The sweetest lady came into my store because she wanted some of her paintings printed. She told me about the exhibits she had her artwork in and was so excited to talk about her craft. As she was waiting, I️ introduced her to another waiting costumer who just happened to be an opera singer. He was in to get some sheet music printed before a rehearsal where he’d eventually go on to preform said sheet music in Sweden (what?!).
Needless to say, the 6 foot opera singer and little old lady became buddies and exchanged information so she could paint portraits of his kids. I’m sharing this story because I’ve always heard the most negative things about customer service, and much of it is true. People are difficult and you never know what to expect. I️’ve spent good portions of work days in a bad mood because of a single bad encounter.
But it’s made me realize that while some people can be difficult or just plain mean, there are also quite a few interesting, pleasant, and pretty great people in the world. People are pretty great in general and there’s so much we can learn from each other at the end of the day, if only we’d take the time to appreciate encounters like these.
Courage, Dear Heart 
Hi, I don’t usually make time to read blogs, but I really enjoyed your article about Christian counseling and how to be sensitive to those I am trying to help so I read through a few of your posts. Your suffering has made you very insightful. Thank you. I have a bachelors degree from a Bible college in counseling and did lay counseling at my former church in Colorado Springs. A group at my new church in NC is reading, Don’t Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart (mainly about grief ministry) in hopes of starting a lay counseling ministry at our church. We have all been struck by the admonition to let the counselee share without having a preset agenda or trying to move them along to healing too quickly – just as you wrote. I pray that you experience God’s continuous peace. I have learned what a precious gift it is after the torment of 3 years of panic attacks about 25 years ago due to perfectionism while in seminary and high carb diet. And I think I was vulnerable because of verbal abuse as a child. Mine was primarily a battle in the spirit realm that was won slowly through morning praise to God, meditation on scripture like you do and good fellowship. My heart is with you after I read about you having an attack in your car and praying. It is great how you can write and bless others in the midst of your pain. Yes, Jesus is our Healer as you stated. There is certainly hope! I will add you to my prayers. When I felt very weak (which was often), one of my favorite go to verses was Deuteronomy 33:26-28 about God pushing back our enemy. My testimony ebook is free if you are curious about how God moved in my life. Everyone’s path to deliverance is unique. I used a pen name and changed all names.
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