Jul
29
2009
Signs of Common Grace: Chick-fil-A
Correction: I had said we were leaving today. I meant to say in the next few days, in case you’re interested in our comings and goings.
In the next few days we leave Colorado and head back home after several weeks of vacation/study leave. There were many highlights to our time here: the monster truck show, a bean stuck up our three-year old’s nose, and lots of time with cousins, aunts, uncles, Grandma and Papa. And, of course, several trips to Chick-fil-A, over ten by my count.
Many people know that Chick-fil-A was founded by Truett Cathy, a committed Christian. Amazingly the franchise has had positive sales growth for 41 straight years, with more than 2.9 billion in annual sales last year alone. I’ve been told that when Cathy made the decision to close his restaurant on Sundays experts told him he’d be out of business in two years. I’m glad that prediction was wrong.
So here’s what I love about Chik-fil-A. First, good food. Best chicken sandwiches. Waffle fries are filling. The shakes are just right. Even the two pickles taste good.
Second, the restaurants are clean and the service is quick. I’ve seen the drive-thru line here in Colorado Springs wrapped twice around the building and everyone still gets their food in pretty short order.
Third, everyone is so nice. I mean really, how do they get every single person working at every Chik-fil-A to be so polite? They must train them well or screen their employees well or boil their knuckles in chicken grease if they fail to say “My pleasure sir.” How do they do it? Yesterday the young man at the drive-thru stopped and asked me how my day had gone. Sometimes I don’t even remember to ask my wife that question! I’ve asked a number of employees why everyone at Chick-fil-A is so friendly. I’ve yet to get a good answer from anyone, but they all are. They smile and walk food out to your car if you need a hand. They give out balloons and free food. The result is that the people eating in Chik-fil-A seem to actually be enjoying themselves. How pleasant.
No one from Chick-fil-A put me up to this little commercial. I just thought it worth pointing out how a little kindness can go a long way, not to mention the kindness of God’s common grace. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. And everyone can eat at Chick-fil-A.
Oh, except for people in Lansing, Michigan! We don’t have a Chick-fil-A for hundreds of miles. If anyone from corporate gets a hold of this blog, I strongly suggest a few more Michigan stores. Our economy is terrible, but we still like chicken and always appreciate a friendly smile.
Back by popular demand…