Thankful Thursday

Double Rainbow in Port Townsend, WA.

Today I would like to say thank you to all the individuals in the world who provide customer service. I am not talking about the cashier who never looks at you or converses with her neighbor, but the people who really love their jobs and it shows.

I have been involved in the service industry since my teen years, so I tend to pay more attention than most folks. Customer service is a lost art, but there are stand-out individuals out there. I have had many encounters on both sides of the coin over the years. Have you ever noticed that we tend to share the bad experiences we have and not the good ones? Something is wrong with that picture! Since it is Thankful Thursday I am going to share with you an encounter that makes me feel thankful.

Early this fall we were at our local Golden Corral for dinner. I have a distinct dislike for buffet style dining, but my kids enjoy having oodles of options spread out before them at mealtime. One afternoon in a moment of weakness I agreed to eat there. We had a very nice young man named Abe who was in charge of our section. He discreetly filled our glasses and removed our plates with wonderful timing. The kids dubbed him "Magic Abe". When we were finished with our meal and waddling our calorie-laden selves out to the car, young Abe came running across the parking lot after us, "Miss! Miss! You forgot something!" Our daughter left her retainer on the table and we hadn't noticed. This was certainly going above and beyond. He could have carelessly tossed it in the trash or turned it in to management, but he took the effort himself to take care of it. It was a little thing, but it showed caring and character. Two things that are often missing in the folks on the front lines of service these days.

Make an effort yourself to be the kind of person that is enjoyable for your service industry folks to interact with. Hang up your cell phone in the check out line, look your cashier in the eye and say hello. You may just be the only friendly person that cashier encounters for the day. Making the effort to be kind and friendly to others with whom we interact is a great way to shine the light of Jesus. At the end of they day they may just be saying their thanks for you!

Romans 12:18 NIV

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

 

In His Peace-