Love is an action.

Let’s take a moment and focus on intentionality. Our actions do matter.

How many times have we heard the phrase that actions speak louder than words?

Think of an empty word or promise that someone made in your life, and how their true actions, seemed to define reality. Kind Dining® focuses on having a servants’ heart.  It’s the action and preparation that matters, but also the follow through. Yes, words are important in demonstrating love and grace and service but so are the actions behind them.

How well do we prepare to serve others? This preparation is key to our training. It’s at the core of the success we’ve seen in the organizations we serve when we can train staff and servers to elevate their actions. And it all reflects in the bottom line. Satisfaction. Love. Contentment. Caring. Relationship. Community.

My favorite memories of feeling loved often center around meals.

For example, growing up most Sundays during my 10th year my dad would take me and my sister to breakfast at the house of pancakes and then onto his work in the supermarket until mom would come pick us up about noon. My dad worked hard. But just knowing he took this time for us, was an amazing thought and feeling. He wanted to spend time with us. But he didn’t just talk about it. His actions showed us that he did.

Dad often worked six days a week and yet he carved out time for us to create a bond of togetherness I’ll never forget. And on his day off, which was often a weekday – he would come and have lunch with us at school. All the kids loved him and especially loved that he would never turn down eating canned peas that they hated! Dad’s tray was a mound of peas!!!
I felt so special on those days.

Making mealtimes special in communities often takes an intentional focus on words and action.

Do we look them in the eye? Can we slow our pace to reflect theirs? Can we transition from a rushed, harried, or stressed day to intentionally focus on their needs versus reacting to things that have occurred at home or work? Do we focus on relationship, over process?

Let’s take a moment and focus on intentionality. Our actions do matter.