Life Lessons from Chick-Fil-A
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Last Wednesday, my family and I were in Chick-Fil-A having lunch (not an unusual occurrence). Before we began our meal, we asked God’s blessing over it. This, also, is not unusual, but was, perhaps, more obvious than usual given the fact that Brian was with us and we were sitting at two tables, rather than one.
Just as we were beginning to eat, a young man, probably in his mid- to late-twenties, stopped by and quietly said something to the effect of, “Hey, I just wanted to say, that’s really impressive. You don’t see that much anymore. I really appreciated seeing that.”
Brian and were looking over at the kids’ table, a little confused, trying to figure out what he was talking about when I realized he was referring to the fact that we prayed before we ate. We thanked him – not being too sure that was the appropriate response, but figuring it worked as well as anything – and he went on his way.
I immediately moved over to the kids’ table to share with them what the young man had said, as well as a bit of insight based on the brief encounter. First, I told the kids how impressed I was that this guy stopped to compliment us. It really made me feel good to know that we had made a positive impact on someone’s day. You never know how a simple little compliment can positively affect someone’s day; be generous with them.
Second, I told them, you never know who’s watching you and how your behavior might positively affect them. “Now,” I told them, “don’t blow your witness.”
How often do we do something, like pray before eating, and then argue, bicker, make a snide comment or, in some other way, drag Jesus’ name through the mud? You never know who’s watching; uphold the name of Christ in everything you think, say and do.
Watch your life and your doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. – 1 Timothy 4:16
Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.
Wonderful post! I have followed you for a long time but never commented…until today.
Thanks for the reminder.
Excellent post and so true! And I love Chick-fil-A. Wish they had them in England.
This is so true, and so important. Thanks for the reminder.
A friend of mine was telling me once that when she was in Edinburgh, studying (we're in Scotland, but live on an island off the West coast), she always remembers sitting on the bus one cold winter evening, all alone and feeling a bit 'down'. She looked out of the window while the bus drove past some houses, and there, in through the window of a house, she saw a family around the table with their head bowed in prayer. What a blessing she got! The Lord's people can be right next to us even though we don't know it.
She never forgot the beauty of that image.
SO very true!
I am shocked just how often people come up and comment to us about our praying as a family while out to eat. We wouldn't change it but when the comments come, it makes me sad that it isn't just normal!
Ahhh…Chick-fil-A….I could eat there 7 times a day….
Great testimony! I love seeing other families pray too!
Great reminder, Kris!
Samantha
Outstanding. It IS sad that it's such a rare sight that he would feel the need to comment on it, but I appreciate that you didn't get "puffed up" about it but rather considered how we could RUIN our witness AFTER the prayer. Thanks for the encouragement!
"Don't blow your witness." If only we all would really get that!
Great reminder! Thanks!
That is great! Good reminder, thanks!
See? There are so many good things that come out of Chick fil A.=)
(I will be eternally jealous of everyone who has one close by them and am still waiting for them to make the stretch to the Pacific NW!)
What a great post!! And so true!!
We always pray before we eat. I can't eat without asking the Lord's blessing. I physically can not. We pray in restaurants too. I used to feel a little funny about it, but it's been a few years since I felt that way.
I am sure that seeing someone praying brought a sense of peace to that young man.
it is the little things that teach our kids the most isn't it, if we get extra change or extra products by accident, we had back in to the store to tell them. We almost always hear, thank you for coming back most people wouldnt have bothered.
So true!! Such a great post!
I wish I lived closer to a Chik-Fil-a!
Amen, sister! If you're going to talk the talk, then you need to walk the walk!!
Thanks for the great reminder!
Just last Sunday, my priest was saying that he has noticed that christians don't go out to eat anymore. He was joking, of course, but pointing out that you don't see people praying before meals anymore.
Powerful, Kris! Thanks for sharing this, and thanks for reminding us how fragile our Christian witness is.
very good point!! thank you for the post and for the reminder that we really are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses to our faith and how we live that out. excellent post!
What a great post. I will remember "don't blow your witness." That is great.
We've had this experience as well. So true what you said about how we behave after the prayer. Amen. I'm new to your blog, glad I found it.
We get that often when we're out. If noy a comment from someone, than at least obvious stares. It's amazing (and wonderful) how simple things in our lives can touch others. I always reming our kids we're called to be "salt & light." Great post Kris!
I would have felt so weird to pray in a restaurant years ago, but now we always do. We've had many times when people have commented (positively). I also had one time at a hotel when we ate breakfast and each person just prayed on their own. I had an older couple come up to me to say how much it had moved them to see each child pray as they sat down with their food, before they started eating breakfast. 🙂
We hardly ever go out to eat, so we get very few of those comments. Thanks for reminding me about 'not blowing your witness.'
Annie Kate