The One Magic Thought

The Setting…
Come with me. It is a hot and humid day outside. There are no windows in this room. Perhaps there may be some sort of air exchange in the room – but for the most part it is dank and humid. As we walk into this room there is a young man about 18 working busily with a damp cloth wiping the counter top. He is not smiling – but rather concentrating on what he is doing. As I walk by him he carefully picks up a mess of wet and dirty paper towels left by someone and places them in the waste basket.

You may have guessed where we are already. This is a large Men’s Washroom at the very busy public place in August. The washroom could be anywhere. I am sure that all the men have walked into this kind of setting ( – and the women in their respective washroom)

The setting I described above actually happened for me. Three men had left the washroom as I walked in. Men are coming and going every few minutes. There is a constant stream of humanity using this facility. And the young man cleans up after each of us, wiping the sink tops, swabbing the toilet bowls and cleansing the floor. It was his summer job for that day.

Perhaps he had pulled the short straw for daily tasks and this was his day to work the men’s room.

After I came out of the toilet cubical, I walked to the sink to wash my hands. He was still busy wiping up from the last customers.

I looked at him and said these words, “Has anyone told you that they appreciate what you do? I think that you are doing a great job. Maybe no one has said that kind of thing to you today – but I am. Hey thanks for doing a great job!”

His sullen, expressionless face, changed. A small smile broke across his face… then it grew wider as I said more. He weakly said, “No they haven’t. Thank you.”

Now – it is not “cool” in Canada for two men to stand talking in a Men’s Washroom. So I left the room to rejoin my wife who was waiting outside in the large hallway.

As I walked away the young man was still wiping the counter top – but now a smile was on his face.

One simple ‘Thank you’ with some added words to garnish the treat that was offered – had made a difference. One ‘Thank you’ became a Magic Thought that changed a young man’s day as he worked in a less than lovely place.

What about at home…?
At home it can transform the setting as well. Whoever prepares the meal for the rest will shine with a small word of appreciation added.

When is the last time that you said you were thankful for clean clothes, a good meal, or a tidy place to live?

“Thank you”, “You’re doing a great job..” and “Wow, you are amazing!” go a long way to produce more from employees.

The Work Place…
This past week a young man described his employer that he works for each day. He told me that he has worked in the place for almost a year now. Most days include pressure and push to get the volume up and produce more. The boss pushes his staff hard as well as peppering his speech with curse words. It is not a pleasant place to work – but it is a job.

As the young man spoke about his job he described how the boss had stopped one day and said to him, “You are doing a good job at this. I am moving you over to another section of the plant next week. I think you will do well there too…”

As he described what had happened in the hours before, he grinned from ear to ear. An unpleasant man had told him that he was doing a good job. Wow!

One Magic Thought in a turbulent work place had produced a difference inside of a tired young man.

Personal…
This past Sunday I preached. It was a struggle getting it all out. I think people were listening… but I am never sure of that. As the service closed a little lady named “Izzy” came up to me and gave me a hug. I bent over to hear what she was saying. “Pastor, I want you and Tim to know that I appreciate all that you do for this congregation. That sermon was right on. Thank you.”

I grinned from ear to ear.

It is only Wednesday – but already this past two days have been ruff. I have had a fair share of ruff stuff to deal with within my own mind. But Izzy’s words keep coming back. What a difference a Magic Thought makes.

Hey… if no one has told you today… you are an amazing person! How do I know? You have taken the time to read these simple words – all the way to the bottom. THANK YOU!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Proverbs 25:11(NIV)
A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.