I’m sure you’ve heard others say… “Be nice to others. You never know what they’re going through.”

My mom has preached that to me since I was a little girl. Hearing her say it is one thing, but actually living it out is another.

I like to think of myself as a nice person, but if I am being completely transparent, I don’t always go out of my way to be OVER-THE-TOP nice to people I don’t know.

It’s not that I have bad intentions or that I am trying to be rude.

Most of the time it’s that I am busy or stressed or in a hurry or wrangling kids or rushing to baseball games.

This thing called life can get pretty hectic at times.

I was having a pretty rough day yesterday. Just one of those days where everything and anything was going wrong. In the grand scheme of life, none of it was too important, but at the time I truly felt defeated.

I felt like the enemy was attacking me and by dinner time? I wanted to wave my white flag, call it a day, go to bed and wake up new.

Actually, I had planned to do that.

But before I “peaced out” (as I like to call it), I headed to Chili’s to pick up some dinner for the family.

Yes, take-out is how I roll some nights. Especially when I’m having a rough one.

No shame here.

As soon as I walked in the restaurant, the to-go worker was on the phone. I felt myself rolling my eyes and thinking to myself…“Of course, I’m sure this will take a lot longer than I had hoped.”

I told you, sometimes I am immediately negative nancy.

Don’t you love how when you are already down in the dumps the devil tricks you into thinking everything is annoying and bad? Like, her being on the phone…didn’t mean anything.

It meant she was taking an order and then she would get to me. But I immediately just assumed it would take forever and I would have to wait, wait, wait.

Blah, blah, blah. 

To my surprise, her phone call was short and she immediately greeted me with, “Mandy? I got your order right her girl! We will get you all fixed up!”

I’m assuming she greeted me by name because I gave my name and phone number when I called my order in. And it didn’t seem very busy so I am guessing I was the only one waiting for take-out.

I immediately changed my “rolled eyes” attitude to a more “why thank you” attitude. I could tell she was trying to be super helpful…and timely.

Which you know I love. #impatientbynature

From that moment on, this to-go worker was the nicest lady I had ever met in my life. A part of me wanted to ask her if she ate happy pills.

Not in a sarcastic way, but more of a… where do I get those happy pills kind of way?! Haha!

She didn’t do anything that was out of the ordinary other than she was OVERLY friendly to me. She offered to make sure all of my order was there before I left (you know a momma hates to get home missing a kids meal).

I was about to walk out and she even offered to carry my food and drinks to the car for me.

Listen, I have been to Chili’s to-go counter many many many times and I have never had anyone offer to carry my food out for me.

Of course, I told her “No, thank you”, but I sure appreciated the offer. To which she replied, “You must be a mom! You’re used to all that multitasking!”

I don’t know why, but this girl just kept making me smile! She was a breathe of fresh air when my air felt heavily polluted.

Later on that night I posted a little blurb about the “to-go Chili’s worker” on social media and how she deserved a raise. Because y’all, she did.

I had a bunch of readers who suggested that I call the manager and tell them how wonderful she was. I have done that before (not at Chili’s) and even thought about it as I was driving away that night. I didn’t have my bluetooth on me and it’s illegal to talk on the phone in IL while your driving so I decided I’d do it when I got home.

When I got home I was greeted by 4 hungry boys who were searching for dinner…

And of course, before I had the chance to call the Chili’s manager and dote on their employee… I received this text from one of the boy’s old babysitters.

I had forgotten she even worked at Chili’s still…

 

Isn’t it funny how God completely shows up RIGHT when we need Him to.

The lovely Chili’s worker was placed in my path at the exact moment I needed her to be. God knew what I needed and He provided it.

Even if it was just for a complete stranger to kill me with kindness. God shows up in those moments.

No moment is too small.

I’m saying all of this in hopes that YOU will be nice to a complete stranger today. Not because you have to, but because you never know what they may be going through. God wants to use you to bless others.

Are you hearing Him when He nudges you?

Sometimes I hear Him and refuse to listen. But the Chili’s employee is my official reminder that I need to reach out to others with kindess…just because.