You may have heard the story of Johnny the Bagger. It’s one of my favorites and is a perfect illustration for all the “one anothering” we’ve been studying these past few weeks. Barbara Glanz is a nationally known motivational speaker and corporate trainer. While speaking to a convention for a very successful grocery chain, she challenged the crowd of 3,000 workers to create memories and lasting impressions for their customers. The goal was to encourage people to come back and become loyal patrons of their store.
One of the workers in attendance was a young man with Down Syndrome named Johnny. Johnny was just a bagger in his local grocery store but he found an innovative way to making a lasting first impression. “I decided that I like sayings, so each day I’m going to pick out one that I like, and my dad and I will print it out on the computer. I’ll cut out the quote in strips and sign my name on the back of each one. The next day when customers come through, I’ll just drop a strip right in their bags and say, ‘I hope you enjoy my quote of the day.” Johnny reported to Barbara.
When Barbara’s phone rang a few weeks later she was surprised to hear from Johnny’s store manager. He said, “Barbara, you won’t believe what’s happened at our store. I went out into the store and noticed that one line was three times longer than the others. I went to the back of the line and suggested that customers move to another checkout, and they wouldn’t budge—they wanted to see Johnny’s quote of the day! In fact, one lady said, ‘I used to come here once a week, but now I come 2-3 times just to see the smile on Johnny’s face when he drops in his favorite quote.’”
Johnny’s idea went viral. The woman in the floral department started trimming her broken flowers and pinning them on the elderly customers in the store. The butcher who was a big Snoopy fan began putting Snoopy stickers on his packages and actually talking to his customers. In a dozen small ways, Johnny’s example spread throughout the entire workplace to create a warm environment and culture of positivity.
The “one another” passages serve as the same catalyst for growth and change. In a dozen small ways, when we greet, love, forgive, encourage, bear with, and take care of one another we spread the viral love of Christ. It’s an attitude and lifestyle worth catching!