Most of you know that my son is a police officer and therefore, police officers and their families have a special place in my heart.
I was on my way to work the other day when I happened to notice a police cruiser in the parking lot at one of our restaurants. The still small voice said to go and pay for their lunch. I drove another half mile and then turned around and pull into the parking lot. I had a $20 bill and a $10 gift card. I knew I was getting paid in a few days and would have $10 to spend. It was raining, so I popped open my umbrella and off I walked into the restaurant.
I was met by a pleasant young man who greeted me and then asked what he could do for me. In the meantime I was scanning the restaurant looking for the officer/officers. I spotted one and could not see the other because something was obstructing my view. I proceeded to tell the young man that I would like to pay for the officers meal. To which he responded, “Oh, to pay it forward?” “Yes, in a way,” I said. “You see my son is a police officer.” This young man went and got the waitress who was serving the officers. She showed me the receipt and the amount needed. Both the young man and waitress were more excited than I was and loved the idea.
I explained to the waitress how I wanted to pay for the lunches with three different types of payments. She was very gracious and offered to get me a piece of paper to write a note to the officers. I thanked her and told her I would write on the back of this paper, which happened to be a gospel tract.
I wrote a quick note to the officers and handed the tract to the young man. His response was, ” Boy, I would love to see the officer’s reaction!” To which I replied, “Well, you can see it for me, I have to go to work.” I then reached in my purse and took out two more Gospel tracts. I handed one to the young man and asked if he would give the other one to the waitress.
By the way, I felt I could give the waitress a tract, because I had given her a good tip. Please don’t give the waitress a tract when you give her a small or no tip at all. Maybe they didn’t give you the best service, but how do you know what is happening in their life? Perhaps they are a single parent, recently divorced, or maybe found out they have cancer. Why not leave a good tip and a Gospel tract regardless of the service and perhaps write an encouraging note on the back.
What do you think Jesus would do? I recall one story in the Bible when He met the Samaritan woman at the well and instead of Him treating her with contempt He spoke to her kindly and offered her “Living Water.” What was the result of His kindness? He stayed two days and many believed on Him.
I think the question should be, “What is the price of someone’s soul? What are we willing to do to give people the Gospel which is the Good News of Christ?”
