by Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001)
A FIVE-DOLLAR TIP
Not long ago I was in a restaurant. I always like to be courteous if I can, as I was taught as a boy to be a gentleman in public. I was met at the door by a little lady who asked, "May I seat you, please?"
I said, "Yes, ma'am." So she escorted me to a table and asked, "Would you like a menu?"
I said, "Yes, ma'am." Soon she came back with pad in hand to take my order. It was not a busy time of the day.
She said, "Are you ready to order?"
I said, "Yes, ma'am."
"Do you want salad?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Do you want dressing on it?'"
"Yes, ma'am."
Then she put her little pad down on the table, and her hands on her hips, and said, "Yes, ma'am! Yes, ma'am! Yes, ma'am! Yes, ma'am! Don't you know how to say anything other than 'YES, MA'AM'?"
I said, "Yes, ma'am."
She was furious, absolutely furious! She brought my food and almost threw it at me. I tried to be courteous and nice, but she never softened. She was curt and harsh.
Well, I knew she must have had a burden so I left her a $5 tip. I think my bill was $1.55 or $1.60 and the normal tip would been a quarter, but I thought, "This little lady needs somebody to cheer her up today."
I then went to the cash register to pay my bill when suddenly she came up and said, "Hey, mister. You left some money on the table. You left a $5 bill."
I said, "Little lady, don't folks usually leave tips here?"
"Sir, is that $5 bill my tip?"
"Yes, it is.'"
"I didn't treat you very nicely and to think that you'd give me a tip of $5."
"I thought you might have had a hard day or a burden of some kind," I answered. Then she told me a sad story. I won't relate the details here, but it was sad. Her life was burdened, the load was heavy, and the financial strain was almost beyond beating. In a few minutes I had the blessed privilege of leading this little waitress to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
A cute little thing happened. When I got through leading her to Christ, I said as I left, "Now let me ask you a question. Are you sure you're saved?"
She said, "Yes, sir!"
It just pays to try to win folks to Christ everywhere you go. Next time you eat in a restaurant why not speak a good word for Christ.
