The other day I walked into a Starbucks and there was one person ahead of me in line. I knew exactly what I wanted and I knew the Starbucks jargon I had to use to get it, but the person in front of me did not. This person was asking questions that would be common knowledge to most coffeeshop patrons: what sizes you have, how much is that one, which is your favorite. They weren’t being rude they were just holding up the line. And as the kind and patient barista took their order the line grew.
There are a lot of things we encounter every day that we do through rote memory. Think about those times you arrived at work with almost no memory of the commute. Or worse, you’re going somewhere else and out of habit you take the turn you always take. As mundane as some of those things become to you, they could just as easily be brand new to someone else. When we encounter these people, we can get frustrated; or we can take the opportunity to teach them something.
Proverbs 15:18 says, “A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, but one who is slow to anger quiets contention.”
It is easy to be a hot head these days. Seemingly, a good portion of the internet thrives off controversial statements and poking the proverbial bear. But by embracing grace we can choose to fight against the tide and show people grace. Learning to let God take care of the big things and living in peace with our neighbors is what we’ve been called to do.
In Romans 12:14-16 Paul reminds us, “14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly…”
Even if they’re slow and annoying you can show them grace.