"Great People, Great Prices"

I finished my last day of work with Brookshire's Grocery Company a few hours ago. It's really kinda bitter-sweet for me. I'm glad that I'm moving on from there but I'm also very sad that I'm leaving. I've worked for BGC for 5 years, it was my first real job. I never thought I'd stay until the end, but here I am. Maybe that's a little weird to be upset about losing a job, but to me it was so much more than that.

When I first started in February of 2005, I really didn't even want a job. My mom had dropped me off a month or so before and said she wasn't going to pick me up until I had an interview. I was extremely nervous and shy in the beginning and unsure what to do. The people there were incredibly friendly and more than willing to teach me the ins and outs of the grocery business my first few months. I've actually known the people at store #120 longer than I've known most of the group.

The people at Brookshire's are just like a family to me, I think that's why I'm kinda sad about this. Not just the employees, but the customers as well. One of my customers yesterday actually started crying when I told her I wasn't staying on with Kroger. We've all had an impact on each other, something far greater than just a regular job. My time at the store shaped my view on life in a lot of ways, from making me a more outgoing person to teaching me to love serving others to helping me decide on a career path. I seriously doubt I ever would have decided on business as a major if it hadn't been for that place.

One person in particular has had the most effect on me, and I've talked about her on many occasions. Mrs. Naomi Jackson has been a major role model for me for my entire career at BGC. She has always been one to call me out when she sees something wrong in my life, whether spiritually or otherwise. She always has a servants heart with everyone, she will literally stop whatever she is doing to talk to or pray for any customer that asks. To me, that is the ultimate way to serve, making your faith shine show much that people you don't even know come to you because they know you'll pray for them.

I could literally go on all night describing all the things that I learned at the store. That's why I'm gonna miss it so much, I really don't see how anything can replace that experience. How do you replace something that has helped to set the course for your life? It kinda reminds me of something Naomi told me when I was going through all that stuff a year ago. She said, "Sometimes, God brings people into your life for a season, to help grow or learn." I guess that is what the people at Brookshire's are, 'seasonal people'. I've learned from the experience and now it's time to move on. God has something better for me, a new set of people and experiences to learn from.