Dealing with Slow Walkers This Christmas

from pxhere.com

A Mastercard survey found that 80% of shoppers say “slow walkers” is their biggest annoyance while shopping.  In response to this annoyance, one large mall in the UK released a “fast lane” which is a strip marked on the floor of the mall for fast walkers.¹

The survey also showed that the average walking speed slowed down 21% during the holiday season, as more shoppers window browse.  The holiday season brings further annoyances like increased traffic, congested parking, and longer check out lines.

The real answer to the many annoyances of the holiday season is found, not in some new gimmick like a fast walking lane, but in demonstrating grace and love to others.  As a shopper, go out expecting there to be slow walkers, crowded parking lots, and even rude people.  But you choose to give each and every person you see grace.  Give them the benefit of the doubt.  You don’t know what they are dealing with this holiday season.  To the clerk behind the counter, give them a genuine smile and courtesy.  To the person who snatches your good parking space that you saw from two lanes over, give a genuine smile and wave.  To the slow walker, slow down your pace and courteously pass by when you can.

This is a season where people think and celebrate Christ.  Let our actions give the greatest glory and honor to Him.  Paul gave us this admonition that applies all year, but I would encourage you to intentionally follow it this year when you get caught behind a slow walker!

“Put on then as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:12-14).

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¹ http://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/2017/12/05/uk-mall-introduces-fast-lane-to-ease-rage-over-slow-walkers.html

 

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1 comment

  1. Good one!

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