"Being Nice Matters"
[Unknown Author]

When I was 20 and still in college, I worked for a large chain store where
jewelry was their main product. At Christmas time, it was understood that when
the jewelry department got busy, and because that's where the greatest margin of
profit was, that all available employees were to help with sales in the jewelry
'pit'. We were all trained to work the counters, but we got a minimum percentage
of commission compared to the regular salespeople's salary and commissions.

This one evening, the customers were three deep all around the four sides of the
jewelry counters. One by one we served the customers and it finally got to a
manageable group in about two hours. Some of my co-workers were tired and wanted
to go back to their departments. Some were allowed to leave, but I was asked to
stay and finish helping our customers find the jewelry that they were shopping
for.

As I was just about to walk my current customer to the registers so that she
could checkout, I caught sight of a VERY large man in just filthy overalls. He
was muddy and he smelled!

When I returned to the sales counter, all of the other college students that
were there working were whispering and giggling and not very discreetly. I asked
them what they were whispering about. And they pointed to the man at my section
of the counter. I told them not to be so mean. He might be able to hear them. I
told them to have the Christmas spirit and be nice. "Because nice matters".

They were still giggling as I went to see how I could help him. When I got to
him, he really did smell. It was pretty bad, but I figured he really wanted
something as he had waited a long time. He thanked me for coming to him and
asked to see a $40,000 aquamarine and diamond ring in the case.

Gasps and more giggles exploded from my co-workers when they heard what he had
asked to see. The man and I BOTH heard the comments that they made. I was
embarrassed for him and I wanted to just evaporate to escape this truly
uncomfortable moment.

He apologized to ME, saying he had heard what they said before I came to help
him, and he had heard what I told them, and he was so sorry that he did indeed
stink, and that he must look a sight. But he said he was really pressed for
time, as he had been in the field all day turning soil, and that his wife of 20
years had mentioned a ring she had seen in our case that morning.

He really wanted to surprise her with the ring because she had been the best
thing that had ever happened to him. He wasn't quite sure which ring she had
seen, but he wanted to get to the store as soon as he could in case the ring
would be sold before he could buy it for her.

I knew the ring was $40,000, but I'm not so sure he knew how much it was. By the
description, I knew exactly what ring he wanted to see. I assured him that this
was the only one that would match what he was repeating from his wife's
description. I told him the price and he swallowed hard. When he finally spoke,
he again apologized for his attire and aroma, and asked if I could gift wrap it
for him. I told him that I could, but we would have to go to the register and
pay for it first.

He said "Okay." I asked if it would be cash or charge. More giggles from behind.
Comments that I had wasted my time on this sale. Laughing. It was very
embarrassing. Then as he put his hand in his pocket, he said, "Cash."

Oh, you wouldn't believe the exclamations of disbelief from my co-workers. The
whole floor by now had gotten wind of this very large, unkempt man trying to
pretend he was going to buy a ring that he probably didn't realize that it was
so expensive. The comments from EVERYONE around the area were so painfully
embarrassing.

That poor man! Well, he and I walked over to the register and had to wait until
the patron ahead of us was through. He thanked me again for being so patient
with him and that he was again sorry that he looked such a mess.

When the cashier saw the amount to be rung up, her eyes got as big as golf
balls! She asked me if it was a joke. I said no and that we would like to hurry
as the man had a long drive back to the country and he wanted to get home as
soon as possible.

She rang up the sale, and with tax, the man presented her with 42-$1,000 bills
and 4-$100 bills. Exact change, he said, to make it easier on the cashier.

I was nervous that it really was happening. I was upset that it was happening. I
was elated that he could make it happen. I was angry with my co-workers that
they were so judgmental.

This very thoughtful and thankful man was the brunt of their jokes. And he
leaned over to me and said, "So, the jokes on them, huh?!!" And with that, he
pressed into my hand two one-hundred dollar bills!!

He said he wanted me to have it because I was the only one who had not made a
snide comment, and I was very pleasant to him even though he knew he wasn't very
presentable. And as he repeated my quote from earlier, he directed his eyes to
the now-drop-jawed co-workers and boomed the comment, "BECAUSE NICE MATTERS"

He winked and said, "Let's get this wrapped, so I can go home to my bride of
20-years."

I was so happy! Not only did I get a 1% commission on this sale, but also he had
sweetened the pot by another 50%. So, I made the biggest, prettiest gift-wrapped
package that I could! He thanked me again, shook my hand, and left, and I never
saw him again.

This story has stayed with me for over 20 years. It's one of my favorite
memories. Not because of the money, but because we formed a pact, a camaraderie,
against what was bad, and we proved it to be good to do the right thing. We all
learned a lesson from this night. My co-workers were VERY eager to help ALL
customers after that night. Never judge a book by its cover, and remember that
nice does matter!


"But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at the height of
his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees;
for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'" 1
Samuel 16:7 [KJV]

 hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did ! Take good care of YOU

Priceless.....

Kindness is the gift we each crave

Wearing so many masks when I first came into recovery, all I ever really desired was kindness.  An ear, a shoulder, a loving heart, and understanding.

As some of you may know, my mother in law passed away last september. We never really did have a great relationship, but deep inside I loved her, because she was alot like me.  Although she came across very abrasive, I did my best to get along with her.

My hubby and I knew 'mom' didn't have much, she lived on a fixed income. When she ended up in the emergency room, it was there, I saw beyond her anger, I saw her vunerablity, as I stroked her head, I said to her "mom, they say the  human touch is very healing", she replied, "ya know, I think they are right".....I had to leave the room that moment, cuz my eyes had filled with tears.  Tears of regret for not seeing past her life's hurts, tears for my lack of understanding her. Prior to her gettin ill, she would call me alot to ask me how OUR finances were.  I would get sooooooooo angry "how dare she question our personal matters?" 

When she passed, while scrambling to get her insurance policy, we were amazed to find what she had 'left behind'.  Suffice it to say, she wasn't calling to be all up in my business, she was calling to see how IN NEED we were.  We were in debt bigtime, and she personally saw to it, that we are NO longer in debt. 

In life, we may never know just what other people's motives are, and at times are tempted to think ill of other's motives.  The reality is......We really do NOT know what is behind the mask....

More does get revealed, and ya know, more than what she left 'us' I learned something that day...... I truly DID love her, I just needed to let go and tap into that love, look beyond the veil, and search my heart for truth...the truth of KINDNESS...

May God be with us as we travel our road to happy destiny. 

MAJOR HUGZ and ty Di, that was so beautiful.......