As I have been practicing giving cheerfully, and not under compulsion, it seems that every time I give I receive back something unexpected. I never give because I want to selfishly gain money, but it's wonderful to receive so that I can give more.
My
friend and step-cousin, Jordan Bentley, recently became a full-time
staff member at a local prayer house, where he has to raise his own
financial support. After being on a worship/prayer team with him for
more than five years, I know him to be faithful, diligent, and
patient. He's also smart and a great musician, a great contribution
to the house of prayer staff. I could brag some more, but to
summarize in a cliche, he's worth his salt. A year or so ago, I asked
him if he ever intended to go on staff, and he said yes. At the time
I was staying home with the kids and my husband was unemployed, but I
gave Jordan a (measly) $5 and said, “Here is the beginning of your
support.” Less than a year later, he became a full-time staff
member at the house of prayer. Since I became a waitress last fall, we work literally across the
street from each other, so I can just walk over and drop off some
cash with him--effortless! It gave me such joy to give, especially
because I hadn't really been in a position to give for several
years. I love it! I get excited to bless him. Sometimes I give what
is convenient and sometimes more sacrificially—I just give what I
can give cheerfully. (I don't have a system or formula to
offer---sorry!)
On
Thursday, Feb 7, I checked my email. I saw a message from Josh
Garrels, which reminded me I had wanted to send him money. Josh
Garrels lives in Portland, Oregon, and he is changing the culture of
music. His last album he gave away for free online, and he is
building a studio with the intention of giving opportunities to
broke, unknown artists. My impression is that the studio is pretty
much being built by donations. Anyway, I found a physical address on
the email, so I got an envelope, wrote him an encouraging note, and
went to my tip jar in the cupboard. I thought of giving him $40, or
$100, but I settled on $50. I sealed the envelope but didn't have
time to stick it in the mail before I had to go out the door. That
night at work, I made over $100 in tips, which was a record for
Thursday night (usually I make $30-$60 in tips on a Thursday
evening.) It did not even make sense--we were not very busy, and I
didn't wait on any particularly big/expensive tables. But everyone I
waited on tipped me 20% or more. My boss even double checked the
credit card tips and asked me about it, because it seemed like a
mistake to her, but all the numbers were right. I was delighted, and
thought, maybe I should have given Josh Garrels more!
The
next day, Friday, February 8, my husband called to say we had
received our federal tax refund. He told me to give $400 to Jordan
first. I got really excited to give him a bigger gift than my usual
$20 or $40; I knew it would really help with his finances. I was
looking forward to my lunch break when I could walk to the bank and
then take the gift to him at the house of prayer. As I got excited, I
told one of my co-workers (Leo from Guatemala) that we got our tax
refund and I'm going to give to my friend who works/volunteers across
the street. I told him, when I give, then I receive more. I told him
about the gift I set aside on Thursday, and how I made twice as many
tips as I expected that same day.
A
few weeks ago, I gave Jordan $100 on a Thursday or Friday. On that
Saturday night, I made more tips than I had ever made in one
shift--$200! But today, the Lord set a new record for me--and a new
record for the restaurant, I think!
Tonight
I waited on a table with two men--one in his 30's perhaps, with
glasses and I thought he was kind of funny-looking, but seemed very
sweet. The other man had white hair. He was pleasant but not
remarkable or particularly memorable. They had their tea, their
food, and then they ordered a couple dishes to go, following the
chef's recommendation for the spiciest dishes. I worked hard to
serve them well, but waiting on them was uneventful until I took
their payment. The older man paid--I saw that it was cash, and I
asked if he needed change. He firmly said no. I took the money to
the register, and the tip was $130! Embarrassed, I took a receipt to
him and asked sheepishly, are you sure you don't need any change? He
firmly said no again, and said, "I know what I put in there,
it's for you. You might think I'm a fool, but 'a fool and his money
are soon parted.'" I was flabbergasted and stuttered a thank
you. I went to get their to-go food, and almost felt embarrassed to
go back to the table. I immediately recognized that the Lord was
already giving me more to give. I told the man, stumbling on my words
and almost choking up, that I have been practicing giving and I just
today gave someone a large gift (maybe I told him it was $400, I
don't remember) and this is amazing to already receive more. Somehow
I think I communicated that I thought this was a blessing related to
the gift I had just given. The man said cheerfully, "well,
enjoy your weekend!" with a twinkle in his eye. I replied, "I'm
going to have fun giving some more!"
Oh
but the story gets better. As I am delivering food to another table,
I cross paths with the giver on his way out the door. He says
loudly, “Miss, would you stop a minute?” So I pause, and he
says, “This is also for you,” and he sets down some folded money
near me. I quickly put the plates on the table a few steps away and
rush back to grab the money. I see another $100 and I stuff it in my
pocket, again blown away and slightly embarrassed. I tell my
co-workers he gave me another $100, and I tell them how I have been
practicing giving and I keep receiving. My Thai Buddhist manager
acknowledges that buddhists also believe that if you give, you will
receive. And, she says, "it works."
It's
near the end of my shift, so I finish the paperwork for my credit
card tips and get cash for them. We are supposed to tip the kitchen
15% of what we make, but it's split between 3-5 people. On a good
night, they get $10 each and the servers get $80 each. I often
feel bad that I make so much more money than the cooks, who work as
hard as I do, so I often tip them more than I have to. On this
night, thinking I have earned about $300 in tips, I give the four
cooks and one dishwasher $20 each. I did
not intend to get attention for it—I just feel happy to share the
blessing! My co-workers, who were amazed at my large tip, are also stunned when they see all the cooks' tip buckets (in plain view) with $20 bills.
I told Leo in the kitchen about the big tip and he
joked, I don't believe you--you must be kidding me. So right before I
left, I went into the kitchen and pulled out the two $100 bills for
him to see, but when I unfolded the bill I had shoved in my pocket,
there were TWO and not one! I gave $100 to the kitchen and then discovered I had $100 more than I thought! This last discovery, I
did not share with all my co-workers that night. It was too overwhelming. The
server who has been there for 12 years, very hard working and good at
her job, seemed more bewildered than anyone. She kept saying, I don't
understand--why did he give that to you? The youngest server, who is
a believer like me, knew that it was God's hand. Before I left I said
to her, "I cleaned all my tables but I didn't set them. Do you
need me to set them before I go?" She replied, "I don't
even care! I'll do anything for you! You just got a huge tip and I
can't stop smiling!"
