Servant Leadership
They will usually answer something like “fireman, policeman, baseball player, or airplane pilot,” but few children will say “waiter” if you ask them what they want to be when they grow up. It just isn’t that glamorous of a job. But it is a difficult one. They have to have the skill of a politician to deal with people who feel entitled to their service. If the owner didn’t schedule enough workers for the shift, the waiters get blamed for the service is too slow. If a cook makes the mistake of making a steak medium-well instead of medium, the waiter gets the flack, not the cook. They hear all the complaints, whether they created the problem or not.
Waiters also have to have the endurance of an athlete. Back and forth they walk, balancing a tray of heavy plates and glasses, not for a 30-minute aerobics class, but for an entire shift. Can you imagine being on your feet for an entire shift, pounding the cement floor with your shoe leather, never getting a chance to sit down?
I suppose one of the most difficult parts of the job is knowing that you don’t have a better job. You’re not a doctor, an accountant, or a plumber, you’re just a waiter-a servant.
Have you ever stopped to think about how profound it is that the scripture compares the office of deacon to be a table waiter? There really is a correlation. Deacons work long and hard among people that often take them for granted. But the truth is, I couldn’t Pastor this church without them. So today, tell one of your deacons that you appreciate them, and the next time you go out to eat, leave an extra big tip to let your waiters know you appreciate them too. Both deserve your support and appreciation for doing a difficult job.
Wilson, Jim L. Fresh Start Devotionals. Fresno, CA: Willow City Press, 2009. Print.
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