Is it My Pleasure? Is it Yours?

My friend Katy is back with a lovely post.  She received permission from Chick-fil-a to blog about this.  I think it’s awesome.

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I have been working for Chick-fil-a part-time for about 18 months.  I was attracted to this company because they model hospitality – and it just so happens that God has given me that gift, seemed like a good fit.  The training material was wonderful and while I still have a lot to learn, it makes sense to me.  It truly is my pleasure to go in a couple of times a week and serve (and get paid on top of it!).  Around a year ago, about 6 months after beginning this job, I was doing a devotional one day and felt convicted by the Holy Spirit.  Is it REALLY my pleasure?

I’m giving away a little business secret here but Chick-fil-a encourages the employees to give something called Second Mile Service.  As are many aspects of the Chick-fil-a business model, this one is taken straight from the Bible.  In the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5, Jesus challenges our way of thinking with statements such as “if you hate, it is as bad as murder” and “if someone hits you, turn the other cheek”. Verse 41 states “If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.”  In biblical times, a Roman soldier could compel someone to carry his pack for one mile. I’m sure this was cause for much complaining.  Jesus told his listeners to stop grudgingly counting their steps and instead to carry the pack a second mile.  Vs 16 of the same chapter “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise your Father in heaven.”

At Chick-fil-a I am encouraged to be THAT light by giving second mile service. Not serving a customer the things he has asked for but getting to know that customer, making a connection and serving him an extra (maybe carrying the food, maybe just a smile, maybe a mint at the end of his meal).  God actually made me to serve in this way, no matter what business or walk of life I am in, or where I am serving.  God made me in His image therefore it is very difficult for me to experience fulfillment or the abundant life until I lose my sense of self-consciousness and develop a sense of others-consciousness.   Proverbs 11:25 says “he who refreshes others will be refreshed” And I want to be refreshed!

So, is it really my pleasure?  As I said earlier, I love my job.  I love being there, being nice, being real – But what about other places?  And that was the conviction – what about at home?  Is it my pleasure to serve those that I love the most?  Why is it that with strangers my smile is natural but at home, after a long day, the smile is gone?  All day long I can say “Can I get you a refill” but when my child lets me know she is thirsty I bluntly tell her “You know where the cups are”.  And that is when I realized that I had things a little messed up.  I pray.  I pray that God blesses our restaurant each day that I work, I pray that my heart is in the right place to be able to serve, I pray for God to open my eyes to the needs of the people around me (staff and customer).  Sure, I pray for my family, I pray for my children and I pray that I am able to meet their needs but I think I forget that their little needs are just as important as the big shelter/food/transportation needs. What it boiled down to was that I needed a change of heart. Luke 6:45 says “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” What are the words I am saying to my family?  What is in my heart?  What I had was a heart for loving on people (except the ones I love).  What I need is a heart filled with the Love of my Savior, overflowing. James 3:17 “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.”

Sincerity: The quality or condition of being sincere; genuineness, honesty, earnestness, freedom from hypocrisy.   Ever so slowly God is working in me to become sincere in my service.  Daily I am taking steps to be filled with Christ by reading a chapter of Proverbs (you know there ARE 31 chapters), by praying, by worship through Holy Spirit filled music, by giving praise to my Savior and thanksgiving for all He has done for me. Matthew 25 Jesus teaches about the final judgement, He acknowledges the service of those who have lived and the people question Him saying they don’t remember serving Christ and God replies in vs 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” I am learning that my pleasure is in serving Christ, not people.  I am being refined, changed and I am still on the journey to serving as a pleasure. ~Katy

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So what about you?  Is it your pleasure to serve in your home?  Do you need accolades to thrive?  Does the concept of serving like Christ motivate or offend you?  How does that play into the lies of this culture in this day and age?

So glad you are here – dare you to share what you are learning from Him!  We love the journey and love that you are on it with us.

 

Love to you,

~Nina