Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)

 

After Israel, I spent 4 nights in
Prague. I traveled alone, so felt most comfortable eating dinner in the hotel
restaurant while reviewing trip photos on my iPad. The food was beautifully
presented, delicious, reasonably priced and the servers treated me like a queen.
They attentively refilled my glass of sparkling water, made conversation about city sights, answered my questions about culture and traditional foods, and welcomed me with warm familiarity night after night.

 

Each night’s bill was quite inexpensive by American standards including two line items for tax and tip, confirming my guide book’s advice that restaurants include the service charge in the bill. Or so I thought.

 

On the last night, instead of charging the meal to my room, I wanted to use up my foreign currency. So I looked closer at the bill. The two % items were two different kinds of tax. A sentence at the bottom announced “Service not included.”

 

How incredibly embarrassing!

 

The same two gentlemen had treated me like a queen night after night even though I had tipped them nothing. With a sincerely friendly smile, I’d wished them a good evening but shown no monetary appreciation. What must they think?

 

Yet there was no hint of animosity. No body language or decreased attention. No diminished service. None. I humbly apologized for my error and made it right, truly admiring their grace.

 

God’s kind of grace.

 

His mercies are new every morning. Day after day His love does not waver. God is faithful no matter how we treat Him.
His mercies never cease.