Be.Loved. 25 Simple Acts of Love to Change a LifeSample

DAY 15: Express an interest in someone serving you

“The greatest among you will be your servant.” – Matthew 23:11

Anyone who has been in the service industry knows that it can be challenging. Every day comes with its own set of challenges as one tries to put on a happy face while serving countless customers who can often be hard to please. Both parties—those serving and those being served—have their own stories of the day that predispose them to either joy or pain, peace or impatience. Yet servers are expected to swallow their personal issues and “fake it ‘til they make it.”

Truth be told, we’ve all heard heartbreaking stories of servers being mocked at, left tip-less, and being the target of one’s unearned anger. We’ve also likely heard the stories of kindness—when the college student trying to make ends meet is given a $5,000 tip, or the grocery store worker is surrounded by love after losing a parent. 

Our hearts must cry out to be in that second category—the lovers. If Matthew 23:11 is true, then those who serve us each day are superior to us and we must approach them with a posture of humility and gratitude. Each one is not simply a passing face, but someone God has placed in our life that day to come alongside us to help us with our needs. 

So how can you express your thankfulness to those who serve you today? It begins by honoring their humanity and expressing an interest in them. Can I ask what your name is? Have you been working here for a while? Is your family from here? Thank you, ____, for your service. I am very grateful.

Consider how you felt doing this, how God moved in each conversation, and how you might continue to express this type of appreciation more regularly.