I was purchasing something at a shop a few days ago. I took a queue number and waited for my number to be called. I then heard a beep which indicated my turn but I could not find the screen that displayed the number of the counter I was supposed to go to. It took me some moments before I finally found it. I was annoyed—and the reason was this: It was obvious that I was the customer as no one else was waiting and yet the person who was to attend to me did not bother to alert me. Furthermore, the counter was just two steps away from me. Hence, it was not too difficult to signal to me. The receptionist who attended to me was a young lady who stared blankly at me when I sat down. I thought she was not courteous. I was annoyed but at the same time, I told myself that the reason for this rudeness could be because she had been unhappy for reasons not related to me—and I think I was later proven right.

She asked me for a particular detail and I told her that that my child was below that age. She shot back at me and asked me not to lie. I was very annoyed. I did not specify the exact age because I would need some time to calculate my son’s age. After a short pause when had I calculated my son’s age, I told her the age (It was obvious that I could not have lied as I would later need to show her my son’s documents).

As she handled my case, I notice that she was not very knowledgeable and had to consult her colleagues many times. Despite that she asked them courteously, they were, I thought, annoyed and one even jibed at her with sarcastic remarks. I had wanted to settle this matter quickly but I told her gently that I could wait for her to ascertain the details. She soon became less tensed and friendly towards me. When she called me later to correct some mistaken information she gave me (thrice), she was delighted that I addressed her by her name (I made it a point to remember her name).

This receptionist, I guessed, must have been very unhappy. Perhaps she took longer to learn the ropes or it could be that her initial learning attitude was no good and that caused colleagues to be nasty towards her. By the time, she humbled herself, these colleagues had already decided that they would no longer be kind to her and this perhaps explains the present unhappy situation.

I have learned never to be superficial in guessing at the reason(s) when people are nasty. On not a few occasions, the reason for a rude behavior was because that person was hurting inside as, I thought, is the case here. Let us emulate our Lord Jesus’ example:

Behold, my Servant whom I have chosen, my Beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon Him, and He will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets; a bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench, until He brings justice to victory; and in His name the Gentiles will hope” (Mat 12:18-21)

A reed was used for measuring. Hence, when its straightness is lost by bending or cracking it, it was of no further use. A strip of linen cloth used as a lamp wick, when it smokes, is of no use for giving light and is simply a source of pollution. Common sense would demand that both be replaced because they are useless. Our Lord Jesus, however, does not do that. He is kind and good to those who are useless in the eyes of people. In the hands of our almighty Lord, these seemingly useless people can become instruments for His glory because God’s “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). Our Lord does not give up on anyone. Neither should we. Let us encourage one another that we may be strengthened to serve God better.