I cringe.
Every time I see that barista, I cringe.
Cause she’s got a bad attitude.
(Photo compliments of Starbucks)
Well, look who thinks she’s got her act all together?
About two years ago, I got wild at Starbucks. Yes, it’s true. I strayed from my normal black brew and ordered a tall, skinny, caramel macchiato…with whip cream.
Without missing a beat, the barista replied, “That’s not a skinny then.”
Uh, oh. She’s messin’ with me. I don’t think she got the memo…DON’T MESS WITH THE JERSEY GIRL IN THE SACRED HOUSE OF THE JAVA BEAN! 
I looked her straight in the eyes and very politely, okay sorta sternly, repeated my order. “Um, could I please have a tall, skinny, caramel macchiato and then have whip cream added to the top?”
“That’s not a skinny.”
No she didn’t. Listen, I know I’m not skinny but I also know you KNOW WHAT I MEAN. Compose yourself Steph, focus…coffee’s at stake here.
Calmly I inquired, “Would you please help me order this correctly then?”
“Oh, no problem at all.”
Really? 
Minutes later I held my tall, skinny, caramel macchiato…with whip cream. This is after I was served a venti-sized attitude.
There are a few sacred rules…
Don’t talk smack about my God, fam, or friends.
Don’t give me a hard time about coffee. Especially when I’m adding whip cream.
Not difficult stuff here people.
No, I didn’t write this post just to tell a tale of a barista with a venti sized attitude.
Here’s the deal.
Bad attitudes have roots. Roots of hurt or abandonment or rejection or pain or guilt or isolation or ….
The angry peeps in this world have a reason why they act they way they do. They need to be served a steaming hot cup of kindness. They need Jesus.
When you feel the cringe…choose kindness.
My “skinny” barista let me test this choice when I sat outside on the Starbuck’s patio, on a lunch date with my son. She came outside to talk to us about birds. 
When you feel the cringe…choose kindness.
My “skinny” barista let me test this choice, again, when I ordered a brewed decaf after 4pm. Let me just say, they don’t brew decaf after 4pm and I’ll end this story there.
When you feel the cringe…choose kindness.
You or I may be the only Jesus that they see, meet and interact with.
I’ve seen this barista numerous times since these two encounters and all I can say is that she’s a roller coaster of a personality. I can relate cause I’m no joy ride myself.
Roller coaster personalities present a huge opportunity to practice patience and kindness.
I’ve learned that I’m much more likely to return a venti-sized attitude with a double venti-sized attitude when I’m having a “me moment”; let’s say in a certain coffee-house getting a cup of coffee made for me.
But no. I’m called to kindness…not just coffee. 
When I feel the cringe…I’ll choose kindness.
Do I do it perfect all the time? Not even close.
Francesca Battistelli’s It’s Your Life lyrics say this beautifully…
What you gonna do?
The world is watching you
Every day the choices you make
Say what you are and who
Your heart beats for
It’s an open door
It’s your life
It’s your life. What are you going to do? What are you going to do when you get served a venti-sized portion of attitude?
My friend, Lynn, just posted this video to her Facebook wall. It touched me and I just had to share it with you.
When you feel the cringe, choose kindness. Kindness makes a lasting difference in the world, one relationship at a time.
Mimi, Linda, Kim, Jen W., and Kerry! 
“I don’t know much
