Kindness . . . Paying It "Backwards"
/Yesterday was amazing!
Who knew that a trip to Dunkin’ Donuts would feed more than my body. It would feed my soul!
We were on our way to do a “Backyard DD Brunch” with our son and family. So of course we pulled into the drive thru of my favorite coffee place, Dunkin Donuts in Kettering.
The line circled around the entire building and then some, but not to worry. Those people know what they are doing — efficient service, good food, yummy donuts and muffins, and great coffee … and speedy.
So prepared with my drive through order, I spoke it loud and clear:
“This is a long order. Should I give you the drinks first?”
“No, give me the breakfast sandwiches first. They take the longest to prepare.”
“5 turkey sausage, egg, and cheese sandwiches on English muffins. All with sides of hash browns. And an everything bagel with cream cheese.”
“Wow! You need to give a seminar on how to order!”
[shock…almost speechless] “Thank you so much!”
”There are two donuts — one bismarck and one double chocolate. Do you have any muffins?
“ Yes, all our flavors but chocolate chip.”
“We’ll take four coffee cake muffins.”
“Drinks?”
3 medium hot coffee all with cream. And that’s it.”
“Thank you SO much for ordering so well!” She was profuse in her praise!
“Thank YOU so much for your compliments!”
I was so blessed and validated just by her response to something so simple…giving a drive thru order. It made me realize how difficult this clerk’s job must be on a Saturday morning when the line is backed up and people may just be waking up … maybe even cranky and mumbling, needing their morning coffee.
What didn’t seem like a big deal to me was apparently a help to someone who was trying to do her job. It made me determined to be careful of the people who serve me in even “unseen” ways, like this clerk.
Well, as if that wasn’t enough joy and blessing for my soul that day, we drove up to the window to pay for our $40+ bill and the smiling young woman said, “The people in front of you paid your bill.”
“What? It’s more than $40!”
“I told them and they still wanted to pay it. The people in front of them had paid their bill.”
So my husband said, “Well then, we will pay for those behind us.”
“$6.95” Just two pumpkin lattes.
We received our food and left that line … stunned, rejoicing, thrilled to be part of something so pure and good and true.
There we all were. None of us knew each other’s politics, religion, opinions on COVID and masks and all the issues out there tearing us apart. We were just human beings on the same planet at that same moment, caring for one another in a Dunkin Donuts drive thru line. How simple! But how significant!
John & I drove on to our brunch, filled with gratitude and prayer for those in front of us who paid a bill that we know had to be more than what they anticipated; for those in front of them who got the generosity started; for those behind us whom we hoped we could bless just a little; for the clerk who appreciated how I had ordered in the first place; and for the smiling young lady at the window who got to witness the miracle of simple kindness playing itself out on a Saturday morning.
Let’s keep this kind of thing going wherever we can, friends.
For those of us who know Christ … we are His hands and feet. Let’s quit arguing with one another and fighting over our positions and opinions about all the upheaval. Let’s open our eyes to those around us and just be kind.
O God, do that through us. Amen.
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. . . Colossians 3:12 ESV
