An electrician went to fix a minor electrical problem at a family restaurant in the afternoon before the restaurant opened for the dinner hour. He met most of the staff as they introduced themselves to this visitor. He was so impressed by the warmth and friendliness and joyful good humor of the staff that he decided that he would take his wife to dinner the following Tuesday at this restaurant.
All during the dinner, he kept regaling his wife with accounts of how kind and joyful the restaurant staff were to him while he was working on the electrical problem the week before. So they enjoyed a delicious meal along with a bottle of cabernet sauvignon wine that was just perfect. Finally, when the meal was finished and the gracious waiter delivered the bill, he and his wife were astounded, on the bill in bold red letters were the words “Half price off.” Not only had the staff members treated him and his wife like family but this pleasant surprise writing off of half the bill touched them both deeply.
Filled with gratitude, he thanked the waiter, went into the kitchen to thank the chef and the 12 other people washing dishes and cleaning tables, etc. He thanked the owner and then as he was leaving thanked the maître d’ for the great meal and the 50% reduction in the bill. He then told the owner that next time he was called to fix an electrical problem at the restaurant it would be half price off for his labor and parts. The maître D’ responded that he appreciated very much the gratitude of the electrician and his wife but that everyone else in the restaurant that night received the same half off on their bill because this is “Half-Price Tuesday”. However, he said, “In the history of this restaurant no one had ever thanked the owner, the wait staff, the help in the kitchen and the maître d’ for this half price off on the bill". Finally, he said the grateful electrician and his wife, “PLEASE COME BACK AGAIN.”
This is a splendid season to thank God, our families, friends and neighbors for all the acts of kindness and generosity so often overlooked. Blessed Thanksgiving to you and your family.
