“’s hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk!”

        We sure do know what that’s like this summer in Central Texas. Blistering hot days, no rain, high humidity, lakes disappearing…this summer has been a scorcher. The heat also takes its toll on our dispositions. Caught in rush hour traffic, with the cars overheating and stalling out makes getting home a royal pain in the back side. Yet it was precisely these conditions which allowed me to receive a blessing from a most unlikely source.

        My school teacher wife was busily preparing for a new school year in a brand new school. Along with the other teachers, she was up there working late to make sure this inaugural year started off on the right foot. Both of us arrived home late with no supper. She threw some veggies in the microwave and I ran to the chicken place. Obviously a whole bunch of other folks had the same idea since I had to wait in line behind four or five cars.

        The temperature on the bank sign still said 101 even though it was 7:00 in the evening. The temperature on the black asphalt around the chicken place was much hotter. There was no breeze. As I rolled down my window to talk into the squawk box and place my order, the heat was suffocating. I was tired, irate, impatient, and hot. Not a pleasant combination and I was not in a pleasant mood.

        Despite the raspy squawk, I could tell the voice on the other end of my order was a pleasant Hispanic woman. When I finally got around to pick up my chicken, I learned she was not only pleasant, but friendly, kind, and courteous. I don’t know if it was the heat, my weariness with the long day, or if I have just come to expect rude people in these situations, but her politeness and genuine smile and kind words touched me with a blessing.

        She had been stuck at a blazing hot drive through window, surrounded by the heat and smell of frying chicken, and waiting on tired and impatient customers. Yet she maintained an air of genuine joy and interest in the people she served. It was a blessing. A cup of cool water. A reminder that circumstances don’t determine our treatment of others as much as our attitude about life.

        I left feeling better about my day and went home in a better mood about my supper. Most of all, I thanked God for a bucket of kindness that came with my chicken. I vowed to the Father that I would try to recycle this blessing and be more intentional in my kindness and courtesy because I knew now how it can change a bad day for someone else.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward” —Mark 9:41