Once a Year we Give a $100 Tip

While Tim and I were engaged, we took Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Course (FPU) at our church in Enterprise, Alabama. One of THE best things we've ever done to protect our marriage. In one of the video classes we learned about a family who after practicing "gazelle intensity" (living unlike anybody--below your means--to eventually give unlike anybody), presented a waitress with 10,000 dollars to help pay off her student loans. A regular family, like yours and mine, gave $10,000 to a waitress at Pizza Hut!  This story reinforced the fact that I wanted to live Dave's way, financially, in order to give to others. Obviously, we need to work our way up to the 10,000 dollar mark; in the meantime, we choose one restaurant server every year and surprise him or her with a $100 tip. 

At the start the 2013, Adeline was only two months old, so we weren't frequenting restaurants. And by the following month, Tim was deployed, never allowing us the chance to give our surprise tip. Last night I remembered this goal while we were out to dinner and asked Tim if we could give our server the $100 bill. We ate at Pastiche, which was completely packed on New Year's Eve, and our server was hustling! He was attentive to all his tables and everything we ordered came out within minutes. He certainly earned our once a year tip. 

We always talk about wishing we could see the server's face when they open the receipt booklet, but that's a little awkward to wait around. Plus, being thanked is not the point at all. We left the restaurant before he saw the tip, but when I got in the car, I realized I forgot my purse. I sent Tim in to get my purse since he was eager to see the server's reaction. By that time, the man had seen the tip. He patted Tim on the shoulder, looked at him intensely (apparently like he was going to kill him, ha) and thanked him. 

Following principles from FPU has taught us to trust God with our finances and be truly grateful for the monetary blessings He's entrusted us with.  We hope to glorify Him in how we spend His money. Looking forward to blessing another server in 2014! 

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