WACKY WEDNESDAY WISDOM: The God Bless You Lady

      I've heard it said that anytime somebody says "Bless his heart" about someone else, a criticism is likely to follow. As in- "Bless his heart, he works harder than any other player on the baseball team, but he still can't hit the broad side of a barn with a boat paddle". Or "Bless her heart, she tries so hard, but her cooking could make a billy goat puke". That sorta thing. Truth be known, I like it when people say "Bless his/her heart" and a compliment follows instead. 

     Along those lines, I think there's a bit of an issue with the whole "God bless you" thing as well. Don't get me wrong, it's a great thing for one human being to say to another human being- but only if they really mean it. Take, for example, when someone sneezes. One individual in the near proximity of the germ-infested sneeze might say to another individual, even a stranger, "God bless you". Does that person truly hope that the God of the universe will bless that person, or are they just saying something polite in response to a sneeze? Who knows.

     One of my basketball coaching friends was at a high school prospect tournament with lots of other college coaches a few years back. They were all sitting near each other in the stands when suddenly and without warning, one of the coaches sneezed. My friend, ever the polite gentleman and a fine Christian man, said sincerely- "God bless you". A fellow coach who- get this- was from an institution founded by a particular church denomination, chastised my friend with a wry smile and said- "I think it would be better and more appropriate if you just said 'Bless you'". 

     Really? Leave God out of it? Is that what it's come to? Political correctness- Ugghh. 

     I'm glad my manager friend in one of the local grocery stores where my wife and I frequently shop doesn't care too much about political correctness. We call her the "God bless you Lady" because she "God blesses" every customer she comes in contact with, whether you're coming in the door or checking out at the register. And to demonstrate that she's not all talk and no action, she will go out of her way to help you find what you're looking for and even produce a coupon to help you save some money if there's one available. At first I didn't know how to take the God Bless You Lady, but over time I have come to enjoy our conversations about how the Lord is blessing our lives. She's busy but never distracted from being salt and light to others. 

     The God Bless You Lady brings to mind Matthew 5:13-16, which reminds us that as Christians, we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We are called in those verses to let our light shine before others, so they can see the light of the Father in us. 

     I asked one of the workers at the grocery store one day about the God Bless You Lady. He assured me she was a wonderful person who loved others and was popular among all the rest of the staff because she let her light shine at all times to everyone, not just paying customers. "In fact," he said, "she recently won an award as the top manager in our region, and we were all excited and happy for her."

     I've decided I like the God Bless You Lady. I wish more people were like her. And I wish I could be more like her. Bless her heart, she sincerely hopes that God is blessing everyone she comes in contact with in some way . . . and not just when they sneeze.