Have you ever been stopped in your tracks by the ordinary things of life?

Today, I was checking out at the Walmart cashier.

She said, “Have a great day.”

I responded with the typical, “Thanks. You too.”

I almost tripped when she said, “Thank you, I will.”

It is such a common thing, and how often do we say that without meaning it? Saying that phrase was something I never thought about, or even truly meant.

Another example was when my sister had her car stolen with her wallet inside.  A week later they found her very nice, Chrysler Aspen with no sign of her credit cards or cash.  The vehicle had been trashed.  It was scraped up, used as a drug “house”, and filled with x-rated materials.

When he was caught, like most of us, I was not having the nicest thoughts about this criminal.  I wanted to know how long he would be punished. I sent the email out to everyone who had prayed to let them know what happened.  We had found out his name. One of my friends sent back a response. 

“I’m so happy God answered prayer and now that we know his name. We can pray for him.”

I blinked several times, and felt completely ashamed.  Yes, he will reap the consequences of his actions, but I’m sure he did not start as a career criminal.  Somewhere along the way, he had made a wrong turn.  God loves him.  Pray for him?

Cliché. It means a trite or overused expression or idea, or a person or character whose behavior is predictable or superficial.

I do not want to be trite or superficial. I want to mean what I say, and say what I mean.  I want to treat people the way I want to be treated.

I challenge you.  I challenge myself.  The next time you say, “Have a nice day,” do something that isn’t cliché.  Actually, mean it.  Kindness and honesty will take you a whole lot further then superficial, pretentious, and trite actions and words.