"Do Unto Others What You Want Others Do Unto You"

Almost every Sunday after church, we stop at EconoDeli to have lunch. It is about a mile from our home. It is a part of a huge grocery store where we get most of our groceries. For three years now, since we moved here, this has become our tradition. There is nothing fancy about this place. But, their food is good, the price is right, the place is clean, and most of all we get to meet people from other churches who also come there to eat. Sometimes, we even get to enjoy a short visit with friends and new acquaintances.

Now, there is this old guy, pictured above, who is considered their oldest customer. Not age wise, but in the sense that he has been coming there to eat and do grocery shopping since the store was built in 1937. Since he retired and has been living alone, the Deli becomes like his kitchen. He comes there for lunch and dinner everyday. The second generation Deli owner has been very kind to Mr. V. He gives him 50% off on all his meals and stuff.

The reason I am talking about him is that every time we go there for lunch, he comes straight to our table. Sometimes, he will even meet us at the door. Then walk with us to our table. He will stand there for the longest time and just talk about anything that comes to his mind over and over again. He will talk your ears off! He does this to every customer who smiles and acknowledges him. But it seems like he gravitates more to us than to anybody else at the Deli.

Last Sunday, he did it again. This time, I was getting really ticked off because he stood very close to the baby and held her hands while talking to us or the baby. I am not a germ freak. But, when it comes to my baby, especially this time of the year when colds and flu are everywhere, I am not too thrilled when people touch my baby's hands. She is a thumb sucker and I hate to see her sucking the germs from other people's hands. Who knows where that person had been and did he wash his hands? It's ok I guess if I know the person well.

Anyways, this guy just stood there from the time we got to our table until we were done eating. He told us that most of the people eating there that day was from his church. I said, well, why don't you go there and talk to them? He just said " Nah, that's ok". I was like, can't you get my point? Sensing that I got irritated already, my husband got up and excused himself, which made Mr. V to move away from me and the baby. He did give way to Roger but got back to where he was standing as soon as hubby was away. I was getting pissed off all the more. He kept talking to me and I would not answer nor looked at him. Standing behind him now was my husband. He gave me this look which told me that I needed to be patient with this old man.

He was right. I was being selfish and impatient there. This guy doesn't have anybody else to talk to. He is alone at home and the people from his church won't entertain him. Maybe a few would consider talking to him for a minute or so. He just feels so at home with us. Then I remembered one of Joyce Meyers' podcast that I recently downloaded to my iPod about this certain issue that she herself had to overcome. One time she was at a clinic and this old man struck up a conversation about his health issues. Evidently, this guy had some memory problems, as well. Thus, kept repeating himself over and over again. Joyce wanted to do some reading for her next seminar and tried to ignore the old guy after a while. Then God spoke to her. "If this was Billy Graham or the president, would you entertain him with attentiveness"? That opened her eyes. She stopped reading and continued talking to the guy. She realized that someday, she will be old like him and would need somebody to talk to. 

Time will come when I will be like this guy. How would I feel if nobody would pay attention to me? The golden rule remains true, do unto others what we want others do unto us.

I then took a picture of Mr. V talking to Mahalia as a reminder of what God wants me to do and how He wants me to treat this old man. I'm sure he would not mind if I tell him next time not to hold baby's hands. I just have to be honest and straightforward rather than being mean or something. What do you think?