My wife and I enjoy traveling and when we do, we eat at many type restaurants. On one particular day we stopped in a small town at a short order establishment for a mid-morning meal. They were not busy, so we thought we would be in and out quickly.
We went straight in and sat down in a booth and began looking at a menu which was already on the table. After a few minutes and being ready to order we noticed the person behind got up and left. He placed a couple of dollars on the table to pay for his drink and then made his exit.
The place only had one young server and one cook. The young lady waiting tables never acknowledged us or even looked our way because she was talking on her personal cell phone. The longer we sat there the more agitated we became because this young lady was not doing what she was hired to do and the customers in the restaurant, not only us, were becoming angry and frustrated.
After several minutes of us waiting for her to wait on us a group of five came in and sat down in the booth next to us. When the waitress finished her personal call she went straight to the group and starting taking their order. This is when my wife and I decided to make our exit as others had done before us. I can only imagine how much business this young lady cost that business on her particular shift.
How many times have we ever stood in line at a grocery store and mumbled to ourselves about the slow service or become angry at the customer at the register because of indecisions on what they really wanted or could afford to buy? How about the time we stood in line to see a movie and we had to wait to get our ticket because of slow service or people not trained to do their job?
Why is it that we feel our time is more important than anyone else and that we should move through life without interruptions? Were we put on this earth to move through life at a pace that we feel we deserve and not have to put up with others inept work abilities or non-caring attitudes?
What are we teaching our children when they see us not having patience and wisdom? Why do we become frustrated when our children don’t get their way in society and seem to be pushed around from others trying to get ahead of them?
We are living in a day and time when people want everything given to them because of laziness, lack of patience and pride, undeveloped skills, and desiring attitudes.
The Bible tells us in Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
I told my wife when we left the restaurant because of the no service, “She wouldn’t work for me very long.”
Then we talked about it and said that maybe it was not her fault that she was so bad at her job. Maybe she was not trained or lacked skills in customer relations. I do not feel that her personal phone conversation was anything but casual talk because of her facial and lackadaisical expressions; however, maybe she did not know that customers come first unless it is some type of emergency. We are living in a world full of entitlements and all of us are guilty of wanting to be first in line and not waiting our turn.
Maybe we are one of the people that cry out to the Lord, “Lord give me patience and give it to me now!”
Prayer
Lord God, thank you for your mercy and grace. Grant me wisdom and grace so that I will not judge others about their abilities or desires in life. Lead me in a way that I can be a witness for you in everything that I do. Amen.
Suggested Readings
Sunday – Galatians 6:6-10;
Monday – Genesis 2:15-17;
Tuesday – 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12;
Wednesday – Ecclesiastes 2:14-15;
Thursday – Romans 12:1-2;
Friday – Psalm 37:25;
Saturday - James 5:7-11
