For the first time in five years (thank You, Jesus), I became ill with what appears to be the common flu (although I am told that such a thing no longer exists). Despite not feeling like it, one of my friends encouraged me to go out into the sun. I did more than just step outside; I drove to the supermarket, which was approximately five minutes from home to get a few needed items to make my “get-better-soup.” While I had the option of a friend running that errand for me, I wanted to do it myself. I went to the supermarket with my list of ten items and was out of there in a jiffy. As I got to the traffic light, which was right by the supermarket, there was a gentleman selling some of the biggest lemons I have ever seen. Of course, it didn’t occur to me that lemon was a necessity for my getting-better-process until I happened upon the lemon vendor. Luckily for me, the light was on red. He came up to the vehicle, and I rolled down the window and asked him the price. He stated a price that I immediately believed was too pricey. I told him that I didn’t have as much, while quickly rummaging through my purse. In that moment, it became even more evident to me that I needed the lemon. I guess he must have sensed my need, so he reached into the window and said “okay” as he handed me the lemon. “Yuh a bruk mi ducks,” he said, which meant that I was his first buyer of the day. At that time, it was about noon (on a Sunday). As I handed him 75 percent of his asking price, he told me that I could bring the balance another time and that he was at that location everyday between a certain time (I can’t remember the time now). I promised him that I would, asked him his name, and drove off (the light turned green right after our transaction).
As I drove up to my gate and parked, the Holy Spirit instructed me to search my purse and handbag for the balance of Clive’s money. If you have ever seen a woman’s purse before she has had the chance to clean out receipts, etc., you have an idea of what I had to navigate. I found it, minus one JMD. Without a second thought, I drove off to the spot to give Clive the money I promised that I would have given at a later date.
I entered unto the road and made a quick spin and headed toward the traffic light where he was still peddling his goods. I rolled down the window and called out to him.
“Clive!”
When he looked up and saw me, I beckoned to him. As I handed him his money, I received the biggest face to face smile I have seen on a human in a long while. His eyes lit up in a way that said, I cannot believe you kept your word. He looked me in the eyes and simply said, “thank you,” in the middle of another wide smile. “You are welcome,” I said.
As I drove off with the image of Clive’s smile and the twinkle in his eyes on his sunburnt face – this man whose first purchase I was, I couldn’t help but think about the importance of keeping my/our word. I do not know this man’s story, and I don’t need to. I felt his heart, and I could see myself in him. Even though I owed him, his gratitude was palpable. He was pleasantly surprised that I returned. His gratitude came out in his posture more than it did in his words. THAT did something to my psyche and revealed/reminded me of several things:
- I felt semi guilty thinking that his lemons were not worth his price.
- Pay people what they ask for their good/service or leave it alone.
- I was reminded of the importance of keeping one’s words, specifically in cases where the person can only benefit. If we tell someone we are going to do something, and it’s within our realm of possibilities to do it, then we SHOULD. If we can’t keep our word, say so!
- We must aspire toward KINDNESS, always (there is a difference between kind and nice).
- I needed those lemons in a way that I didn’t even realize until I saw Clive selling them.
- I could have gone elsewhere, since this was not my typical supermarket, but I was supposed to go there.
- Clive was just as important to my get-better-process as the soup I ended up making. The lemons are doing what they do.
- It is important for us to listen to that voice inside of us that guides us to do right, in Christ, even as a corrective action to not doing right the first time we are given the chance.
Ultimately, many of us operate in such tunnel vision ways that we are incapable of seeing how our actions affect the other person. For some of us, this type of behaviour (not keeping our promise) is situational, while for others, not keeping their word is the way of life – it is who they are, fundamentally. Whatever the case, we are called, especially in these times of everyone wanting more than what we have, even when our more is more than enough, to extend kindness and keep our word. We may never know the difference we have made to someone’s day. According to Rolling Stone Magazine, when we keep our word, we are showing that person that we respect them, have their backs, we are trustworthy, and that we also respect ourselves.
As for me, I was happy to see Clive’s smile and what it did to his overall demeanour; I was equally happy that I did what was right in my often-compromised quest toward daily RIGHTEOUSNESS, in CHRIST.
PARENTING, ADVOCACY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN 