Who Is Your Waitress?

A few years ago I would never have imagined this scenario…

 

         ….going out to eat dinner with my husband and the waitress pulls me aside saying:

 

                        “Mum…I have a personal problem…do you have some time to talk to me?”

 

This is exactly what happened to me last week. Eric and I were out for a date at the only restaurant in town. We splurge on a date night, perhaps, once or twice a month if budget allows. In other words, this young lady has really only observed us on a few occasions…eating out. She has made a comment or two about how much she appreciates that we pray before our meal. When we eat there with the kids she has told us how she likes ‘watching how much they love each other’. She is a sweet, kind young lady who always has a smile on her face. When she made the request to talk to me, I was more than willing to oblige her. It was made clear she did not want to talk in the restaurant, so we made a plan to meet outside of her working hours.

 

That was today.

 

In my truck, pulled off to the side of the road (because there really isn’t a Starbucks or a Panera to pop in and she didn’t want to have this discussion in her place of employment) she told me her story.

 

She is unmarried. She is pregnant. Her boyfriend is trying to save enough money to pay her bride price but is struggling because his only job is cutting hair. She has reached out to her family who has shunned her and suggests she have an abortion. She is not willing to even consider an abortion (thank God!). She is young. She is scared. She is precious!

 

She came to me.

 

I am ashamed to admit…as I prepared for meeting with her today I had become convinced of one thing…

 

 

I know.

 

That is awful.

 

But please understand…

 

…this is what happens so often here in a culture of not enough we are seen as the people who have more than enough.