Holy Happy Hour

Last Wednesday I was in Fairfield, TX and decided to stop by Sonic to get some lunch. I went through the drive-thru. Personally, I believe that going through a drive-thru at Sonic is un-American, but the last time I parked in one of the stalls, the delivery girl almost dropped all of my food. Apparently, she had learned to skate mere seconds before she made the journey to my car carrying my food. So this time, I drove through.

When I pulled up to the speaker the girl asked if I could wait. I said, “Sure,” because I had no choice.

When she finally came back on, she said, “Welcome to Sonic, how may I take your order?” A thousand different clever, and stupid, retorts passed through my mind.
“In Spanish,” and, “Emphatically,” were the first two and most prominent. But instead of telling her how she could take my order, I just told her what I wanted to order.

Her small and very common misspeak got me thinking. What if I could control the way people spoke to me? If I had control over the tones of others, what tone would I make them use while they were talking to me?

I believe that, initially, I would make people say things in a tone that did not line up with the words they were saying. I think it would be funny to hear someone angrily say something as mundane as, “PLEASE, PASS THE CHILI-CHEESE FRIES!!!!”

Eventually, though, I would tire of that silliness and just force people to speak to me with respect even when they disagree with me, to be gentle even when I am in the wrong, and to be kind no matter the circumstance.

All of this silly thought led me to something holy and pure. The way in which I wish other would speak to me is exactly how I should be speaking to others. I wish to be shown respect, but do I show respect? I wish for others to be gentle, am I gentle? I want others to show unmitigated kindness, but do I show the same kindness to others?

 
Some of you may say, “Yes, I am very kind and respectful to waiters and sells clerks.” That is all well and good, but what about your husband, your wife, your parents or your children? When no one is watching, how do you speak to those that you have promised to love? This week, be careful about how you talk to everyone, especially those who are closest to you.