The Moral of the Story

Cindy Trane Christeson

“I have lived in this world just long enough to look carefully the

second time into things that I am the most certain of the first time.” --

Josh Billings

I picked my daughter, Amy, up from work recently and we headed over to

a nearby store to treat ourselves to frozen yogurt.

The woman working there smiled at us as we walked in, and then the

phone rang. She answered it and Amy and I analyzed the flavor selection.

Amy told me about her day at work. A few minutes went by and I looked

over to the woman on the phone, but she just kept on talking. A few more

minutes went by and Amy and I looked longingly at the topping selections.

“It seems like she could put her friend on hold while she helped us,”

I said.

The woman kept talking while winding the phone cord around her

fingers. She smiled at us rather sheepishly. I decided she must be

talking to her boyfriend. Amy and I looked at the frozen yogurt machines

and then back at each other. I wondered if we should just leave. But I

was still happy talking to Amy and we really did want frozen yogurt, so

we waited. And waited.

“Well, I don’t think I’ll be putting anything in the tip jar,” I said

to Amy.

Just then the woman hung up the phone and practically ran over to us.

“I am so sorry to have kept you waiting so long,” she said. Apparently

it had been her boss on the phone, and she had left him many messages

throughout the day. She needed to tell him that she needed help, that her

co-worker was two hours late, and that the last crew left the place in

shambles.

“What can I get you?” she asked. “I really am sorry, but I just had to

talk to him. I’ve waited hours.”

I paid and left a bigger tip than normal. I was ashamed of my negative

thoughts.

“Wow, there’s a great example of how easy it is to judgesomeone and be

totally wrong,” I said to Amy while we ate our desserts. She agreed.

The woman rushed around cleaning the other tables.

“I’ve been trying to do that for hours. Again, thanks for your

patience,” she said with a weary voice.

“It’s no problem. We’re sorry you are so short-handed,” I said. Just

then a mother and two rambunctious boys walked in. Actually the boys

romped in and the mother slumped in. While they argued about the

acceptable size of yogurts, an older couple walked in. After a few

minutes, the man started tapping his foot impatiently.

Amy and I thanked the woman again as we left.

We’re all familiar with the Bible verse that tells us not to judge. I

found an interesting translation of the verse that says “Try to show as

much compassion as your father does. Never criticize or condemn -- or it

will all come back on you. Go easy on others, then they will do the same

for you.”

I had clearly misjudged that overworked woman. I pray that each time

I’m tempted to do that again, I stop before I get started and remind

myself to go easy on others.

I sure hope they go easy on me. And you can quote me on that.CINDY

TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks frequently to

parenting groups. She can be reached via e-mail at cindy@onthegrow.com or

through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-#505, Newport Beach 92658.