The Girl Behind the Tray
I started my first job when I was fourteen, and it was as a waitress in a local coffee shop. I loved being the girl behind the tray, but later, as my jobs would change, I would forget the joy of being the girl behind the tray.
For those of you who don’t know, I started a music ministry to senior facilities about five years ago. We started bringing a full non-denominational service to one senior facility, and we now bring it to three facilities all in one day—the third Sunday of the month. We now reach approximately 100-150 seniors on average, but it isn’t the number of seniors we reach so much as it is the impact that we make on any given Sunday. We sing Southern Gospel music for them, bring a short message, and greet them before and after the service. We pray when there are tears or any other needs. Mostly, we’re just available.
When I first started our ministry to seniors, I did it out of desire to serve God. It began out of a sincere desire to start something meaningful at senior facilities. Beyond that, I didn’t really think it out all that well, but I figured that if it was something that God wanted me to do, He would work out the details.
I could never have known how serving others would change me. I went into this whole adventure thinking that I was going to change the hearts of others right and left. I figured that my charisma, charm, and general good personality were all the ingredients that I needed to reach the seniors. None of those ingredients turned out to the be all that relevant, but serving was relevant. Serving others became the one thing that spoke the loudest to others.
God did an interesting thing to my heart. It started to break a little, and as it did, it got a little bit bigger and it increased in its capacity to love. Five years later, I look back over the process and realize that I have changed as much, if not more, than those I am serving. I have learned how to let things go that I once might’ve grasped with all my might. I have learned how to let God be the leader in more areas of my life, and I have learned how to listen and how to respond to heartbreak. I have learned how to love–how to really love.
I think that if a person of faith really wants to grow, they have to be willing to step behind the tray and serve others. Serving others doesn’t mean that you have to start a ministry in a foreign country or even a senior facility. Serving others means that you step behind the tray whereever you are and whoever you are with. It’s a daily way of “being,” not a way of living, and not acting, but “being” because when we “are” something, we aren’t pretending to be it. We learn how to be through being the person behind the tray.
June 9th, 2008 · 9 Comments
Categories: DE Thoughts
Mike O said
am June 9 2008 @ 2:05 pm
I’m delivering pizzas part-time, and we got a new manager. She’s about 19 - freshman in college. She seems uncomfortable in her role as store manager for now, but the thing that strikes me about her is that she’s not “above” any chore that needs to be done. If boxes need folding, she does it. if dishes need washing, she does it. Her temprament is very laid back and quite sweet, so that’s part of it, but I’m struck by her willingness to serve.
It’s also interesting to see how the other guys (all male environment, except for her) react. They’re typically quite crass and vulgar when she’s not around, but she just quietly works with them, not saying anything - just working hard. And I’ve noticed that they act different when she’s around. They work harder, too. So do I.
It will be interesting to see what kind of impact this sweet little girl will have on the overall environment of that pizza place. I like what’s happening so far.
April Terry said
am June 9 2008 @ 2:13 pm
What a cool story, Mike! She seems to have a wonderful sense of what servanthood really is…I love hearing that, especially about someone so young. You don’t see it that often. Unfortunately, it’s rare. I think that’s what Jesus meant when he said, “They will know you by your love…”
Helen said
am June 12 2008 @ 4:16 pm
April wrote:
April, I agree. The people who have impressed me most in life are the ones who unexpectedly served me when they didn’t have to.
Jim Henderson said
am June 12 2008 @ 5:29 pm
All of us start off thinking how we will change others. Then as I followed Jesus (The Greatest Disappearing Act in History)we find ourselves being on the learning end.
I said final goodbyes to one of my wifes aunts and a favorite of mine yesterday– she doesn’t seem to have long to live. As I told her how much she meant to me I experienced the love of Jesus myself in a profoundly personal way.
I think that is a taste of what Jesus meant with “If you lose your life you’ll find it”
Mike O said
am June 12 2008 @ 6:24 pm
Hmm, interesting parenthetical. Sounds like a new topic for something.
Or am I reading too much between the lines?
Randy said
am June 12 2008 @ 6:57 pm
Yes, good doctor…do tell!
Ian said
am June 16 2008 @ 4:10 am
Thanks April for your great words. I too have found that some of my times closest to God are when I am serving others. I have found going with a servant heart often means I grow spiritually. But I still serve not expecting anything in return.
Kate said
am June 23 2008 @ 1:58 pm
I agree. Serving people changes you as much, if not more, then those you are trying to reach. Through High School, (I only graduated 2 years ago) I did a lot of community service and a lot of work within the school, “Breaking Down the Walls” of the racial separation we had. I didn’t think anything of it, but my teacher challenged me to meet 5 new people a day, and greet each one with a high-5. A few months later, I stopped high-5ing people, I just did not see a point in it and figured it was only going to waste my time. My new friends would walk up to me and say “Why didn’t you high-5 me?! Are you angry?” I pondered this, and getting a crazy idea, I said “No, I want you to keep high-5ing new people every day as I did, and lets see if we can’t meet the whole school!” We did. At the end of the year, we 5 people had met and made friends in every ring of the school! When we graduated, the school had planned an awesome senior walkout. They high-5ed everyone as we left our home away from home. I cried!
The point of my story is yes, serving people changes you. If my teacher hadn’t dared me, a shy and quiet library dwelling girl, to high-5 new people every day, I wouldn’t have met those 4 who joined me in one-handedly changing our school. We got over the racial boundaries and affected more then those we met that year. We changed ourselves!
Thanks April for sharing your story. It is so true.
April Terry said
am June 23 2008 @ 5:25 pm
Kate,
Your high-5 story warmed my heart! It’s just great!