Last week, I thought that
I had my blog post figured out. It
was going to be a long-winded tale of airplanes, pilots, and trust. While I am sure that that post would
have turned out alright, I have decided instead to tell my story of yesterday. Yesterday, I had my attitude
adjusted. Yesterday, I was
inspired.
For
five years, I have worked at Baker Boot Company in my hometown of Garden
City. We sell and repair boots and
shoes, among a myriad of other things.
The owners, Bob and Jolene Baker, are truly some of the best people that
I know. They would do anything for
anybody, and over the last few years they have become my second family. Most days, I honestly love my job.
But, yesterday was not one of those days.
A tradeshow in Dodge City, partnered with vacations by two other
employees, had left the shop in the hands of just Bob and myself. A crew of two people on a regular day
is a little bit of a stretch, let alone on a Friday. And, yesterday seemed to be a particularly busy Friday. Whether it was a mother buying boots
for her son, a man seeking help because his feet were hurting, or someone
looking to get a strap on their sandals repaired—we were busy all day
long! The day was stressful to say
the least.
By
mid-afternoon, my patience had begun to thin, my smile had begun to fade, and I
was ready for 6:00 to roll around.
I’m not going to lie, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. I have noticed in my short nineteen
years of life that sometimes God has a way of sending us a reality check when
we need it the most. Yesterday, He
chose to do it by sending two people through the doors of Baker Boot—Mighty and
Carol.
I
have known Mighty for the majority of my life. He works day in and day out at a nearby feedlot, and I was
sure that he was feeling the pain of the blistering Southwest Kansas heat we’ve
been experiencing the last few weeks.
Offhandedly, I mentioned that it was a little hot outside. He nodded in agreement, before saying
that it was hot, but it could definitely be worse. Mighty then said something that I don’t think I will ever
forget. He said, “Lindy, I’m sixty
years old and I’m still trying to be a better person everyday. Sure, things are bad sometimes, but I
just think about how much worse other people have it. Someone always has it worse. I’m sixty years old and I’m working to better my attitude
everyday. How much better do you
think the world would be if we all had that attitude?”
He’s right, how much better would
the world be if we all had that attitude?
Sure, my day wasn’t the very best day at work I’d ever had—but it could
have been worse. At least I have a
job. I’m working in the air
conditioning, out of the heat, and for people that I absolutely love.
With a renewed spirit, the day
continued. Then Carol walked
through the door. Carol used to
work with me at the shop, several years ago. She, without a doubt, has one of the most upbeat attitudes
that I have ever seen. I don’t
know if she ever quits smiling.
When Bob asked her how she was, she simply replied, “My cup overflows.” Three short, powerful words. I sat there, wrestling with what
exactly they meant. Then I
realized, my cups overflows too.
Not only do I have a job that I love, but I also have great family and
friends, a roof over my head, food on my plate, and I woke up this morning.
I’m here to tell you that I’m Lindy
Bilberry. I’m nineteen years old
and everyday I am working to have a better attitude—to be a better person. Even on those days when it seems like
nothing can go right, I am blessed.
My cup truly overflows.
Kansas FFA, may your cup overflow!
