Devotionals

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I recently went to a CSR Training seminar and it was very "educational."
The theme was "Give Em' A Pickle". We did not get to see until the end of the day what the exact meaning was, but once they revealed it, it was quite enjoyable.

The theme "give them a pickle" was a neat story about a restaurant owner realizing how important it is to go the extra mile in your service to people. A gentleman had been coming in for quite sometime and loved the pickles and would always ask for an extra and they gladly gave him one. One time he came in and a new waitress charged him 75 cents for it. He later wrote a letter to the owner explaining how upset he was about that. This caused the restaurant owner to begin a new concept of "Just give them a pickle" if that keeps them happy, keeps them coming back, just "Give them a pickle" I realize this may sound silly, but if you watched the whole video you would understand more.

There was one comment this gentleman said that really struck me was:
"The customer is never an interruption, they are the reason you are their"
While this is a very popular and wise statment it really got my attention. I pondered on this as I went home to another job called, "Housewife" I realized that this could be a good lesson for me. I was convicted as I think of how often I get irritated at these "interruptions".

It may be our clients this man was referring to, but I could see this in every area of service we are in. Our marriages, children, family, friends, clients, and yes, even those hard to deal with people that are in our lives.
As we at church are doing a 13 week study on the life of each disciple, I am learning so much about how they are just like we are. Ordinary, everyday people. God chose them for that very reason.
Looking at the faults of these men has made me realize how much like them I am.
Jesus came to serve, not to be served and He served them with the same love, compassion, and appreciation we need to serve one another. He was committed to going the extra mile to help them succeed in their walk with Him.
The disciples were found to have "little faith" at times
They were found to be pride filled as they thought they each should be "first"
They were found to be sleeping at the time Jesus needed them most.
However, No matter all this, They were precious to the Lord Jesus.
In John 17:9 He prayed "I pray for them; not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine."

As we face each person...husband, child, client, fellow Christian, and yes, even the difficult ones, are we going to remember this is the one that "thou hast given me"

My prayer is this:
That I may see those which "thou hast given me" as precious as our Lord Jesus did,
That I may not view anyone in my life as an interruption, but as one that "thou hast given me".
That I may serve them with the same love, compassion, patience and appreciation that the Lord Jesus did the ones God gave Him.
That I may glorify God in my service to them which "thou hast given me"
John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth' I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

So "Give Em' A Pickle"
I realize this is a silly saying, but "God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise"(1 Corinthians 1:27) and if it took a pickle to encourage me to go the extra mile to be like Christ then this "Foolish" thing has confounded me!!!!!
Lisa Smith

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