Thank You for Your Kindness
On my way to work, this morning started like every other morning, with me in the McDonald’s drive-through to get my Large Diet Cokes. Unlike many in healthcare, my mornings do not revolve around a cup of coffee, rather the deliciously refreshing McDonald’s Diet Coke. A McDonald’s Diet Coke is second to none and is the only way to start your day. Now that the foundation has been set for why I am in the McDonald’s drive-thru many mornings, back to the story.
There is an often confusing component to the drive-thru at the McDonald’s just off exit 146 on I-81. There are two ways to get into the drive-thru. This will sometimes cause two cars to compete for who is going to get into the drive-thru first. And this morning, that happened to me. As I pulled in behind a white van, a blue van came through the alternate entry point. While the blue van technically arrived first, the white van in front of me was apparently in no mood to allow someone to go in front of them (their quest for breakfast was seemingly too strong), and they just pushed right to the drive-thru. Although my desire for that ice-cold, refreshing, delicious Diet Coke was strong, I still paused and waved for the person in the blue van to go ahead; after all, she had gotten there first. It was one of the basic “manners” I was taught growing up in Southern West Virginia. As she passed by, I could see it was an elderly lady alone in her van. We exchanged smiles and a wave, and she moved in front of me in the drive-thru. I didn’t think anything of it as my focus shifted to the amazing Disney song playing from my Spotify playlist (it was Circle of Life from “The Lion King,” if you are wondering). I eventually moved to the order location and placed my order for 2 large Diet Cokes (the reason for two is significant, but I won’t include that here).
As I moved to the window to pay, now enthralled in the highly acclaimed classic Beauty and the Beast by Angela Lansbury, I was surprised by what I heard. The McDonald’s employee said, “The lady in front of you paid for your order this morning. She said to tell you Thank you for being a kind person.” I couldn’t believe it. As I looked to the pickup window just ahead, I searched for the blue van, but she had already retrieved her order and left.
“Thank you for being a kind person”
As I thought about that comment on my drive into work, Thank you for being a kind person, I became pretty convicted. Is the bar so low for kindness in our world today that someone sees a simple act of letting you go in front of them with a smile and wave as an act worthy of having your meal purchased?
I was reminded of a song we have sung many times in Church over the years and most recently a couple weeks ago. It is titled By our Love by Christy Nockels. One part of the song goes like this:
The time is now
Come Church arise...
Love with His hands
See with His eyes...
Bind it around you
Let it never leave you
And they will know us by our love...
Interestingly, this song was written in 2009. The time for the Church to arise and Love has been “now” for over a decade, and I would contend much longer than that. Without changing the song, I think it would be safe to change the last word of these lyrics…And they will know us by our kindness. I am thankful that someone had kindness in their heart to purchase my Diet Cokes this morning. I am grateful for the opportunity to have shown kindness to another human through an act as simple as letting them go in front of me at the McDonald’s drive-thru with a smile and wave.
Hey fellow Christian, fellow human, THE TIME IS NOW for kindness and compassion. How are you showing others kindness amid your busy day? How am I showing others kindness amid my busy day? It is something I will continue to be purposeful about doing, even in the “small things” like a smile and a wave.
