*submitted by Jeff Brianas. Jeff volunteers with Janis Nazarian on Tuesday nights 6 to 9 p.m.*
The other night at the Café was not unlike previous Tuesdays. The regular crowd, along with a few new comers, had shuffled in and bellied up to the counter in great anticipation. Wide eyed and excited, they all waited their turn to call out their favorite topping list, and watch as their special order Ice Cream Sundae was prepared just for them. Each Sundae is unique and special, just like the individual ordering it. As with every day at the Café, there was no charge for the sundae or service.
Some may think that these kids would take advantage of such a deal and have no appreciation or understanding of where the gift came from. Some may also think that as volunteers at the Café we would get tired of seemingly endless serving and having to beg sometimes for a “please” and a “thank you.” Especially with the chaos, clutter, stacks of dirty sticky dishes and having to serve the occasional over the counter reprimand when conversations and language get a little out of hand. But our reward is so great sometimes, that we just have to wonder why everyone doesn’t volunteer.
This particular Tuesday I served up another one of my special “pop quiz” questions along with the ice cream. The question was simply: “What has God done for you today?” The sundaes flew across the counter and the answers to the quiz came flying back:
“Everything.”
“I got a B+ on a math test.”
“I’m alive.”
“Helped me pass a History test.”
“Made me better, I was feeling sick.”
And then BAM!! it hits me like a hand full of Reese’s Pieces slammed into a mountain of whipped cream.
One young man who had been patiently waiting, and called out his toppings in a voice so soft I could barely hear him, finally received his sundae and the pop quiz question. And in an instant I received my reward. His answer:
“God brought you here for me today.”
And that’s why we do what we do!!
God’s blessings,
Jeff Brianas