I wanted to stop. To ask the man behind the deli counter to slice some cheese and lunch meat. I didn’t. I couldn’t.
After all, I was raised that you don’t ask for help. Ever.
The chill of the grocery side of the store dissipated with each step. Colby Jack floated through my thoughts while I set a bag of cat food into the cart.
I found myself reasoning that the man did agree to certain tasks when he took the job at the deli. I would not be wrong to ask him to cut something.
I circled back and waited while he helped someone else. Soon, it was my turn. “Could I get a pound of Colby Jack?”
“Sure. How do you want it cut?”
“I don’t know. Normal cheese thickness, I guess.”
He smiled. Clearly, he realized this was my first time.
I watched as the cheese piled up on the scale. One pound didn’t look like much.
“Give me another pound.”
He obliged.
Applying what I learned with the cheese, I confidently ordered two pounds of lunch meat. Sympathetic to my inexperience, he offered to cut it to the same thickness as the cheese.
“Perfect,” I agreed.
Reader, let me tell you, first off, two pounds of deli meat is a lot. Secondly, meat cut to cheese thickness, is really thick.
Internally, I laughed all the way to the checkout and wondered where I could share this accidental surplus.
Did I fail in my first deli order because I had more than I needed? Absolutely not.
Not only did I walk away with extra food, but I carried a good bit of self-confidence that I will be able to apply to other aspects of life.
Also, I learned that it’s not wrong to ask for help. In fact, I found the opposite to be true. It is brave.
How about you? Is there a place you have been resisting growth because it may cause discomfort? Maybe you’re unsure how to begin?
I want to encourage you to step up to the moment and allow the occasion to strengthen you. Even if it doesn’t turn out exactly the way you thought it might.
Be gentle with yourself. You’re growing, and that is worth applauding.
Here’s to growing pains and cold cuts.
In grace and peace,
Sharon Rose
