favor. You’ll want it. You’ll need it. You may be desperate for it. As with everything in life, what you give, you get back. If you extend favor, you will receive it in times of need.
Charity & The Horse Mafia
Thank you for this beautiful story.