Winter Silence

It has been a quiet kind of winter outdoors. The sounds of everything were muted by multiple snows. On the inside, things were less quiet as the kids moved from shrieks of glee over the snow, to bickering over toys and movies, to out right fighting and wails of frustration as activity after activity has been cancelled.

The frustration even further within has been mounting, as deadlines approach, plans are put on hold or need to be rearranged, and the dead dull of winter has pervaded my soul. It seems as if many people are feeling the same angst, with the job markets remaining down, the weather snarling every day life, and sad news coming across the wire with daily repetition.

I haven't been blogging or reading blogs as I should, but some times it's better to hold silence, rather than let the negative feelings run amok. As we prepare to move into March, I hope the coming change of seasons will have a brightening effect on us all. Soon the snow will have drip-drip-dripped away, and the rivulets of water will knock on roots and bulbs, awakening them to the warming sun. The dark clouds of winter will begin to be pushed back by rays of warmth and hope.

So here's my hope: that spring, like water, will knock on our roots and remind us to reach to the sun. It was always there, waiting for the right moment in our lives to bring us back to life.

Just a Little Effort

Photo courtesy of Photobucket.com


I was at the store today. After the snow over the weekend, the local kids had been released from that horrible drudgery that is school. Apparently, visiting Walmart continues to rank at the top of the list of "Things Smalltown Kids Do When Bored," just like it did when I was a teenager. All I can say on that subject is, I hope I wasn't as annoying a teen as some of the ones I crossed paths with today! Maybe the list is the only thing that stayed the same...we'll hold that thought.

While I was waiting to check out, glancing over magazine racks full of glossy, smiling faces, one of the shift supervisors came by and asked that I be the last customer in line so that the cashier could have her break. Could I place the "LANE CLOSED" sign on the counter and ask others to find a different line? Sure, I could. (I was just thankful she hadn't asked me to find another line myself).

So I continued moving through the line by inches, never needing to warn anyone off. The teens were only there to see and be seen, after all, and who has spending money anymore? Everything was fine until an older man with a cart piled full of groceries got in line behind me.

"Um, Sir, this is the end of the line...she needs a break."

He looked from me to the sign and back again, shuffling closer."Oh...well, she can take me," he said and glanced to her, "can't you?"

The cashier sighed quietly and nodded. "Sure, I can take you, sir," she answered. She turned to continue sweeping groceries across the scanner and I noticed her downturned expression. I smiled at her and murmured, "you're too nice."

She glanced at the old man shifting his groceries onto the belt and shook her head. "I've heard it doesn't take much effort to be kind to someone, but it takes a lot to be mean," she said. "And if it comes back to me someday, great. But I'll still try to be nice."

What a great way to look at the world...it only takes a little effort. And with her effort in answering me thoughtfully, she's passed on that kindness to me as well. Whether it's karma, positive thinking, or the Big Guy taking notice, I hope her kindnesses return to her a hundredfold. After all, it would only take a little effort...