Free Cup of Coffee?!

“It’s on us, have a nice day.” Based on the startled look upon her face, it was clear she didn’t expect that response. While working as a barista, I regularly interacted with lots of kind, interesting people, but every once and a while, someone would get under your skin. Early one morning, we received a large shipment of coffee beans and I in the midst of organizing it. Being behind the boxes, I didn’t see a woman standing at the counter. To gain my attention she yelled, “excuse me, shouldn’t you be waiting on me, I am the customer?!” I was startled, but immediately took her order. In the middle of pouring her coffee, she changed her order, “No, actually, I want a half-calf coffee topped with water, and leave room for cream. Stop, there is too much regular coffee in that cup, pour it out, start over.” I felt she was purposely making it difficult for me to make her drink, but I did what she said; I had to it was my job to serve her. And as brought her final coffee to the counter, she asked how much it was going to cost. I simply, sincerely replied (although I admit I was holding back anger, with all my might), “It’s on us, have a nice day.” She was stunned, she tried again to pay for it, but I insisted, and so she walked away with a free cup of coffee. I was trying to show come compassion, and I hope that cup of coffee brightened her day or at least was one less thing for her to worry about. In Luke 6: 29 – 33, Jesus calls for us to love our enemies and to turn the other cheek, but it’s more than that. Jesus calls us to show and share God’s LOVE to our neighbors, not just put up with them. As Christians we know and feel the love of God, so why not share it with others that don’t know it yet, perhaps through sharing a cup of coffee?