Cracker Barrel

“I’ll meet you at exit 172, there’s a Cracker Barrel, there,” and with that I hung up the phone. It had been a long 3 hour trip, but the kids were overflowing with excitement. It was during the holidays and this year they were bittersweet. We had just moved 3 hours away from our dream house on 2 acres and from friends and a town we had fallen in love with just a short 3 ½ years earlier. Anyway, we were meeting my oldest daughter’s best friend at the Cracker Barrel. She was coming to spend 4 days with us…everyone was excited, even me.

I am sure we were quite loud. I had taken the 2 little ones to the “potty,” and my son, other 2 daughters and Tori were all in the gift section of Cracker Barrel with Tori’s dad. We said our hello’s and goodbye’s and I was left alone with 6 kids, ages 3 to 13! No wonder every eye in the restaurant was upon us!

We were seated, got a booster seat with a buckle (a requirement) and ordered our drinks. People were still staring. I was beginning to feel somewhat annoyed. This is really not a horse and pony show folks!

My son, who isn’t always the most contentious type, pulled out his chair and it sort of went on the gentlemen’s foot. My son was polite, apologized and sat down. Accidents do happen.
This couple, the man with the injured foot and his wife with the laser beam eyes, were starting to take the noise at our table quite personally.

Now being the protective, don’t mess with my kids type of mom I started to get a little hot under the collar. At that very moment, though, I reflected on a past sermon. It was a particular story that touched me…you’ll have to wait for that one! Anyway, the Holy Spirit nudged me and I thought back to my days without children and my personal struggle with infertility. I thought, maybe they are annoyed because we are happy and my quiver is full and their’s is empty. Maybe, they just lost a loved one, my mind just kept coming up with scenario’s that might have left them bitter from life’s circumstances. Plus, going over there and chewing them both out would not have been a real mature example for my kids.

I summoned for our waitress, who was their waitress. I asked for their bill and asked her not to say anything about who paid it. I removed myself from the table, went and paid the check, I even left a tip. I came back to the table and told the kids. And added a big, “SHHHH! Don’t look!”
The table with the foot injury and laser eyes suddenly softened. Painful grimaces were replaced with 2 wide smiles. They looked around to try to find the payee…not telling. They inquired of the waitress again, nothing. Soon, the couple was holding hands.

My kids will never forget that story, I bet the couple won’t, nor the waitress! I had a choice that evening, and I have to say, I am glad I made the right one! Thank You Jesus!