This weekend was...not enjoyable.
Every time I go to work I have to remind myself that God is the one who provides for me.
Going into work this weekend I knew, "I need to make a lot of money." Rent is due, health insurance is due, I recently paid my car insurance, I'm going to the optometrist this week, I joined a gym (my seminary gym benefits expire this week and LA fitness was having a promotion), and the list goes on.
Sometimes being an adult just isn't fun. Everybody wants to take my money away.
Working as a waitress has been a test of faith, a challenge, and a reminder to trust God for even basic necessities.
I worked an extra 8ish hours this weekend and made about $100 less than I do on an average weekend.
On Saturday, one table left me $0 on a $87 tab.
Regardless of whether or not a table tips me, I still have to pay 3.5% to tip pool.
Every other table was just in a 10% kind of mood. If I had given them poor service, I would have understood.
But it was a SLOOOOWWW weekend, meaning I gave GREAT service, because I had less customers vying for my attention.
It was just one of those days.
Then to top it all off, my last table tried to get out of the mandatory gratuity.
I passed out the tickets and she said, "excuse me miss, but I see the gratuity is already included here."
"Yes ma'am, there is a mandatory gratuity for parties of 8 or more."
"But there were only 4 of us when we got here."
Which, by the way, is not true. There were 5 of them when they got there.
"Yes ma'am, but there are 12 now. Would you like me to get the manager for you?"
"No. But why should we have to pay gratuity when there were only 4 of us?"
"The reservation was for 10 ma'am. Would you like me to get the manager?"
"Yes, I think so."
She then tried to convince the manager that despite having 12 in the party, and despite having made a reservation for 10, they were really only a party of 4 (but actually 5) because their friends arrived late, after they had already ordered their food (she said after they got their food, but actually they had only ordered when their friends arrived). Their friends only came because they called them and told them to come here instead of Razoo's.
The manager explained to her that regardless of when they arrived, they were still one party of 12 and Laura took good care of them throughout the evening.
She then claimed that she didn't even know the other people at the table.
"Ma'am, you just told me that you called them and told them not to go to Razoo's. But regardless of whether or not you know them, you are still a party of 12."
Another lady chimed in.
"She over charged us. It says here, 'two large orders of alligator.' We didn't have two large orders of alligator!"
"What did you have, ma'am?"
"We had an alligator for an appetizer, and then he had an alligator for his meal. But it wasn't large."
"Ma'am, the alligator may be served on a small plate but it is a 7-ounce portion, and is considered a large."
"I don't even like this key lime pie. It's the worst I've ever had."
"Well ma'am, you're not paying for the pie because it is your birthday, but if you would like I can get you another free dessert."
In the end, the table paid the gratuity, but only after trying everything they could to get out it.
And the whole time I stood back from a distance, watching, thankful that I have such a wonderful manager who will defend me in the face of such selfish, stingy, and heartless customers.
Moments like that make me disappointed with humanity.
I had to go back to the table and take their credit cards. I had to smile at them. I had to wish her a happy birthday. I had to tell them to have a lovely evening.
After they left, I made sure to pray for them.
To be so cruel can only mean they lack the love of God in their lives. They love not, because they don't know true love themselves.
How can we, who have been loved by God so much, love others so little???
Today I deposited my money and after looking at my bank account, saw just how God, not those stingy customers, is the one who takes care of me.
I shouldn't have had enough money, but somehow I did.
Week after week, God shows HIS goodness, HIS faithfulness, and HIS generosity, even when my customers don't.
Somehow, it always works out.
Somehow, I always have enough.
God has been so good to me, and I'm blown away.
The whole time the humiliating episode was going on, I stood there thinking, "whether they end up paying it or not, God will take care of me."
And he did.
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5 comments:
And, He will. Thanks for the reminder of His provision. He delights to care for us. He is so good.....
Yo también fui camarero, y llevo toda la vida atendiendo comercialmente a clientes...puedo entender completamente los sentimientos que tienes. Agradece a Dios por tu Jefe, muchas veces me he visto "vendido" por el mío.
Por sobre el problema que tengan ellos, recuerda que el Señor trata con nosotros, nuestra paciencia y emociones, y normalmente asimilamos más bajo presión, es feo pero es la verdad.
Por otro lado como verán los incrédulos que hay una diferencia si no te ven a ti reaccionar como lo haría Cristo, en situaciones de presión.
Te queremos y te echamos mucho de menos.
Crazy story about those customers, that's got to be frustrating. Encouraging thoughts though. I know the feeling, I look at my bank account many times and wonder how I actually make it through the month! Praise God for providing!
I came to your blog by accident. I read a few of your posts, as my baby was sleeping. I've never been a waitress, but have always seen how people behaved towards them, and been sick about it. I hope you come accross something better and brighter soon. Be strong, even on those days.
I just stumbled on your blog and I'm so sorry you had that experience. It's interesting your take on it as the server, because as someone who dines out frequently I usually tip a little over 20% and say a prayer for the server while I'm writing in the amount, asking that God would reveal himself and his care for that person through the gift he allowed me to give. I'm not trying to pat myself on the back at all, but just wanted you to know that there are OTHER kinds of patrons out there...and I hope more of them sit at your tables!!
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