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Service with a Smile By Theresa
Huff How many times do we visit a new restaurant because the “grapevine” has talked about the incredibly, wonderful service? Or maybe we revisit because of our own dining experience and such wonderful service.
Think of visiting a five-star restaurant with everything shiny and new and the waiters/waitresses in their newly-starched uniforms with their welcoming smiles and escorting you to your table. You feel so important! Then, when your meal is served, you find a hair in your salad and old residue on the shiny new plate. Your meal isn't half as appetizing at this point. What about opening your napkin and finding crumbs or greasy spots on it? You begin to feel that, although the service is wonderful, something just isn't right. You ask for a refill of tea and, when it comes, there is a fly floating in your glass…enough said! No matter the newness of the restaurant, no matter the smiles on the waiters/waitresses faces, it is time to go!
Change the scene and walk into one of your typical “hole in the wall” restaurants. Here you find things spotlessly clean with waiters/waitresses that are smiling and welcoming, also. They might not have the freshly-starched uniforms, maybe just blue jeans and western shirts, but what does it matter? It is clean! They are asking all the locals about their kids and grandkids. While not the fancy restaurant you had previously visited, the food is great and served with a smile. You feel you are at home and part of the family.
The same goes for us as Christians. When we invite the public to eat at Jesus' table, not only is the layout important, but the way we serve it can make all the difference in the world as to how it is accepted and digested. I prefer to feel that warm, welcoming feeling anytime. I like being part of a family!
The psalmist
encouraged us to “Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his
presence with singing” (Psalms 100:2). Be it “five-star” or
“down-home,” the most important thing is how we portray Jesus--with
a warm, welcoming smile to someone that is down or with such a judgmental
frown that they think prunes are the main course! Which do
you choose? Let's serve with a smile! © 2008, Theresa
Huff ---------- Theresa Huff is a pediatric nurse and lives in Bryan, Texas with her husband, Glen, and daughter, Melody. Her son, Jonathan, lives in San Antonio.
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