It has never occurred to me all my life that I could have the schema aka character defect 'entitlement'. After all, I lived practically all my life pleasing people and trying to get into people's good books as one of my top most priority. It was not until I became a disciple that I came to terms with who I am and God really doesn't care if I worked overtime or suck up to Him. And the schema workshop really opened my eyes wide to the truth about this defectiveness in my character. Yet I found it difficult to accept it as I see myself as a person going all out to please people, not one who expects people to go all out to do things for me.
After becoming a disciple and learning to live my life Christlike, I have become much more open and friendly as a person, even to strangers. It has become much easier to smile from the bottom of my heart, to evangelise, to approach strangers, even just to say hello to an unfriendly neighbour.
Had a quick lunch this afternoon before rushing to school to meet the twins, for today is Natalie's ballet class and we do not get home until about 4pm. After the meal when I was still finishing my drink, the cleaner came to clear up my emptied dish. This particular cleaner has been working at this coffee shop for ages, and is notorious for her bad temper and her grouchy face. I have heard comments like if she ever smiled, Singapore would snow. When she came over to clear my dish, I automatically gave her a smile and thanked her. To my utmost surprise, she went absolutely flabbergasted and stuttered, "You are welcome," in Chinese. And her normally stern and grouchy face broke into an awkward kind of smile like it had long forgotten how its features ought to be arranged in a smile.
This incident had me plunge deep in thoughts. So many people are being taken for granted in their vocation day in day out, especially those in the service industry, more so the lowly educated holding lowly positions.And all it took to make the cleaner's day was a slight smile of appreciation and a simple word of thanks. How much better a place the world would be if only everyone could just make a little effort to bring a smile onto a stranger's face each day. I'm resolved to start bringing a heartfelt smile to at least one stranger's face a day from today onwards. What about you?
1 comment:
You are absolutely right. That is something I have been trying to put into practice as well after hearing ZQ shared about Grace's decison to smile at pp she has eye contact with.
I am still struggling, esp with pp who do not look friendly and with strangers.
Amen, let's do it together!
love,sk
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