Conversations with Strangers

It's probably just my personality type or something similar that makes it seem awkward to me to talk to people I don't know. The "Thanks" or "Have a good day" to a cashier is usually where I draw the line. Like most things I've tried to avoid, my sister did it first. When we were younger Ang would talk to strangers everywhere. It wasn't ever the "Don't talk to strangers" scenarios parents usually warn their children about, Ang would always initiate the conversations. I was never brave enough, my younger years being the ones consumed with shyness around strangers, to talk to strangers, let alone strange adults.

Recently I've had more experiences that have changed my view on conversations with strangers. Just like going to see a therapist whom you barely know to confess/rant/share your deepest pains and secrets, conversations with strangers can be an opportunity to release burdens or say how you really feel without worrying about ever seeing that person again. It can be a huge blessing.

Example: A month ago my Mom and I were furniture shopping. The saleswoman that was helping us was very sweet and mentioned that she also took care of her mother, who has alzhiemers. She and my Mom got to talking about their shared experiences with taking care of elderly parents and not having very much sibling support. The woman got to talk to someone who really understood what she was going through. The conversation lasted about 30 minutes and the Saleswoman was blessed.

Conversations with strangers can also lead to learning experiences and be encouraging. Whether it's finding a shared interest of experience just knowing that there is someone else out there who cares about similar things you do.

Example: Earlier this week I was standing in line to check-out at Old Navy. A woman was behind me in line with the most adorable baby clothes in hand. I was debating complimenting her taste when she said, "They should really open up another lane. It isn't exactly a come and go store though." I complimented the outfit she had picked out and explained that I loved to shop here for my nephew. She then said that she was buying it for a friend who had recently adopted a baby girl from China and that she and her husband adopted two children from China starting a few years ago. I shared with her that my sister and I were both adopted and we talked about both of our experiences with adoption. We discussed the need of having more people willing to adopt, even if it is just one child and they have biological children as well. She had done mission work in an orphanage in China full of children who were abandoned due to 'defects' great and small, from birthmarks to down syndrome. She shared that most of the children in the orphanage had never even been picked up. We fit all this in to a 6 minute conversation. As we were both checking out we agreed that this was a God initiated meeting. We both left encouraged and inspired.

I was inspired because I love to meet people that are adopting! I have a chance to share my experiences as a adoptee and encourage them as well as seeing my prayers answered for more people to consider adoption.