Yesterday I sat in at least a dozen chairs and a good twenty or so couches.
It was a good, good day. My mom and I had a middle-of-the-week mother-daughter day. We ignored tasks and to-dos and instead…went furniture shopping.
Now, I’ve always been a little wary of furniture stores. My past experiences have been a bit mall shoe store-ish. Know what I mean? When you walk in and a salesperson pounces and, yup, you’ve got a shadow until you flee for the exit. (Yes, I realize they’re just doing their job. But seriously, I need space to make decisions, even if it’s only between the funky yellow impractical shoes or the much-needed Adidas.)
A few years ago I bought a new mattress. Walked into the store and I’m not kidding, I thought the sales dude was going to push me onto a bed. He insisted I try out every mattress in the place. Laying on a bed while a sales guy stands over you spouting facts about pillowtops versus plush? Awk-ward.
Yesterday, however, was a completely different experience. Oh, we talked to plenty of salespeople. But each person would’ve made Emily Post beam. You have to understand, the Homemakers in Des Moines is like a castle, so as we roamed the place (and yes, got continuously turned around), we ended up chatting with probably half a dozen employees.
None of them hounded us.
They offered help, answered our questions, priced fabrics, crawled around on the ground looking for the price tag on a rug…
And then simply waited and waved when we moved on.
I’m telling you, they made me want to buy out the place. I walked away so impressed with the happy guy by the rugs, the bald dude back in the clearance section, Luis and his cool glasses, the sweet lady who gave us cookies and coffee, Deanna who I’ll be calling today to order my new couch…
And that is how I want to be as a Christian.
I know, it took me a long time to get to the devotional-y piece of this post. But it’s true. That I’m-so-at-home feeling I got at Homemakers yesterday? What if that’s how I made each person I encounter feel? What if Christ’s love flowed from me in such a tangible way that people walked away saying, “Whatever she’s got, I’m buying.”
And then I’d get the chance to tell the happy news: No price tag here. No special financing. No delivery charge.
I think that welcoming, nurturing, but always ready-to-give-an-answer stance takes cultivating. It means climbing out of the “me” shell and becoming others-focused. It means looking past my feel-likes and instead focusing on the faces around me.
It means kindness, encouragement, an ever-welcoming spirit.
It’s the Homemakers salesperson vibe turned spiritual. It’s how I want to be.
And the good thing is, I’ll have a new couch in a couple days which will remind me each time I sit down. 🙂
What about you? Any tips on how to cultivate a Homemakers-like approach to life as a Christian? We live in a world desperate for the love and hope Christ offers. How do we share that without hounding? How do we live it?
Comments 18
A hilarious story with a great, deep spiritual lesson. I wanna be like that too. It’s why I refuse to hand out tracts. Ever. You must do a vlog on your new couch! LOVE!!!!
Ooh, I definitely will do that. It’s going to be delivered next week…I can’t wait!!
Oh my goodness…”Laying on a bed while a sales guy stands over you spouting facts about pillowtops versus plush? Awk-ward.”
I about died when I read this. I can just picture it…
But to your serious point, I completely agree. At my last job, one of my coworkers just looked at me in amazement and he said, “You’re just so…happy all the time.” One could think I’m just a happy person, but I know the truth: the Lord has set me free, and that makes joy bubble up and out of my soul.
Happy Friday, Melissa. 🙂 I hope you got my email back the other night. If not, let me know and I’ll resend. Thanks for your prayers!
Seriously, that mattress experience was so incredibly awkward. But hey, I came away from it with a bed I love. 🙂
I love that your coworker recognizes your happiness!
Oh, yes, I did get your email. Sorry I haven’t replied! I ended up taking a day off yesterday and spending the day with my mom, so my Inbox languished. 🙂 Yay for fun emails, though!
No worries. I just wanted to be sure you received it. 😛 Yay for days off! That’s so fun.
I love your comparison here.
When a person touches our heart by their actions or words, it makes us want that special thingy they have.
I had a personal confirmation on this topic the last time I went to the grocery store. I was standing at the meat counter, and I let this lady who was in a hurry go before me, and I helped some man find something in the store – and I don’t even work there! Then this older gentleman came up to me and told me that I have a beautiful soul, and he could see it in my eyes. My eyes? I was dumbstruck and left speechless for a moment.
It was one of those days where you don’t feel very spiritual – I had a combination of things looming over my head and pressing down on me, but what was in my heart still shined through. He saw Jesus there. I’m sure of it.
Oh, that is the sweetest story. That’s a memory I bet you’ll be carrying with you a long time!
Love your blog post and I love the comments …
and yeah, that guy in the mattress store? Somebody needs to fire him.
It’s funny that I had a discussion about this topic with Susie May yesterday. I told her one of my goals in my writing is to “keep the conversation going,” i.e. I want to write in such a way that both believers and non-believers stay with me — be it a blog post or a novel.
And another thing I like to remember is how Scripture says to be ready with an answer. If no one is asking … well, then, am I doing something to prompt questions?
Maybe the mattress guy is on to something, though. I mean, I did end up buying one. Maybe he figures if he scares a girl enough, she’ll buy in haste. 🙂
That’s a great writing goal, Beth. I sooo can’t wait to read your book!
Love this, Melissa. Yes, I agree. We’re here to answer questions, to be friendly and good examples, but not to push people onto mattresses until they buy the Bible! Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks, Jill! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, too!
Ah yes, it was a wonderful day, wasn’t it! What a delightful blog post. Yes, the Homemaker’s experience was indeed pleasant and the Chinese restaurant they recommended wasn’t too shabby either! Who would have thought we would learn lessons of sharing love for Christ in an unobnoxious way by encountering great emplyees while shoppping in a sweet furniture store. Enjoy the sofa! Love ya and thanks for lunch~mom.
Mom, I’m still trying to decide on the black chair! 🙂 How long do you think we spent in Homemakers? It had to have been at least two hours, don’t you think? Such a good day. Thanks for driving to Des Moines to spend it with me. Love you, too. 🙂
p.s. Slumberland tomorrow? 🙂
HA! Oh I hate buying mattresses just for that reason!
I want Christ to so be the fabric of my life (see how I”m going with your theme??!) that it’s woven through all I do and becomes a part of me, so they see it and I don’t have to actively sell it. I love that verse you quoted, by the way, it’s one of my favorites. Did you end up buying anything afterall?
Ooh, good job going with the theme, Susan. 🙂 Well, I found a couch and an ottoman I adore. Pretty sure I’ll buy them. But my mom and I have been joking about extending our search to Slumberland tomorrow. So I may hold out one more day. Either way, before this weekend is up, I will plunk down the money and get me a pretty couch.
I like this. I became a grandmother again last night, got to see her this a.m. Picked up my 15-yr.-old granddtr. tonight & am observing that at our best Grandmas are like cushy couches to sit on, comfy, let you relax. My oldest blesses me w/ comments on the family farm we’re getting, that she’s grateful and wants to help me, volunteering to assist many things that don’t need redecorating yet ’cause they’re in good shape, but no doubt in time she will put her imprint on the place and our lives, just as we’re all meant to do. Comfy. Home. Furniture for each other.
Congratulations, Dee! I’m so happy for you and your family. Not only do you have the fun of a new farm, but a new grandchild. I love her name and the meaning behind it. I love your description of grandmas as cushy couches. 🙂