So There I Was…

I was tired and bored as I sat in the drive-thru of our local Abilene McDonalds. As with other resturants, they are doing most of their business in the drive-thru which results in long lines sometimes.

I was sitting in my truck looking at the lady in front of me. I snidely thought to myself that she is taking a lot of time just to order for herself. She was the only person in her car. Surely, her order couldn’t be that long.

But she kept talking to the person on the speaker. Now I was getting frustrated with her. She must be one of those people who, even though everything is premade, has to have it done differently. My wife is world famous for taking a 15 second order and turning it into a 5 minute ordeal because she has to have extra pickles and mayonnaise on something.

Now the lady began looking back at me in her mirror. This started to tick me off because it looked like she might be noticing that I looked impatient. Great!…Now she is going to show me who’s in control by taking her sweet time on purpose.

Doesn’t she realize how important my time is? Doesn’t she realize all the important things she is keeping me from doing?

The mean look on my face had to transmit the frustration and anger brewing inside me.

She finally moved forward in line and I was able to do my order. Quick and simple. Two hamburgers and a Diet Coke. 10 seconds and I’m ready to move.

I watched the lady get her order and leave the parking lot. Good riddance you slow-poke. I hope you get indigestion for slowing me down.

It was at this point, I was reminded that the Good Lord is a practitioner of irony and sometimes kicks us square in the pants just to remind us we’re not too big to scold.

You see I pulled up to the window and the cashier handed me a receipt….

I looked at her quizzically because this made no sense…..I hadn’t paid for my meal yet.

Thats when she told me, “the lady ahead of you paid for your meal”…..I sat there stunned, holding up the line.

I figure the good lord nudged her to pay it forward as a kind gesture, but she’ll never know that he was actually nudging her to give me a kick in the seat of the pants. Its been a long time since I felt so small.

After all those unkind and selfish thoughts, an act of kindness taught me a lesson in humility, patience, and do unto others.

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