A Timely Compliment

Today when I went swimming at the "Y" I realized that I had not spoken to anyone in keeping with my desire to lift folks spirits by some compliment. I breathed a silent prayer that the Lord would give me that opportunity. These little encounters must come spontaneously. It just doesn't seem to work when I try to manufacture them.

I stopped at the hardware store to pick up a light bulb. Two gracious young checkout ladies greeted me. One of them offered to show me where to find the bulbs. As I was paying, I noticed some things that looked like writing pens that stirred my curiosity so I asked what they were. I was told that they were reading glasses.

I preceded to say that I did not need any other aid to help me see how to read because I wear trifocals. The young lady who had taken me to find the bulb was astounded and asked me why I needed trifocals. I took them off and showed them to her explaining that with bifocals I could not read my sermon notes. By this time another man had approached the counter to check out his purchase. They wanted to know where I preach. I told them that the church is outside Dawson Springs. The girl spoke up saying that her grandfather had been a pastor at Dawson Springs. I asked his name and she said he was Rev. James_______. She was a bit amazed that I knew her grandfather. I told her that I had visited him several times in the hospital before he died and that I also knew her grandmother who passed away three weeks later.

She said that she probably saw me at the hospital when I visited her grandparents. I grabbed my opportunity to compliment her. By the way, she is a pretty girl! I finished our conversation by saying, "I am sure I saw you there because I remember they had some beautiful granddaughters. You are one of them." She didn't quite know how to respond, but when she collected her wits she merely said, "Thank you."

As I walked out to my car, I said, "Thank you, Lord. Perhaps that girl needed to have her self-image boosted a tad." I hope this old man old enough to be her grandfather or even great grandfather had blessed her and lifted her spirits.