Yeah, I was one of THOSE:
A Gas Station Attendant!
You’d have to Google or go to Wikipedia to even begin to understand what A Gas Station Attendant even
W A S
I worked my way through the last year of College and saved enough to begin my first year of Seminary.
It was waaaaaaaaaaay back in 1976
and I didn’t learn a thing about tires, oil changes, alternators, headlights, radiators or cars in general, but I did learn a lot about People and Service.
I was the guy that dropped everything he was doing to meet you at your barely rolled down window before the Service Station bell rang twice as you pulled up to the gas pump.
I would politely ask what type of gas you’d like, how much and if you would be so kind to allow me to check your oil, your tire pressure and clean your windshield.
I’d usually be treated just a little above whale dung–especially when it was in the dead of Winter.
…I learned a lot about People and a whole lot more about Service. . . .
The worse People would treat me was usually when I provided the most Service.
It really set me up for a life of service.
Givers are not Takers but Takers are!
I was making a whopping $75 a week and the best lesson I learned THEN
is the one I Teach, NOW:
NO ONE WILL EVER BE ABLE TO PAY YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, BUT HOPEFULLY THEY’LL PAY YOU ENOUGH SO YOU CAN DO IT!
Anyone in any Service area, will never be paid for the SERVICE provided–EVER. . .
but most likely you’ll be compensated JUST ENOUGH to be able to continue to provide YOUR SERVICE.
I remember shoveling out the drive way of the service station before it was open and a grandmother and her two granddaughters pulled in with their radiator steaming. The hose had a hole; sprung a leak.
I poured hot chocolate from my thermos for the girls and grandma while I quickly replaced her hose and when she said she didn’t have any money to pay for the repair, I told her not to worry about it, paid for it out of my own pocket and wished them a good day with the advice to KEEP WARM and be safe.
It was near the end of my shift when I saw grandma’s car come into the lot, but this time grandpa was driving and he barely put the car in Park before he jumped out and started yelling me about how I had taken advantage of his wife, and put her and his two granddaughters at great risk for installing UN-named brand parts.
He didn’t want to hear that I never charged her and gave his granddaughters my hot chocolate. . . .
I learned a lot about People and a whole lot more about Service.
It wasn’t the next day or the next. . .
I was shoveling out the lot before the Station opened again, and I noticed “THE CAR” coming into the lot.
Grandma was driving.
She got out of the car with a brand new thermos filled with her HOME MADE Hot Chocolate and a warm ham and cheese sandwich and even warmer chocolate chip cookies.
“You’re a nice boy who deserves nice things.”
It was one of the nicest THANK YOU, I’M SORRY I’ve ever experienced.
I learned a lot about People and a whole lot more about Service.
Wouldn’t it be great if we still had Service Stations?
No. . .
Not the kind that serves gas, checks oil, tire pressure, radiator levels or washes windshields. . .
Not the kind that trades radiator hoses for warm sandwiches, cookies and homemade hot chocolate. . .
Not the kind that swaps merchandise for money. . .
. . .the kind that doesn’t count a cost before it delivers. . .
. . .the kind that doesn’t pay you adequately for what you deserve only what you can’t help doing anyway. . .
. . .the kind that the World needs and seldom gets enough. . .
. . .the kind that’ll get your treated a half-inch above whale dung. . .
. . .the kind that’ll make you feel better than any paycheck or hefty bank account. . .
. . .the kind that you’ll learn about People and a whole lot more about Service. . .
. . .the kind that you’ll Teach, Pass on as you first learned it, most likely the hard way. . .
DING
DING
Excuse me, time to go provide some
SERVICE!
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