Nice people and miserable grouches

The other day I was eavesdropping on a conversation on the subject of tipping, and it brought to mind my childhood days when I worked for the public. I use the term “for the public” because I worked at a grocery store and every form of humanity shopped (and sometimes shoplifted) there. Those types of businesses are not able to cater to a particular class of people…unlike banks that only cater to people with money, and the sale barn that only caters to cattlemen.  Grocery stores deal with everyone from bums to billionaires.  Because everyone has to eat.

I learned early-on that some people, rich and poor, were very nice and wonderful to come in contact with. They made my day bright--they never seemed to have a bad day, Or if they did, they made it a point not to share it. And there were some people, rich and poor, who required lots of endurance to deal with--we kids considered them miserable grouches because that is exactly what they were. And of course, everyone else who shopped there fell somewhere in between nice and grouchy.

Today when I am in line to be checked out at Walmart, Brookshires, et al, I pay attention to other customers around me, observing them interface with store employees. The same in restaurants. I observe how diners interface with waiters and waitresses. And you know, nothing has changed. There are still some nice folks, though it seems they have grown fewer in number, and miserable grouches trying to share their misery with the poor employees. And, like it was when I was a kid, the employees take it for peanut wages.

Then to top it off, when I walk to my car in the parking lot, I sometimes notice an old grouch (who just griped out the checker) getting in her car with a bumper sticker on it reading “I love my church.” O well…

So my question is, honestly, how do you come across to people who have to work for and serve you? I have the same question for myself.  Is it a nice person making their day better? How about a Christian reflecting your Lord?  Or is it a miserable grouch to be endured?

It’s something to think about…

Gene