‘Doing’ the Word

JaRhonda, a front counter service representative at a Stockbridge Chick-fil-la, lifted my whole last week. More than extra-crisp chicken strips, waffle fries, and a small coke, she served up joy and a smile that could have melted the hardest heart.

I wasn’t expected to have such an encounter with my wife standing by me. I even asked JaRhonda, “Will you marry me?” She had those million dollar eyes and a facial countenance that said, “I am here to serve you with all my being.”

When someone gives you that kind of service, you need to call for the manager and that’s what I did: “I want to speak to the manager,” I said to JaRhonda. Soon, he came out and I told him just what I thought of his employee. I told me how she had served me with a genuine smile and a great attitude (and I thought to myself I bet she was doing it all with the joy of the Lord). He received my compliments and thanked me and off to the back office.

Now, to the cost. Did it cost me any more to take a few minutes (probably no more than three at tops) to extend a compliment, to lift someone’s spirit with an encouraging word? Heaven’s no! No cost at all. As I walked out of the restaurant that day, I was the most blessed just because I was able to see someone doing their job with excellence and said something. Tell me: how blessed do you feel when you call the manager and complain? And yet that’s we do more often than the other.

JaRhonda was not the only one. I stopped at gas station in Fayetteville and went inside to pick up a couple items. The young man behind the counter was doing his work with such joy and obvious delight. I said to myself: these young people have got it so right. They are doing their work with a million dollar attitude.

But, what’s my role in all these folks doing such good work to serve me? Say something. Call the manager over; tell him or her what a good job his employee is doing. Don’t let it pass. When you and I have the power to say something encouraging and uplifting and we don’t, I just don’t know if we are treading on sinful ground.

You have the power within you and with your tongue to bless or to curse. You have the power within you to use your hand to give a thumbs-up or a foul-finger. Christians are to be in the business of salt and light, lifting and encouraging, praying for and believing the most.

So, please. Don’t just read this column. Do this column. The very next time you catch someone giving you good service, say so and make it count by telling his or her boss. Remember The Apostle James reminded the early Christians to do the word not just hear it.

I hope some big boss reads this and makes the connection with the young happy employee at Stockbridge. She should get a pat on her back, maybe a raise in pay as well as a free milkshake.