Matthew 23:11″ The greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Servanthood is becoming a rare commodity in our present “do-it-yourself” world.
I still remember when going to the store was a rather stress-free experience. There were plenty of department store staff willing to help you find your item, find your size and make sure you had a perfect fit. A transaction was not complete until the customer was fully satisfied.
Finding shoes was one challenge that sales persons helped make less frustrating. First, they measured feet with a sliding metal device. Then they searched the back room for the selected shoes. In Cinderella’s footman style, they kneeled to slip shoes on customers’ feet. They had to use extra care to avoid causing pain to their customers. Sometimes a shoe horn was used to slip the shoes on. For children, they had to master the skill of assessing “room to grow” by mashing the end of the big toe allowing an inch of space from the shoe tip. I sometimes was embarrassed for shoe salespeople as they inevitably encountered customers with smelly or calloused feet that were not too appealing.
Finding a bra in the lingerie department was another ordeal that became fairly painless as salesladies made numerous trips back and forth from the dressing room to be sure a style was chosen that properly fit chest measurements. They had to learn to be discreet and complimentary no matter the proportional challenges of the customers they assisted.
At gas stations, attendants stood in line ready to pump gas, clean windshields and check fluid levels under hoods. In addition, all states made it mandatory for vehicles to pass a maintenance test in order to be driven each year. It was uncommon to see cars broken down by the side of the road in those days because of the level of service every automobile owner received.
I have rarely received such extraordinary service in my current day shopping excursions or auto repair work. When I do, I am sure to let the salesperson or mechanic know of my appreciation. Servanthood is a quality in the service industry that is greatly missed. However, it is something that we all can make a conscious effort to try to exhibit to others at whatever station in life we find ourselves.
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