It’s a well known fact that waiters and waitresses all across America hate working the Sunday lunch shift, because of the way they are treated by “Christians” who eat out after Sunday morning church services. I find that absolutely and positively ridiculous.
It’s also a common known fact that not only are Sunday lunch “Christians” some of the rudest costumers, but they are also the worst tippers. I also find that ridiculous.
How is it possible that we can sit though a worship service and praise God for being gracious and compassionate to us, and then go chew on the waitress after church for not keeping our glass full? How can we come from church where we’ve taken communion and thanked Jesus for his forgiveness and then stiff the waiter’s tip because he mixed up our order? That just doesn’t make sense to me.
Instead, waiters and waitresses OUGHT to be fighting over who gets to work the Sunday lunch crowd, because we SHOULD be the nicest, most compassionate and BEST tipping group of people all week.
Our goal everyday should be to show to others the same grace and the same mercy that God has shown us. And if you don’t think others deserve it … just remember neither do we.
This past week some friends of mine got together for lunch. After the waitress had done her best to serve she asked them, “Is there anything else you guys need?” They said, “No, we’re fine. Is their anything we can do for you?” When they asked, she opened up her heart to them about problems she was having with her family, job and paying the rent. Before long they were all circled around her and were having a prayer for her. With tears in her eyes, she thanked them as they left.
Those guys are my heroes because that, my friends, is how we should live and interact with people … everyday! And you and I need to do the same thing.
Oh, and did I mention, my friends threw together a big enough tip to help pay their waitresses rent? Pretty sweet story, huh?
I am a Christian husband and father, who moonlights as the minister for the church of Christ in Childress, Texas. My wife Lea and I have been married for 22 years. We are doing our best to raise our 4 boys, who are all growing up way too fast.
Amazing story
It was a great moment. I wrote about it on my blog this morning as well.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
awesome story!
I wasn't raised in a Christian home and after the Lord saved me I remembered thinking that the people from the church were jerks. I mean the people in my family were the waiters and staff at some of the places we would eat on Sundays after services. I was really disgusted with the "oh how I love Jesus" song at 10:30 and then by 11:45 they should have sang "oh how I love me." I have learned to have sympathy for those who dress up on Sundays but are hideous inside. I believe it all stems from a view of the gospel that has nothing to do with real life. I fear that we have churches full of people who want a little religion in their life for fire insurance but could care less about Jesus. Anyway…sorry to ramble.
Yes, that is a good story and one we don't hear often enough.
Trey, In high school, I was one of the waiters/busboy/ cooks on Sundays. I traveled to a church across town that had an early service and then went to work.
I heard one costumer (church member of unknown denomination) state how sad it was that these teenagers were skipping church to work. I could not hold my tongue. I replied, "I went to early service, but would love to worship with my family. If you would not go out to eat on Sundays, I could."
She apologized. I did too for being brash — but I was only 17.
Having worked along side waitresses and waitors when I worked for a friend of mine who had a carpet cleaning business – all I can say is "Amen and amen!"
BTW – this behavior that your friends demonstrated should be the norm for all of us, 7 days a week.
I never liked working Sunday lunch — horrible tips and large groups who sat forever and made no attempt at all to clean up after their kids. Waiting tables was the catalyst for me to reevaluate my Christian witness through tipping. And just in case anyone is still wondering, leaving a tract is not an acceptable substitute for tipping.
The best tippers were big groups of drinkers, other servers, and college girls with their dad's credit cards. Next were my regulars, also those whom I enjoyed serving the most — real conversation and appreciation. I would double my tips on a Friday or Saturday night with one 8-top if the waitstaff from the restaurant next door came in after work for drinks.
But what those guys did is really awesome…
Night before last my wife and I shared dinner with four friends in Tulsa. Two of those had arrived before we did and informed us that a sweet Christian girl was our waitress and that she had prayed for those who would be at her tables for the night. She was a student and wants to be a missionary.
I did pray for her request, but sometimes the praying is done by the waiter!
Sorry I missed you this time Trey. I just couldn't make every session I wanted to make.
Agape'
Royce
Another remarkable post from a remarkable guy and his remarkable friends! Very inspiring…sometimes we don't know why someone is having a bad day or giving "bad" service, but this is a great example that we as individuals(or groups) can show that ONE person that we are NOT like the customer/person before. It would probably make a BIG difference in the rest of their day (or life). The waitress that day may have not known JESUS CHRIST, and that day, you all reminded her to praise HIM through it all!
GOD BLESS YOU all!
I am going to talk about it tomorrow on my blog. It was an amazing story. It definitely changed my life.
God bless each one!
Anonymous – Thanks for sharing. I didn't see it as rambling, but things we needed to hear.
Scott – I'm glad you spoke up.
JamesBrett – Another example.
You guys are AWESOME! I've got to get myself to Tulsa next year!
I'm always reading, never commenting, but love your posts. This one I want to share.
Several years back, a friend of mine told me a story. He took another friend to lunch and received poor service. He wasn't of the mind of Christ at the time and in irritation decided to leave a poor tip. (The workman is worthy of his wage, right?) His friend stopped him and said, "Don't you DARE leave a terrible tip. If anything you tip double."
The premise was, we never know what is going on with the server that day. It changed my friend's perspective, especially when he later learned the waitress was going through something awful then.
Or go back to restaurants and stores being closed on Sundays. So it can be observed like it is suppose to be. The Sabbath of course.
Erika
As a waitress, I really appreciate what you all did and how you made her day. It's true in my neck of the woods too, that the "church groups" that come in are the worst tippers and usually the neediest too. I'm glad that a lot of us are trying to change that perception!
Maybe we should eat at home so that all the waiters and waitresses could also go to church and keep the sabbath day holy?! Just a thought- we could be serving them in some way? hmmmmm.