Lately, I really enjoy iced coffee. TOO MUCH.
I mean, it’s just a tad bit SCORCHING OUTSIDE.
So as I drive, and my entire body feels like it is melting
in to my black leather car seat, (P.S, JESUS, Thank you, thank you, thank
you for a functioning air conditioner in my sweet lil car. If I could write
thank you in the cutest bubble letters and fly them on a banner above my car
for you, I would. Well, I guess I COULD. But for now, I’m just blowing kisses
up to Heaven. I’m so thankful) I can often feel all of the Dunkin Donuts,
Starbucks, Scooters, Cranes, and McDonalds, just calling out my name.
I USUALLY give in to the call.
Sometimes I’m strong and I #justsayno.
But here’s something that just got me thinking the other
day…..
DO I EVEN LIKE THE ICED COFFEE THAT MUCH?! I’m pretty sure
this stuff is dehydrating me. I don’t think this is necessarily helping me to
beat the heat. This is probably making me feel worse. This is probably actually
causing me to melt into my sizzling seat (shout out to the LORD once again for
air conditioning…but it’s still HOT ya’ll) at an even faster pace.
Then it dawns on me….
I think I’m actually just addicted to the whole drive-thru
EXPERIENCE. And let’s be real, I’m just
ordering the iced coffee because….. Who
wants a ginormous and greasy big mac or a pastry just hanging out in their
stomach on days that are already insanely greasy and hot already?
I think I have traced my love for the drive-thru
back to one spring day when I was going to school in Lincoln. Guess what I was
getting? Surprise! A medium iced coffee with sugar free vanilla sweetener.
McDonald’s. I don’t exactly remember the
details, but this sweet older lady took my order. When I got to the window, I
was actually surprised by the enthusiasm that came out of me. I think I just
practically screamed “ THANK YOU SO MUCH!” She was doubly surprised. We just sat there and laughed and laughed and
laughed. She was absolutely tickled. I
remember my ENTIRE DAY was totally brightened. Driving away, I was thinking
that my life suddenly felt like a real-life McDonald’s commercial, or the
beginning of a cheesy movie. I just needed some cheerful and inspirational
background music to be playing out loud, possibly some cute puppies to come
skipping by, or some jolly kids to whiz by on roller blades or something like
that….
I was just so happy because I kept thinking: “ That lady
probably really feels like her job is super important.” It is.
I remember having a similar experience with my dad once,
too. We drove through, and for some reason, this guy just thought we were
hysterical. I think it was one of those
instances where we were accidentally overly enthusiastic again. We could still
hear him laughing when we drove away. And he had one of those CONTAGIOUS belly
laughs. The absolute best! Too funny!
Ok, so obviously I’m not always THAT enthusiastic when I get
my coffee. BUT, I still feel the anticipation as I go to order. I feel like I’m
going to meet a new friend. The worker takes my order, and I can hear their
voice. I feel like they kind of know me…. they know I’m just one of those girls
“addicted to iced coffee.” But then the big reveal happens at the window. You
never know what you’re gonna get. Sometimes it’s Mr. Grumpy Pants. Sometimes it’s
someone who seems bored out of his or her mind.
There have been times when I think OH this person is so sad. There is
the YELLER. Like, not the mean yeller but more the, “I’m trying to act excited
to see you, but also trying to push you through this line,” yeller. Then
there’s your sweet, calm, reassuring people.
Regardless of who is at the window at the “big reveal,”
something I have tried to be intentional about is to genuinely smile at the
person and really look them in the eyes. I learned this one from my mama. She’s
so great!
AND Guess what? It’s such a hoot. Like, you can see people’s
countenances change instantly just from a simple smile and from taking the time
to look them in the eyes. Sometimes, especially if it happens to be a Mr.
Grumpy Pants, even their tone of voice will change.
It makes me want to weep just thinking about it. I can’t get over how impacted some people have
seemed from something so simple. One
smile.
Here’s the reality. People want to feel noticed. They want
to feel like what they are doing matters.
Here’s the thing about Jesus. He notices. He notices SO
MUCH. He notices every detail. His eyes just burn with love for every human
walking this planet. If one little smile can just play an itsy- bitsy part in
communicating that, count me in.
SO for me, I guess drive-thrus are one way that I feel
connected to Jesus’ “noticing” heart. I know I’m not some “drive thru hero” for
doing this. For crying out loud, I live in the Midwest! People are SO kind and
polite here.
I want us all to be encouraged that our smiles, eye contact,
"thank you", and “noticing” really matter.
What if your smile gives somebody the hope that they need to
keep pressing forward?
You just never know.
Plus, there’s that added bonus of a “supposedly refreshing
but probably dehydrating” iced coffee.
So drive- thru on my friends……
And may you be met by some contagious belly laughter while
you’re at it.
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