Sleeeeeep and the importance of not yelling at people

Poor little Ellie has a bad cold.  And she is teething.  She, and I, were up a lot last night.  
Poor thing is miserable and feverish.  I am currently under the covers.  Ellie is asleep and Matt sent me off to bed early to try and catch some zzz's in case of another long night...,and day.  
Matt is entertaining the kids by showing them his old ski videos of all the tricks be and his buddies filmed in high school.  They were impressed.

Early this afternoon I ran to the grocery store to load up on two weeks worth of food.  On the way home, I swung by another store to pick up a prescription for Ellie.  I went to the drive -thru and explained to the attendant that I had come by last week for the prescription, which had been faxed by the doctor's office, and it wasn't there.  I called the doctor back and he re-sent it over.  The attendant said it wasn't quite ready and that based on the current load it would be a two hour wait.  Then she tells me that the rx will cost me $285.00.   Whoa, Nellie.  I tell her that can not be right.  She says that is what the computer is bringing up.  She asks if I have made any changes to my insurance since it is now January.  I tell I have not and that I will go home and talk to my insurance company and figure it out and come back for the medicine tomorrow.  I thanked her for her help and got ready to drive away.  She stopped me and said, "thank you so much for being nice.  It really is a pleasure to help someone who is kind.". I think they must have had a hard day over there.  Having been in a job that can cause customers to completely melt down on a regular basis (payroll) I have been yelled at by customers many times over things I had no control over.   You try and help as best you can but it usually takes time to sort problems out.  The first person you deal with usually can not fix the problem, anyway.  Yelling never made me want to work harder for them.  This gal was kind enough to call me later in the day to let me know the prescription was ready.  That has never happened before.  just for the record, I checked when I got home and that prescription will cost $20.  NOT $285.  Thank goodness it was just a mistake.  Just be nice.  Even to the old man that screams at you at Target because he thinks you bumped him with your cart and it was really someone else, but he doesn't stop yelling long enough to hear you explain.  He obviously has plenty of stuff to deal with if being bumped by a cart puts him over the edge.  

I once had a friend tell me about a time she went to Target (what is up with Target?) and found a great parking space.  As she was walking into the store a lady ran up to her yelling he head off about how my friend had stollen the parking spot she was waiting for.  My friend apologized that she didn't realize the woman had been waiting.  She was very kind and apologetic to the angry woman.  She then went on with her shopping.  As she was standing in the checkout line, this same woman came up to her, threw her arms around my friend and apologized sincerely for they way she had acted.  She explained that her husband was in the hospital.  He had cancer and had very little time left.  This woman was taking a quick break from the hospital because she wanted to get him a Christmas present before he passed away.  

Everyone has stuff.  Not all of it is that dramatic, maybe it is just sleep deprivation or hunger, irritation or pms or hemorroids.  Being kind is important.  It seems that it is not the norm any more.  Saying whatever comes into our heads immediately or choosing to react a certain way is seen as normal, even expected.  Being kind to those who are trying to help you, those who are angry at you, those who have hurt you is good manners.  It is also called turning the other cheek.  It made me sad that the pharmacy attendant was so appreciative of being treated kindly.  Let's all be a little kinder to everyone around us, just as our Savior taught.