"What can I get for you this morning, darlin'?" She asked in her sweet southern drawl over the intercom.

"I'll have an egg and cheese biscuit and a small cup of coffee, please."

"All right, sweetheart, anything else ... just pull around to the first window please, Hun."

Every morning that I go to work I stop off at the fast food restaurant just before hopping onto the interstate. And every morning the lady at the window greets me. This greeting is not the kind that someone was asked to do by the manager because it's in the employee guidelines. She greets me as if I was a member of her family who had just walked into her kitchen to sit down and have breakfast. The moment I see her, no matter how the morning started out, I catch her contagious smile. I feel happier and more eager to begin another day.

One particular morning as I sat and waited in line for my turn to move forward, I watched the hustle and hurry of this typical morning commute. Behind me in line was a middle-aged man in a suit and tie frequently checking his wristwatch. Behind him was a mom pressing her luck, hoping to get a quick cup of coffee and a kid's meal before dropping her child off at school and getting to work herself. There were sounds of sirens as cars and trucks zoomed by on the highway. In all of this, I also watched up ahead of me as the lady greeted a young man on his way to work with her warm smile and his steaming cup of coffee.

"How are you doing this beautiful morning?" she asked him.

I began to wonder just how many people sitting in this line, morning after morning, have already been touched and changed by her simple yet unwavering kindness and her genuine, spirit-filled heart. It's unlikely that her job will bring her wealth, fame, or prestige. I don't believe that's why she chose it. I believe that she knows that God has a special purpose for her. She's allowing Him to reach His children through her one "Good mornin'!" at a time.

In fact, I believe that this special lady was placed at this stop along my journey to remind me of the wonderful ways that God can use all of us to broaden the realm of Christianity. No matter where we find ourselves, we can rest assured that God came there before us. He had already decided that it would be the perfect place for us to fulfill His plan. Then he helped place us there.

"I sure hope you have a wonderful day, okay honey."

"Ma'am, I hope you do too."

I myself have gained much joy and comfort from your love ... because your kindness has so often refreshed the hearts of God's people.

(Philemon 1:7 NLT)

"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." (Winston Churchill)