Thought for the Week -9.1.25
Please be kind to those who work in retail stores, for their shifts have been many and long during the holiday season, writes Reverend Marion Kinnear, South Lochaber Church of Scotland.
January can be a time that those who work in retail dread.
Not only is it the traditional time for the busy sales, it is also the period when the trickle of items returned to stores for whatever reason turns into a flood.
As a Church of Scotland Workplace Chaplain, I often have conversations with people who have a tough time during their everyday working hours.
These prompted me to ask that we spare a thought for those who find themselves on the receiving end of many a customer’s ire at this time of year.
For example, it takes great strength of character and broad shoulders to find oneself repeating for the 50th time that day, "But the store policy is quite clear", when that person wants more than a store exchange slip because they have lost their receipt.
The way we treat others is a measure of our character.
I rely on the wisdom found in Proverbs 15:1, which says: "A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up."
Negotiations may work better when we try not to escalate tensions.
May we treat each other with courtesy and care in 2025.
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