• Home
  • About
  • Book
  • Parenting Podcast
  • Writings
    • Prayer
    • Flourishing
    • Motherhood
    • Faith
    • Encouragement
    • Relationship
  • Speaking
  • Soul Care for Clergy Wives & Female Clergy
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

Teresa D. Glenn

6 Comments

The Impact A Few Minutes Can Make

When I arrived at the grocery store, the parking lot was mostly empty. An older gentleman stood outside near the door holding a tied plastic grocery bag with two hands. He smiled warmly, and I smiled back and said, “Good morning, how are you?!”

He answered, smiling broadly again, “Oh, I’m allll-right. I’m here for a job interview!  They told me to be here at 7am.  How are you?”

“I’m fine, thanks.”  (It was 8:15am).  As I answered him, I noticed a sign with revised store hours.  “It says the store opens at 9 now.”

To be honest, my initial reaction was frustration because I was inconvenienced and would have to return later. But as I turned to the nice man standing next to me, that dissolved.  He had been standing here for over an hour, holding his bag that I think held his lunch in case he got the job today.

“I am so sorry that you’ve been waiting for so long.”

“Yeah,” he said, “but that’s alright.”

I took a couple of steps away and turned back to him, “Well, I sure do hope you get the job. You have a great smile, by the way. God bless you.”

When I got in my car, I called Terrell, and as I told him about the man I started to cry. I was frustrated about how long he had been out there and wondered if his age would stand in the way of getting the job. I prayed then for him with Terrell, and he continues to come to mind even now.

A chance meeting of minutes.  This man inspired me and doesn’t know it—he extended kindness to me, a stranger, in the midst of his hard personal circumstance.

Later that day I prayed these verses over him. I hope these words strengthen you today.   And maybe, pray them over someone you know—or a stranger God puts in your path.

 He only is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
    my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
    pour out your heart before him;
    God is a refuge for us.  
(Psalm 62.6–8)

Share
Pin
Post
Email
Print
When We Don’t Know What To Do
Growing Strong Through the Hard Days

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Josephine Rwaje says

    April 17, 2020 at 1:57 am

    Touched by the young man smiling yet he knew he was going to wait for more than 2 hours! Kindness is not always expensive yet it has tremendous value!

    Reply
    • Teresa D Glenn says

      April 17, 2020 at 5:29 am

      Yes, that struck me, too. And I agree—kindness is very valuable! It’s so good to hear from you, Josephine. I miss you!

      Reply
  2. thenaptimekitchen says

    April 16, 2020 at 8:05 pm

    Oh my goodness that sweet man! I love this so much. One thing that struck me about the calendar is that there is actually “events” on it. In a strange month where I literally have no other events and all previously planned ones are cancelled, how cool a reminder that I can have a daily “meeting” with God.

    Reply
    • Teresa D Glenn says

      April 16, 2020 at 9:04 pm

      What a great perspective, Kate! Thank you for reading– and commenting!

      Reply
  3. Karen Ligon says

    April 15, 2020 at 10:16 pm

    Thank you for sharing your kindness with this gentleman . I will pray for him also.

    Reply
    • Teresa D Glenn says

      April 16, 2020 at 8:43 am

      You are such a blessing, Karen!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Copyright © 2025 · Teresa D. Glenn · All Rights Reserved
Daisy Photo by Charlize Birdsinger on Unsplash