Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
When I spoke with the kind lady who reported the recovery of our grandson’s teddy bear to me on Monday, she told me that the package might not get out that day but that it should arrive in a couple of days.
She must have had a change of plans after we got off the phone, because the little bear arrived back home yesterday, having been shipped second-day air–and he didn’t arrive alone either! When our grandson peeked inside the box which had been covered with red heart stickers, he found:
- The bear,
- A new blue bandana,
- A tiny stuffed friend for the bear,
- Two packages of snacks (in case the bear got hungry during his journey),
- A personalized story about where the bear had been since he had been separated from his little boy,
- Brochures from “the places the bear had visited,” and
- A handwritten note from the hotel employee.
The personalized story was precious, as was the heart behind giving joy to a little boy. The sender had obviously enjoyed the opportunity to do so.
Soldiers receive awards for going “above and beyond the call of duty.” I hope this hotel’s assistant general manager of operations does, too.
Sometimes homeschooling mamas worry about whether their efforts at educating their children will be enough to prepare their children for the real workaday world. I think giving them opportunities to go “above and beyond the call of duty” and rewarding them when they do is a positive step in that direction. An even better lesson is to teach them why.
Whatever you do, do your work heartily,
as for the Lord rather than for men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive
the reward of the inheritance.
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
Colossians 3:23
This is just the sweetest thing I ever heard! I wonder if that hotel employee has any idea what a huge blessing her extra steps have brought, and to how many people. Such a wonderful example of doing more than is expected of you!
She was so very kind.