November 7
A Lesson in
Patience and Forgiveness
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 (NIrV)
Alex had been waiting all week for the perfect moment to return the jacket he had bought but didn’t really like. Today seemed to be that day. He had a few errands to run and figured it would be quick. He had bought it a week ago, but the tag was still on, and the item was in perfect condition—no harm done.
He walked into the store, his mind set on getting a quick refund. But as he approached the counter, the young girl behind the exchange desk greeted him with a smile, her friendly tone doing little to ease his growing impatience. "Hi, how can I help you today?" she asked.
"I’d like to return this," Alex said, placing the jacket on the counter.
She nodded and reached for the register, but then her smile faded slightly. "Do you have the receipt for this?" she asked.
Alex’s stomach sank. "No, I don’t have the receipt. But I paid for it. It's all right, right? Can’t you just look it up or something?" he asked, already feeling frustrated.
The girl politely shook her head. "I’m sorry, sir. Without the receipt, I can’t process the return. That’s store policy."
Alex’s patience was wearing thin. This was supposed to be easy. But now, standing in front of a busy counter, he felt the heat rise in his chest. "What do you mean you can’t help me? I’m just trying to return something. I’ve been coming here for years!" he said, his voice rising.
The girl hesitated, trying to maintain her composure. "I understand, sir, but it’s store policy. I can’t do anything without a receipt."
A few people in the line behind Alex began to stare. He felt all eyes on him now. "This is ridiculous," Alex muttered, trying to hold back his anger. "You can’t just refuse to help me. I don’t believe this."
Feeling the tension rise, the girl nervously called over her supervisor, who came over with a calm but firm demeanor. She repeated the same thing the girl had said. "I’m sorry, sir, but without a receipt, we can’t process the return. It’s company policy. I can’t make an exception."
Alex stormed out of the store, his blood boiling. The nerve of them! How could they treat him like that? He was just trying to make a simple exchange, and they wouldn’t help him because of a piece of paper. It felt unfair, unjust. As he walked down the street, he felt the weight of his frustration. In the heat of the moment, he had forgotten to be kind—to see the people in front of him as individuals, not obstacles to his goal.
That night, as he sat in his living room, Alex found himself replaying the situation in his mind. He had gotten angry, but the truth was, those employees were just doing their jobs. They didn’t make the rules; they were following them. They hadn’t been rude or dismissive; they had simply done what was expected of them. And yet, he had been harsh.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized he needed to apologize. He knew that he couldn’t just carry the burden of guilt and frustration. He needed to go back and make things right—not just for the employees, but for himself.
The next day, Alex returned to the store. As he walked up to the counter, the girl from yesterday recognized him and gave him a cautious look. "Hi, how can I help you today?" she asked, her voice softer.
"I wanted to apologize," Alex said, his heart heavy with regret. "Yesterday, I was rude. You and your supervisor were just doing your jobs, and I let my frustration get the best of me. I’m sorry."
The girl’s expression softened, and she nodded. "Thank you for saying that. It’s okay. We understand. We just have to follow the rules."
Alex smiled, feeling the weight lift off his shoulders. "Thank you for being patient with me," he said, feeling a sense of peace in his heart.
Prayer:
Dear God,
I come before You today with a humble heart, seeking Your guidance in learning to forgive and be kind.
There are moments when frustration and anger take over, and I forget to show grace to others.
Thank You for Your endless patience with me, even when I make mistakes.
Help me to reflect Your love in all of my interactions, especially when things don’t go as I expect.
Teach me to be kind and compassionate, to offer forgiveness when it’s hard, and to always treat others with respect.
I pray for the strength to apologize when I’ve wronged someone and to grow more like You in my actions.
May Your peace fill my heart and guide my steps.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
