Be My Guest (Columnist)
I offer this pointed article by Kia Harries in place of my own column with appreciation to her.
– LS
We all experience some things in life that teach us a lesson. Sometimes the lessons come from making tough decisions; sometimes others teach us the lesson through
their actions.
A good lesson sticks with us and we remember the impact of that lesson as we go about our daily activities. The lesson might be to treat others with respect and dignity; it might be to share your blessings with others, or it might be to value today since we don’t know what tomorrow holds.
Lessons are important, no matter how old we are. We are never too young or old to learn. And if we are lucky, we are learning something every day. The best learner is someone who is willing to try new things and learn from others. How often do we even realize we are learning? Sometimes the best lessons come when we least expect them.
As I was reading over one weekend, I read this story that describes a tremendous learning experience for a waitress, but also describes how valuable a young person felt about rewarding service:
“In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. He asked, ‘How much is an ice cream sundae?’
‘Fifty cents,’ replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins in it. ‘How much is a plain dish of ice cream?’ he inquired. Some people were now waiting for a table and the waitress was a bit impatient. ‘Thirty-five cents,’ she said brusquely. The little boy again counted the coins.
‘I’ll have the plain ice cream,’ he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put
the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and departed.
When the waitress came back, she began wiping down the table and then swallowed hard at what she saw. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies – her tip.”
Think about the lessons you’ve learned in life. Who was the teacher? Who have you taught a valuable lesson to? Lessons in life are valuable and help us appreciate one another and the things people do. Take a few moments and thank those who have taught you a lesson, and think about what kind of lessons you are teaching others.
(Kia Harries is a 4-H youth development educator with the University of Minnesota Extension Service Regional Center, Worthington.)
