2nd chance for a first impression

I started this post in 2017, however I thought it was worth finishing and posting. 

Last week was interesting. I was at Smith & Edwards and Santa was there. You could take a picture with him using your own camera or just sit by him and tell him your Christmas wish. There were a couple of kids that were mesmerized by him and they were really happy that he had a real beard. One little girl started singing with him and he sang along. There was a little girl in line that loved his "real beard". I even decided to sit down and tell him what I wanted for Christmas and had my picture taken. I posted it online and my daughter saw it and thought he was a scary Santa. She only saw the picture and didn't have any of the information that I had. I have thought and thought about this. Isn't it interesting that we look at someone and base our opinion of them based on how they look on the outside? I know this isn't always the case, however I know I am guilty of this. This Santa was such a kind soul. He was so happy to play the role and interact with the kids. Often times we trust someone who looks professional and other times there's trust put into a wolf in sheep's clothing. Judging comes way to easy, when our hearts should be full of love. Let me remind you, I am guilty of this. 

In 2016 for #LighttheWorld the challenge was to show humility. One of the ideas was to talk about a time you were wrong about someone. I kept thinking about this subject and decided to write this post about it. I decided a few years ago that I wouldn't base my opinion of someone based on what others have said. Often a first impression is wrong. I hope that I can see others through different eyes. There's so much information about just loving someone. I'm going to work on this and my hopes are that you will too! 

Was it a coincidence?

Last week I went to El Matador to get chips and salsa to take home. When I walked in the door, there was a gentleman there picking up chips and salsa. I placed my order and then waited. The previous gentleman walked back and asked for another order. He stated that he was taking the salsa to a celebration for his grandson that had just returned from an LDS mission. We both waited in the lobby. There was another gentleman who told the gentleman waiting for salsa that he looked familiar. He stated that he was in construction and worked for Nilson homes, and introduced himself as Bruce Nilson. They talked about the grandson and how he had just returned from his mission. Mr Nilson stated that he had served an LDS mission in the 60's in Australia, and then stated that recently a young missionary had just died in Australia. The gentleman pointed to the other couple in the lobby and said, oh yes and right there are his grandparents. Mr Nilson showed so much kindness to this couple it was so neat to listen and watch. On the way there, I listened to a talk by Elder Rasband titled by Divine Design. It talks about how sometimes seemingly small coincidences are really by divine design. Heavenly Father can put us in situations with specific intent in mind. He is in the small details of our lives and those incidents and opportunities are to prepare us to lift our families and others.

My story doesn't stop with just overhearing a conversation. I attempted to contact Mr Nilson through his construction page on Facebook. I sent a message with no response. I could tell the message had been read, and yet no response. I decided to send a second message with no response. 

Fast forward one week....

I made a couple of stops after work. One stop was to Costco. I had a few things on my list, and then decided to wander for 5 minutes. When I started walking to the cash register, Mr Nilson was walking toward me. We made eye contact, and then I realized that it was him. I turned around to go and find him. I asked him if he picked up chips and salsa for his grandson the week prior. He stated that yes, that was him. I told him how I was trying to contact him and tell him thank him for being so kind. It was truly an honor to listen to his conversation and watch him comfort the missionaries family. I told him how I listened to the talk about divine design, and that it was important to me to tell him thank you. Everything had to be just right so that I would see Bruce at Costco. I love that because it was important to me, it happened. 

Was this just a coincidence? No way!

So you feel invisible?

I have been thinking about this for a while. It might be my mom heart, or maybe it's just part of my gift to try to include everyone. As I listen to the people around me say they feel alone, it makes me sad. So many people feel like they don't have any friends. Kids can be mean, and they don't usually try to include everyone. If you are a teenager, try to include everyone. Elderly people feel like they don't have purpose. Have you ever tried to say hello to an elderly person at the store? Usually they light up and for one second they feel like they matter.  

Think back to a time where you had to walk into a new space, new activity or maybe even a regular activity. Were you met with welcoming eyes, smiles and warmth, or were you met with glares, rolling eyes and a cold shoulder? Sometimes we feel like everyone is staring and wondering why we are there. Eye contact makes someone feel included, but withholding eye contact can signal exclusion. If you find yourself in a situation where you feel like you are invisible or rejected, remember how you feel at that very minute. In the future when you are in familiar territory and someone new walks up looking for acceptance, be the person you needed in that situation. Remember how it feels to be rejected, or excluded so that you can help someone to feel included. We all want to belong and be welcomed, and made to feel seen. Do you realize that it only takes one person to take away that feeling of being invisible? Life gets busy and we get into our comfort zones but don't ever forget that you the power to change lives. You can use your hands as a voice! Use your hands to serve! Reach out to others.Never let someone feel alone in a crowd. There's room for everyone. 

My work theme for 2018 is "Together".  I have been thinking about this all day. Did you know that you can take someone from outsider to insider, from outcast to included member, from feeling invisible to feeling loved. Don't underestimate the power you hold as ONE person to save the life of another. All it takes is to notice. You can ask others to join you, send a text to invite. Sometimes you may feel like you are hugging a cactus, but that's ok because you can instantly make a difference. While some will teach you who you DON'T want to be, others will teach you who you DO want to be. Together we can make this world a better place. We can be Heavenly Father's hands and be the answer to a prayer.