Well, after six weeks of recuperating from my broken leg, I have returned to the bridal shop. The ladies are glad to have me back and I am even more happy to be back with them. I've missed being with them; missed being appreciated, accepted and called friend.
I haven't really missed working with brides though, as I found myself busy helping different brides-to-be in their quest for that one special dress. I still haven't been able to regain that pep that I used to have when working with someone. I find myself once again, just going through the motions of trying to sell a dress instead of focusing on making it a memorable experience for the bride.
I am working on this issue and have made strides in exceeding in customer service since I've been back. One notable example of outstanding customer care was with a bride that I had no desire nor intention of helping at all. I didn't really care for her or her family and when I saw her name on the schedule, I even told the ladies that I would not be dealing with her, so someone else would have to do it.
Of course, nothing ever goes as planned with me, and the bride's mom spotted me and started talking to me, and the next thing you know, I'm telling the bride that she looks lovely in her dress, and her shoes are perfect, yada yada yada.
I found myself actually enjoying the conversation, catching up on family stuff with the mom. Then I willinging helped them check out so they didn't have to wait for the seamstress. I gave advice about the best time to pick up the dress before the wedding.
And to top it all off, I found myself saying words that I never ever intended to say to these people: "It was so good to see you guys today!" Then I smiled and said something equally sweet like "take care, and congratulations!"
What in the world did I just do and say?! I was pleasant and kind and acted like I cared. And honestly, it wasn't all that hard to do. I really was trying to be nice and it worked. I think knowing that my behavior was a reflection of the shop, helped keep me in line. Plus, I'm really more bark than bite, when it's all said and done.
When I relayed what had just transpired to the owners, one of them had said that "God was working on my heart." They know, as well as God, that I have allowed it to become hard over the past few years. I've not only built a wall around it, I've built a tower around it, added a castle and a moat. No one is ever going to be able to easily get to my heart again.
Although, I think being around these beautiful bridal ladies must be doing something to me. Somehow they've managed to get me to soften up a little, thaw a little, so that God's' mighty chisel can finally start to put a dent in the wall of the tower, in the castle that I have built to protect it.
Maybe one day my heart will be out on my sleeve again, rather than in a kingdom far, far, away.
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