Sunday, March 28, 2010

Keeping my Christian Testimony


Today my husband and I along with a another couple went to lunch after church like we usually do on Sunday afternoon. The husband had a great idea to go to a place in Punta Gorda at Fisherman's village that we don't drive to very often.

It seemed like a great idea. The place was crowded with people as usual this time of year. We went into the restaurant and was told that we if wanted to sit in the dining area there would be a wait of 10 - 15 minutes. The hostess sweetly said we could sit in the bar area and be served there.

We decided to do that and had proceeded to push two tiny tables together to make room for four.

Our waiter came to the table and just grunted at us basically asking what we wanted to drink. So, we gave him our drink order. Right from the get-go he had the attitude that we were putting him out just by being there!

He came back but went over to another couple that came in after us and took their food order. Finally, he came over and started to take our food order. You would think that if you saw two couples together that there would be two separate tickets? He didn't bother to ask and when we told him so, he took our menu's and threw them down saying he'd have to start over and this wouldn't work! We couldn't believe it!!! A grown man having a temper tantrum right in front of us???

At that point we were ready to walk out....but where would we go at this point? That whole plaza was packed with people a week before Easter.

Now mind you, we've eaten there many times and we live in the area. We are not seasonal folks....you treat us right and we'll come back in the summer when you really need us and our business.

While we were waiting for our food order, he brought us two pitchers of soda. That's always a "red flag" Don't bother me for refills. Help yourself! When he brought one of the pitchers to our table, he about knocked my husband over leaning over him to pour my drink and missed....soda poured all over my pants and down over my shoes onto the floor.

I was polite and said, "Sir" you poured soda all over me. Thank God the table had slates instead or it would have all ended up in my lap. He did bring me napkins to clean up.

He didn't apologize or help clean up the mess he'd made. I have to say at that point...I wondered... what do you do? Get mad? Tell him off? I decided to pray for him.

It gets worse...finally, our food arrived and I have to tell you that on top of our waiter's sorry attitude I found two hairs in my food. One was in my new potatoes and the other in the hush puppies we ordered. I didn't say a word. Why bother at this point?

The food was actually very good and believe it or not, the hairs didn't bother me as much as this man's horrible behavior to us.

He didn't get our tickets right and it took FOREVER for him to bring them back.

You might wonder if we left him a tip?? Yes, we did....not the 20% or more we give wait staff at times. We decided not to award his bad job....but we were very polite and kind in spite of the way he treated us.

This probably was the worst dining experience I can remember in a long time. Makes you wonder why is he waiting tables? Surely, with our economy...there are more capable and willing people to do this that enjoy it!

I did call the restaurant to speak with a manager. The woman I spoke with was not the manager but did proceed to tell me that they've had complaints before.....I was nice....promise! She really was no help, but said she'd relay my message to the owners.

Sometimes you have to take the high road and we did. We treated him more kindly than he treated us. If I see him in there next time, you can bet I won't let him wait on us again! We did the right thing regardless...

Hugs,
LaDonna

Friday, March 19, 2010

Authentic Beauty -it's what's inside that counts!


March 19, 2010

Hi Ladies,
I really got something from this devotional today from RBC Ministries. I hope it minister's to you as it did me!

Hugs,
LaDonna

READ: Proverbs 31:21-31

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. —Proverbs 31:30

I often take a moment as I wait at our grocery store checkout stand to scan the covers of the magazines displayed there. It seems that if they aren’t about sex and money, they’re about diet, fitness, health, and outward beauty. There’s nothing there for the soul.

The problem is that people read the wrong magazines—those that are full of lies that fixate on beauty of face and form as though that’s all there is. This can lead to comparison and terrible despair.

Some years ago, a friend of mine told of a conversation he had with a lovely, self-assured teenager. “You’re very self-confident,” he observed. “Can you tell me why?” “Yes,” the young woman answered. “It’s because I’m so pretty.” “Oh, I’m sorry,” he said with extraordinary wisdom. “Why?” she asked in surprise. “Because,” he replied, “you may not always be pretty.”

“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing” is the wisdom we read in Proverbs 31. Physical beauty all too quickly fades away; all one’s efforts to keep it are doomed to fail. But there is an inner beauty—authentic beauty that will endure forever—in the one “who fears the Lord” (v.30). — David H. Roper

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me—
All His wonderful passion and purity!
O Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. —Orsborn

Righteousness in the heart produces beauty in the character.

Feeling like Aqua

Hi Everyone! This spring season I've noticed everywhere I go the stores are decorating with teal, aqua and pretty greens.  March mark...