People who serve us are everywhere – shop assistants, waiters, baristas, maintenance people – but what happens when we offer something back? This is about turning the tables in a nice way and being generous to those that usually put us first.
Today’s Challenge:
First steps: Treat the person who serves you with dignity and courtesy. Make eye contact. Ask their name. Show genuine gratitude. Smile! Friendly customers can brighten up a day on the job.
Go further: Strike up a conversation with someone today that serves you. Tell them why you appreciate them. Be interested.
Out of your comfort zone: Leave an extravagant tip, tweet an encouragement about great service or write a complimentary letter to their manager.
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:16
My family gets annoyed but when I’m ordering, I like to ask my waiter to tell me what they’d like to eat there. I did not want suggestions. I wanted them to decide on my behalf. I said, ‘What would you eat today?’ Many times when eating out, I ask the person serving me to bring me what they would have, telling them I have no dietary restrictions and will EAT anything (I mean look at me lol).
I’m never disappointed. But more importantly; waiting people are excited and engaged in describing why they have chosen as they did. People around me always ask me, ‘Why? What if you get something you don’t like?’ But I never ever have.
What I have got is a lot of tasty meals and a lesson in trust. Instead of handing out an order, I start an exchange – by putting myself in their hands I’m saying, ‘I trust your judgement
and care for me’, but more importantly, ‘I’m interested in you and value your opinion.’ Whenever I catch myself ‘appearing’ to listen as people speak about their lives, I remind myself that what I really need to do is not to ‘order’ but to receive, to listen. Wait on others. Like when Jesus tells his disciples, before sending them out for ministry (Matthew 10:8), ‘Freely you have received; freely give.’ For me this means: Freely receive, listen without judging, or thinking. Wait. Now give. Before you can give, you’ve got to know how to receive. My practical way to learn this is not to order my food in restaurants much. I trust.
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