The other night, Mr. FixIt and I went to our local pizza establishment to get our twice-weekly ice cream to take to the park. As with most food service establishments, they have had issues about getting and keeping help. There have been signs saying they were training a whole new crew and to please be patient. Hey, I’m retired. I’m rarely EVER in a hurry to do anything, let alone pick up some ice cream.

A young lady came to the counter and asked if she could help me.

“Yes, please…I’d like two small ice creams…one vanilla and one twist. But, I’d like them in a styrofoam cup, not the the little plastic ones. By the time we get them over to the park, they drip all over me when I open them.”

“Ok. That will be $4.88.”

I hand her a $20 then said, “Hang on a second, I have the change.”

She held the bill in her hand and looked at me puzzled.

“Oh, that’s ok…you don’t need to give me change. You gave me a $20.”

I smiled behind my mask. “Yes, I did. But, If i give you $.88, you can give me $16 in change. That way, you have extra coins in your register, and I don’t have to carry so much weight around.”

I could see the gears turning as she thought about what I said. She did a quick finger count.

“Right!”

When she handed me the $16, she leaned forward and said, conspiratorially, “thanks for explaining so patiently. Most people would have treated me like an idiot.”

“Well, honey…I’m not like most people. I still believe in manners.”

I smiled and stepped aside.

The woman behind me walked up to the register and said in a loud, demanding voice, “Your phone is off the hook! I’ve been holding for 20 minutes and no one got back to me!” Which already doesn’t make sense…how can the phone be “off the hook” when you are on hold?

Anyway the young lady behind the register had a slightly stricken look and apologized profusely. “I’m so sorry. Here, what can I get you?”

The woman didn’t let up and continued to rant, even while the young lady was trying to take her order. I caught the employees eye, tapped my heart with my fist and winked at her.

She continued to treat the woman with kindness and respect. Then, the next woman in line stepped up. About this time, my ice cream was ready. I took it from the young man serving it, and walked straight to the register. I leaned forward and said, “Please excuse me for interrupting, but I just wanted to tell you what a fine job you did there.”

The woman she was currently waiting on turned to me and said, “Thank you for telling her that! She was really given a hard time there and she needs to hear the good things about her.”

“Yes, she does! My late husband worked in the food service industry all his career and he always told me, whenever you see someone doing a good job, tell them. Right then and there. It can make all the difference in the world because this can be a thankless job.”

I waved to them both and walked out with my frozen treats. 

I understand we don’t know what that woman was going through. We don’t know what her circumstances are. But, for some reason, kindness and good manners have just gone right out the window…especially since the beginning of Covid. I know we are frustrated. I know the world has been polarized and pitted person against person…usually down political lines. But there is absolutely no excuse in exhibiting poor behavior toward people in the service industry. Well, toward ANYONE, really. It isn’t biblical to treat others poorly.

Emily Post is whirling in her grave. And, Jesus can’t be any too happy either!

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“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”

Luke 6:31 ESV