Here's to you . . .

Here's to you, Mr. Wal-mart Greeter Guy.

Every day you stand at that entrance and exit door greeting cheerful or grumpy, friendly or unfriendly, nice or mean, wide-awake or sleep-walking people. And, yet you still smile and offer a kind word to each one.

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I made my weekly trip to Wal-mart, not as full of dread as usual. In a town with only a KMart, Wal-mart, a few smaller grocery stores, and novelty shops, if I have a ton of grocery and non-food stuff, I have to go there. I put it off long enough, so with a deep breath and a pasted-on smile I bounded inside out of the cold at 8:20am.

The tall, silver-haired man at the door greeted me with a smile, commenting on the one plastered on my face at that early hour. Thank you, God, for a smile. I've found that it helps my mood, but also affects others. Thanks to Mr. Greeter Guy for sharing his with all of us. He comes in contact with hundreds of people during his shift. Perhaps his cheer will help mend a broken spirit, encourage a lost soul, or comfort a hurting heart.

My journey through the massive land of stuff lasted an hour and a half! In every department, employees were improving their section - they were moving each item, so no one could find it without searching! AH!

But, after checking out, Mr. Greeter Guy wished me a good day. Grateful for the good cheer, I pushed the overflowing cart to my car. Unloading groceries should be considered part of any exercise plan! Unfortunately, several bags into the effort, the sour cream crashed to the pavement. I finished loading my vehicle, avoiding the white splat below me.

Decision time . . . Do I take more time to take it inside and let them know, or just forget it? Either way, I'm out that money. I had to at least throw away the cracked and leaking container in the trash can at the front of the store. Another humungous sigh escaped. At least coming that early allows me to have a close parking spot - right beside the handicapped and expectant moms slots. I marched back inside.

Mr. Greeter Guy recognized me and gladly took my broken gift. "You just go on back there, get you a new one, and come back here. That way you don't have to wait in Customer Service. I know you've already been through that check-out line." He flashed me another huge smile.

"Thank you so much!" I dashed off with a genuine smile, not the 'I can get through this' one I entered with.

Mr. Greeter Guy, you made my day! And, I even counted the sprint for the sourcream from the front corner of the store to the opposite back corner as my workout for the day. Woo hoo!

God gladly accepts our broken gifts and offerings too. He loves us and wants us to share that love with others. He created us with wonderful smiles. Have you used yours today to cheer another? Let's help each other BEAR life together. Smile!