A mistake that makes you
humble is much better
than an achievement that
makes you arrogant.
- Anonymous
So here's what happened...
I had been out exercising, the weather was cold, and I was bundled up to stay warm in my usual cold-weather-exercise fashion. I looked like I was homeless.
On my way home, I decided to go through a fast food drive-thru and get one of my favorite breakfast sandwiches. I gave the drive-through lady my card (my only source of payment on me at the time). She said the card was not processing properly, and then I remembered to inform her that for the last few weeks the card chip had not worked; one must “slide” the card to process payment effectively.
The car line in front of me had been served and disappeared. The car line behind was getting longer with drivers looking restless. They expected the usual efficiency of this particular fast food chain drive-through, and I was holding them up. After 3-4 minutes, the worker and I jointly decided that I should get out of the drive-through line and go inside to pay.
Once inside, I explained my card problem to the nice lady at the checkout counter. However, she could not get my card to work by chipping or sliding. As the minutes passed with unsuccessful card processing, she just kept repeating to me, “Sir, it just says your card is rejected.” After what seemed like an eternity to me, she looked up at me with that look in her eyes--as one might look at a beggar trying to get a free meal--smiled and handed me the ticket. It hit me. She pitied me. She was showing me charity by giving me the food for free!
I'm all for charity and generosity and giving to those in need. I just prefer to be on the giving end. Just that morning before going through the drive-through, I had read the verse that says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God…” (1 Peter 5:6). Well, it appears that God knew that I needed another dose of humble pie. His method--putting me in a position to receive free food at McDonald's by being seen as a beggar.
I am not too good to receive grace and charity and gifts from God and others, including McDonald’s. The Lord wanted me to remember that.