While in Miami, my niece and her husband Ralph took me to breakfast. He bragged about what a neat restaurant this was and how good the food was so I was excited to experience it. We sat and enjoyed our meal and finished with the Spanish word for a "rich" meal-rico!
The restaurant was quaint and in a small space. It was actually located inside an area in a store. As we prepared to leave, I decided I would go to the restroom. They waited at the table. When I returned, I truly must have had a bad case of "bubble head" that one experiences after 50. I walked back to their table and in my bubble, I accidentally bumped into a table where two ladies were sitting waiting on their party. They had two connecting tables and as I hit the corner, it tapped into the other table knocking over two full glasses of water and some coffee.
It was one of those moments where you just want to be invisible. The water went all over a lady's nice dress. What happened next seemed to take place in slow motion, I saw the lady pull her wet cell phone out of her purse. She then proceeded to take each wet item out of her purse. Since her purse was sitting on the chair, it took the brunt of the water. When she had pulled everything out and was drying it, I took her purse and literally poured half a glass of water out of it. I was embarrassed and felt so bad.
I pleaded with the lady to forgive me. Then, in private, I asked the waitress for their check. She responded with an abrupt "They haven't ordered yet!" I then told her that I would wait until they ordered and she replied "They aren't going to order before you leave they are waiting on a party of six." It was then that I realized that I would get no mercy from the waitress.
Remorsefully, I went to the lady. I apologized beyond belief. I asked her to forgive me, told her I would comp her meal all to no avail. She would have no part of me paying. She simply said in Spanish, "No problem, it happens, don't worry about it." What? Mercy-for me? I deserved her calling me out. I deserved her being mad or cursing or calling me names....but that didn't happen.
We reluctantly left as the waitress mopped the excess water from the floor. As I walked through the store, my niece stated "that's how people are around here." I was so appreciative that she had extended mercy and not made a bigger scene than I had made by spilling all the water.
As I begged for mercy, I examined myself. I told my niece that I feared I would have responded differently. Having just left church, I feared that I would have gasped and maybe lost my temper. I would not have been a good reflection of the fruits of the spirit. It confirmed in me that I want mercy extended when it's my mistake but don't often extend mercy when I'm the one offended.
I didn't need to be told what I already but this was a lesson learned. It taught me to be more Christ like and leave a Christian impression rather than to focus on a wet phone. If I could, I would have comp her meal. Today, I would say thank you for not publically humiliating more than I had done to myself, thank you for your compassion and mercy.
Having said that, how many times does God extend mercy and we take it for granted. Never humbling ourselves to him, never saying thank you, never asking for forgiveness? I fail thank God enough for the mercy He extends to me. Today, I chose to say thank you.
Thank you Father for extending me mercy rather than the justice I deserve.
Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7
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