The Eavesdropping Waitress:

Colossians 4:5-6
⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. 

A few days ago a few of us were out to dinner.  I was talking to a friend about his Myers-Briggs personality score, and explaining to him some of the details involved in his personality type. 

Our waitress had been coming in and out, refilling our drinks, taking our orders, bringing our meals as waitresses often do.  When out of no where in the middle of our conversation she says,

"Sorry to interrupt, but do you mind if I jump in this conversation?  I know exactly what you're talking about and...."

And she began adding her two cents to our conversation. 


I'll be honest, it threw us all of a bit.  Less because she interrupted, and more because we were all shocked that she had actually been listening to our conversation so intently.  In all honesty, the place was packed, and the entire evening she seemed to be distracted between the many duties she had to tackle that evening.

But more than anything, it opened my eyes to the reality that PEOPLE ARE LISTENING.  

They really are!  Even when you don't realize it.  

It's a challenging and somewhat scary thought.  The reality is that this young ladies life had direct contact with mine for this one evening.  What had I allowed to come out of my mouth that day?  What else had she heard?  Had I spoken words that would build her up and show her Jesus?

Think about it.  How many things enter our minds and exit our mouths throughout the day?  How many times are we out with friends or talking on the phone in public surrounded by listening ears.  It makes you really take account of what you are allowing to come out of your mouth. 

The bible challenges us to even view our conversation as a tool to glorify God.  Even in what we say we are asked to be salt and light to the world around us.   For some of us...our conversation is nothing to take pride in.

Take inventory.  Have you spoken poorly about someone in your life?  Have you complained to another?  Have you allowed inappropriate conversation to make it's way into your social life?  Are your words negative?  Are your words meaningless?  Or are your worlds full of grace, and seasoned with salt...making the most of every opportunity. Even opportunities that go unnoticed. 


What's your conversation saying to the world around you?