Acknowledge

Acknowledge

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

I WAS WAITING IN LINE to check out at the grocery store. I hadn’t seen the young man at the register before, so I knew he must be fairly new. He studied my shirt for a moment with his lips pursed. It simply had the words “Foster, Adoptive, Biological. Mom” printed on it.

“I really love your shirt,” he said. “Are you a foster mom?”

“Yes,” I replied. “I was. I have three adopted kids from foster care.”

He nodded. “I was in foster care as a kid myself.” He didn’t look more than twenty-one years old, still very much a kid himself.

“Oh?” I responded. I’ve learned to wait for more, keeping my eyes on him as I paused to acknowledge him.

He took this as his cue to continue: “I was in twelve foster homes as a kid. I wasn’t bad; it just never worked out for my sister and me. It was really tough. My mom was a drug dealer, my dad was in prison. I knew I didn’t want to be like them.” I nodded, waiting for more. “I was finally adopted, my sister and I. We’re in a good family now,” he said with a smile.

“I’m happy for you,” I responded. “You’re really brave.”

He grinned. “I knew I wanted to be better; that’s why I work here.”

“You’re doing a great job,” I stated.

As we finished bagging my groceries, I could see the man in line behind me give the young man an encouraging smile as well—he’d heard our conversation. I wished him well as I left.

It takes a few moments of our day to pause, listen, and acknowledge another person. I found out this young man’s story in just a matter of minutes, and sharing something this personal changed the atmosphere in our little checkout line. Suddenly, we were connected and seeing, really noticing another person. Listening to and acknowledging another’s story—even their pain—and in turn showing compassion and kindness in the middle of an ordinary experience is one of the greatest gifts we can give someone.

Lord, help us to listen and acknowledge someone and offer compassion, kindness, and love as we do. Amen.

-Kendra

One Good Step: When was the last time someone stopped, listened, and acknowledged you? How can you pass that experience on to another?