Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Sometimes the smallest gesture says so much. The message varies, of course, with the gesture. For example, while collecting money outside of Wal-Mart recently, there were many gestures that implied my presence made people uncomfortable. Some people intentionally went out the IN door to avoid passing by me. Others pretended to be on a phone or brushed their hand through their hair to block from making eye contact with me.
I understood. I didn’t like standing outside pandering for money any more than they liked being approached. If I hadn’t experienced the moments when people became tearful putting on glasses after years of poor vision, I would have packed up my jug and called it a day. But I knew every twenty dollars I collected would bring someone who joy, so I smiled and nodded even when someone pretended I was invisible.
Then it happened: The gesture that made my efforts worth it all. An older couple approached the Wal-Mart entrance and smiled at me — so I asked, “Are you familiar with the Lions Club?” They paused as if waiting for an explanation so I responded, “We provide free vision screenings to children up to age six and provide free eye exams and glasses to Blount county residents who qualify for food stamps.” “OH!” the woman responded, “our son got glasses from you a couple of years ago. We both need glasses, too.” I handed them a flier with our website on it and told them how to start the process.” They thanked me and headed back toward the store. Then the man took a step back, reached into his pocket, and emptied his pocket of change into my jug. That gesture said it all. The appreciation he expressed in that moment confirmed I wasn’t invisible to the people who know what the Lions do.
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