Pride in a Job Well Done

By Renie Stag Smith

“You must be very proud every time you see this in the stores!” said one of the smartest eight-year olds I know.

She was talking about our family’s product. We have produced a powdered enchilada sauce since way before I became part of the family and it is sold to grocery stores around the region.

She and her younger brother had heard how we manufactured it, but had never been old enough to see the operations until that day. My granddaughter was enthralled with the process. And those drops of wisdom poured from her little lips.

Her one little sentence made me think.

How many of us are truly proud of what we do? How many of us have that glow of satisfaction in a job well done?

It seems that lately, fewer and fewer of us do.

Today, more often than not, sourness is the order of the day.  Surly clerks who don’t want to wait on clients but would rather throw dagger glances at them as they stand firm talking to other surly clerks.  Frenetic fast food servers who take orders with a scowl and then throw food, change and snarls at the customers.  Public servants who point and gesture to “take a number” machines with glares and then dare you with their countenance to ask questions before your number is called. Not even politeness and smiles from the customer can melt their hostility at doing a task they don’t find rewarding.

I don’t see the pride in a job well done as often as I once did, and so it warms me thoroughly when I come across someone who does his/her duty with a genuine grin and gratitude, with an intrinsic satisfaction of doing a good job.  I usually take the time to thank those peoplefor helping me out and comment on how they seem to enjoy what they are doing.

I answered my granddaughter with, “Yes, I am very proud! On the way home, I’ll take you by the store and you can see where our product is sold.” As we stood in front of the store’s display where our wares are, her little chest puffed out with pride at being a part of this family’s tradition and work ethic.

I take pride in what I do and I hope it shows.

Do you?

–Renie