She Thinks I’m Real!

In their book, Radical Hospitality, Father Daniel Homan and Lonni Collins Pratt tell a story about a young couple who was in a restaurant with their four-year-old son. The waitress approached the table, took the parent’s order and then turned to the boy. “I want a hot dog,” he stated. His parents barked in unison, “No hot dog!” The mother scowled at the boy, who fell silent and said, “Bring him the grilled chicken, vegetable and milk…”

For some crazy reason, the waitress ignored the parents as she looked at the boy, “What do you want on your hot dog?” The amazed child said, “Lots of ketchup… And, could you bring some milk?” “Coming up,” She said and turned away, never even looking at the stunned parents. The boy watched her depart with astonished delight and then said to his dismayed parents, “She thinks I’m real!”

The point of their story is that many people in life feel as though no one ever listens to them – children especially – but plenty of other people feel this way too. When we feel as though we are not heard, it can feel as though no one cares. We can easily feel as though we are objects to be maintained or avoided or fixed, rather than real human beings. On the other hand, when someone listens to us, we feel loved and we feel real.

May you give the people around you this gift, today.

Let us pray: Loving God, we pray for the people in our lives today, our closest family and friends, those that serve us, the nameless bag boy, the cashier, the neighbor across the street. Remind us to treat each of them with grace and respect, to meet their eyes, listen and affirm whenever possible. Give us eyes to see your presence in them. We remember today that it is in giving we receive. Amen.