“Defense is the best offense in basketball and in lifeball” – Fred Crowell

One of my father’s passions I inherited was a clean car. When I stepped up to the counter to pay for the car wash, the cashier was sobbing. She rushed into the bathroom! Her boss stepped in to collect payment.

Evidently, a prior customer had ripped into her. This was not the first time this had happened.

This event allowed me to befriend this young woman, so lacking in personal confidence.

Each time I have my car washed, I hope to help build her confidence. These are the tiny steps I take to teach her to guard her mind and heart:

1. Encouragement: Speak life into her by telling the positive things I see in her. “I noticed how nice you treated the customer before me.”

2. Ask permission to tell her a key to guarding your mind and heart. “Can I tell you how I learned to deal with difficult customers?” With a yes, I tell her to have an imaginary plastic shield between her and the customer. This shield protects you.

3. Recognize 20%+ of your customers have incredible personal pain. Therefore they hurt people. Don’t take their anger personally.

I wish I would have learned to guard my mind and heart earlier in my life. The good news is, we can start right now by this very moment.

When we guard our minds and hearts, we have the freedom to love others and live with peace and joy.

As always, I back up my belief system with the Word of God. Paul’s powerful request in Romans 12 is my source in guarding my mind and heart.

“I beg you my brothers by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you might prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1

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