How are you?

After work today, I stopped by the grocery store to pick up some beets. Yes, beets. In the words of Dwight Schrute: “Everyone loves beets!”

Nevertheless, I walked up to the cashier and placed my items down in front of her and she asked me: “How are you?”

Automatically, without thinking, I responded: “I’m good. How are you?”

“I’m not doing good,” she responded. Her honesty jolted me. She didn’t respond with the same perfunctory answer that I had given her: “I’m good.” She responded with the truth.

My eyes locked with hers and my ears perked up as I listened to her tell me how she had three mental breakdowns that day. She told me that she was exhausted and possibly over stimulated after working 11:30am-8:30pm shifts the last few days and would continue working that schedule until her next day off on Tuesday.

“I hope your day gets better,” I said as she handed me my receipt.

I didn’t ask the young lady her name, but I prayed for her as I left the store. I ask that you join me in lifting her up in prayer when you get a chance.

Lastly, I challenge you to tell the truth when someone, you can trust, asks you: “How are you?”

Don’t be so quick to respond with the customary: “I’m good. How are you?”

Take the time, check in with yourself and respond truthfully. Also, take the time and give those you encounter the space to respond honestly when you ask them: “How are you?”

Maybe the young lady respond honestly because she sensed that I truly wanted to know how she was doing. Maybe, I was the first person to ask her how she was doing.

I don’t know, but what I do know is this: more often than not, we suffer in silence. The ones that you would never expect suffer. Even the ones with the loudest laughs and the biggest smiles suffer.

Love God. Love people. Be kind.

Be encouraged! You are loved! ❤