Hello all, this is your friendly article writer Matt(hew) Chesnutt. This summer I wanted to get a job to keep myself busy, active, and to get some more money towards college. I applied to several places for entry level jobs and I decided to work at Safeway in the deli. I learned fairly quickly how to do my job from my co-workers help and from simply just doing. I learned everything from slicing meat and cheese, serving food, cooking chickens, and deep frying all sorts of foods. What I was not prepared for was customer interactions.

Now, I like to think I have pretty good people skills, but when I first started, I was a little slow at what I did. I was a hard worker (still am) and I try my best to serve the customers quickly and correctly. Some customers got upset with me and screamed at me. I did not know how to respond. Since then I have learned how to interact with upset customers no matter how harsh they may be. Just smile and serve them humbly. But this experience has brought to light something that I think we don't really think about nowadays.

I realized how impatient I can be while waiting at grocery stores, fast food restaurants, and other places that have minimum wage workers. This is because we live in a world that is fast-paced and we think we have to go as fast as we can to do everything we need to get done. Rarely do we take even a few minutes to take a step back and take a breath. Yes, sometimes we have days that are jam-packed with work and fun but we do not consider the condition of others when we are in this type of GO mode. I would like to think it's not that we are ignorant but maybe just more naive about our actions.

I have so many stories when customers were upset, yelling at me/my coworkers, or in a rush. One time a customer got mad at me because he was waiting five minutes while I was helping a customer who had come before him. I had a co-worker be put down and sworn at by a customer when he did nothing wrong. Now working in a grocery store, you live by Customer Service and the phrase "The customer is always right" even if they are completely out of line. It doesn't mean you have to accept every single thing they tell you or the way they treat you, it just means that you have to be positive and smile (kill them with kindness) back no matter what happens. You would be surprised how many situations are diffused that way.

But really, as a Christian, I realize in life that there are going to be people that mistreat me and I have a choice to retaliate or to respond in a loving matter. So what does responding in love look like? The Bible says "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1st Corinthians 13:4-7). I don't just show my customers love because of the policy. I do it because I want to show them the love of God.

It is not an easy job, I have had many customers come and say they could do what we do. I just smile and try to help them as best as I can. The reality is it is not as easy as it looks. As a Deli Clerk/Fry Cook, you are constantly being asked to make more food, clean things, help customers, restock items, fix things... the list goes on. You learn how to do things as you work longer but it is not an easy job. I would encourage you to keep this in mind next time you visit a deli, gas station, etc.

So next time you are in your local grocery store or fast food place, create some dialogue with the workers, show them your appreciation and if you don't want to talk, be patient and know the job is more difficult and stressful than it looks. I know the Safeway Deli people love to talk!

Finally, I wanted to thank Safeway and the opportunity I have been given. I have learned many skills and ideas. My Deli manager, Justin, was a great influence and not only made me a better worker but a better man of God. He is one of the hardest working people I know, and a great manager/chef!