Blake Long

Recently I called my local tag agency to get a quote on a new vehicle we had just bought. It was near the end of the month, so when I called, they were too busy to address my question so they would have someone call me back.

When they did, it was a frustrating conversation from the beginning. I gave the agent my VIN but he kept getting it wrong. Then, when he finally pulled it up, he said something very quickly and mumbled through it.

“I’m sorry, can you repeat that?” I asked.

More quick mumbling. “I’m sorry, I can’t hear you,” I said.

“I WAS JUST SAYING THIS INFORMATION IS ONLY AN ESTIMATE AND IS NOT OFFICIAL,” the agent said, raising his phone over the phone.

To which I replied (with too much annoyance), “Is this too big of a deal?”

He said no, of course. As he proceeded to tell me the quote, I had already had enough. I hung up on him.

Though I was still heated from the call, I immediately felt bad for hanging up. But outside of calling back and asking for him, I didn’t have a way to apologize.

Until I did.

A couple days later, he posted on a Facebook group for my local town. He basically was apologizing to the gentleman he spoke to that day (hint: me) and explained that he’s always struggled with speech and had a stroke four years ago.

One, I was thankful he didn’t mention my name in the post, because I wasn’t acting Christlike either. Two, however, I’m glad he posted so I could message him apologizing. After talking with my wife about it, we thought it was beneficial to message him directly, explain I’m the person he spoke with, and that I needed to apologize as well. All is well.

But this interaction shines a bright light on something we should all remember: we never know what someone is going through. And because of that, we should always be intentional about treating others like Jesus would treat them.

This doesn’t mean we can’t ever be righteously angry or upset about something someone did against you. It does mean, however, that we should give others the benefit of the doubt and yield to the Spirit instead of our flesh. We must pursue holiness and be like Jesus in our interactions with others.