Joni: Hi, this is Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to Joni and Friends and my best friend is here with me today… Hi, Ken Tada!
Ken: Hi, Joni!
Joni: Good to be with you and I think I’m going to give our friends an insight into your character today…
Ken: Oh, no!
Joni: No, it’s good because you often drive me to work in the van and sometimes that means stopping at the El Pollo Loco drive-thru to pick up my favorite grilled chicken salad... I usually eat that for lunch. For some time now, you tell the guy on the intercom that we’d like to order the salad, and he always asks if we want the combo (you know a drink and French fries). And I always say no, just the salad please.
Ken: Well, you know what happens, Joni… that’s a great opportunity for us to be able to witness to that young man.
Joni: Yes, but it’s a restaurant drive-thru…
Ken: It doesn’t matter. I think we are ambassadors for Christ no matter where we are at and it’s just fun to be able to converse with somebody and to show appreciation for them… they never get appreciation.
Joni: Not much, but I thought it was so cute. Tell them what happened the other day.
Ken: I guess he recognized us… he didn’t even ask us whether we wanted a combo or a single. He just knew we wanted a single so he said, “Oh you want the single.”
Joni: He recognized your voice. He recognized your kindness. I tell you you’ve made a big impression on that guy at the drive-thru window and it just goes to show that just a little bit of affirmation can go a long, long way.
Ken: Proverbs 18:21 says that “The tongue has the power of life and death…” Our words either wound people or build them up... so why not build them up?
Joni: Absolutely, Ken, and it’s not just the guys at El Pollo Loco where you do that. You have a habit of treating all every day service-providers with the same respect I see you show good friends. Another case in point: Not long ago when we changed insurance companies and our new carrier refused payment for an important hospital procedure, you called the company. Well, after one or two phone calls, I heard you… I couldn’t believe you were talking to the case manager as though she were your best friend.
Ken: Well you know Joni it’s interesting when you talk to people on the phone you get a sense that there is something deeper inside and this particular person I knew was a Christian…
Joni: But she was just the case manager for the insurance company.
Ken: I know, but it didn’t matter…
Joni: …outsourced to some other state.
Ken: I had gone through so many phone calls prior to her and it was just a refreshing opportunity to speak to someone who really cared.
Joni: And you got her address and I ended sending her a “Joni” book and a letter of encouragement. It was really kind of fun.
Ken: …and I think she might even be a volunteer at one of the Family Retreats.
Joni: Okay, and one final example. Last week we were at the little Thai restaurant in our neighborhood and, as usual, you are so gracious to the waitresses. Well, as we were leaving, I commented to Jaleet Sudah, our waitress, how much we enjoyed her service, to which she replied, “And yes, your husband is a very generous man, too; he tips well!” To which I replied, “Well, Jaleet Sudah, it’s because we are Christians and we represent a generous God who is generous with us.” Again, it was an opportunity to affirm with our words (and with our actions) that Christ is the center of all that we do.
Ken: …Well, you know it’s our opportunity as you said, Joni, whether it’s someone at a fast food restaurant or a case manager for an insurance company or a person that works at a restaurant… this is who we are… we are God’s ambassadors…
Joni: And our words either direct people to God or away from him, right? Well, Ken, thank you for being an awesome example of that to me. Just as God shows no favoritism, neither do you! And, friend, my husband is one awesome caregiver, and so today, don't forget to drop by joniandfriends.org and pick up your free copy of "Help for the Caregiver." I love you, Ken…
Ken: I love you too, Joni.
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