In the service-oriented economy that we live in, customers are brainwashed to believe that "customer is king". They are quick to feel dissatisfied, and even angry, when they receive a service that does not live up to their expectations. It is as if the workers owe it to them to give a perfect service, tailored to their specific preferences, as if they are king or queens.

People forget that work can be complicated for various reasons. Most workers do not go out of their ways to give bad services. Sometimes work circumstances prevent them from doing their work as the customers prefer.

Their work performance metrics may not match a particular customer's preference on how to be treated. Businesses run to be profitable and the workers' bosses also have their preferences in how they manage the workers.

Or sometimes the workers are having a bad day.

Of course as customer, I have expectations. But I need to be mindful of how I treat the workers.

I need to empathise with the workers and to withhold judging their characters without knowing their full circumstances. And to remember that I am to be Christlike, not a royalty. And to extend grace generously.

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Empathy
Extend grace
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Judging others