Cathy's Corner

My An Arkie's Faith column from the May 29, 2024, issue of The Polk County Pulse.

At 8:30 on Sunday morning, several family members left our hotel in Siloam Springs and headed to Cathy’s Corner for breakfast. My family was in town for my granddaughter's graduation. Several of us ended up staying at the same hotel. After a night full of anxiety from storms that produced tornadoes close by, we wanted to go out for breakfast before heading our separate ways.

Cathy’s Corner is a Siloam Springs landmark. We have been eating at Cathy’s for over 30 years. It is the place to be in Siloam Springs on a Sunday morning. I pulled into the crowded parking lot, searching for an open space. A space near the front door opened as a truck pulled out of the lot.

Inside, the restaurant was a beehive of activity. It looked a bit like an Arkansas farmhouse. There were setting hens on the wallpaper and signs that said such things as “Good food,” “Fresh eggs,” and “Friends are always welcome here.” The sign that made me smile said, “I apologize for what I said when I was hungry.” 

After a few minutes, the hostess seated us at our table, and we looked over the menu. I ordered the Skillet Surprise, biscuits and gravy, and scrambled eggs. Although the restaurant was at capacity, the food came out quickly, and our waitress was friendly and attentive. She kept my coffee mug full and when I told her I liked lots of creamer, she brought me a tumbler full.

As we savored the last bites of our meals, our waitress approached with a smile. “I won’t be leaving you a check; someone has paid for your meals.” We were taken aback, our eyes darting around the room in search of a familiar face. Our waitress explained that it was a common occurrence. There was a customer who often picked a table and paid their tab. This unexpected act of kindness, like a burst of sunshine on a cloudy day, filled our hearts with joy and gratitude.

After leaving the restaurant, I was still thinking about the kindness of a stranger who had made such an impression on our group. Sometimes, I seem to focus on the wrong things in this world. Reading the news makes it appear that nothing positive is happening. In my life, I am much more likely to focus on bad things that happen to me and my family than on the positive things. Even though there is much evil in this world, many people are doing good things. But we tend to focus on the bad.

While researching Cathy’s Corner online, I found an interesting post on a Siloam Springs community Facebook page. “I was having breakfast at Cathy's Corner this morning with my nephew, and I learned someone was generous enough to pay for our meal. Thank you so much, mystery person. I will be paying it forward for someone else today!”  A comment below the post read, “The same thing happened to me at Cathy’s yesterday morning.”

Someone enjoys making random customers at Cathy’s Corner happy. I wonder how many people have left the restaurant with smiles on their faces, facing their day knowing that there are good people in the world. 

Reflecting on the anonymous benefactor at Cathy's Corner, I realized that such encounters were not isolated incidents. They were part of a larger pattern, a tapestry of positivity woven into the fabric of my life. These encounters, these moments of encouragement, have had a profound impact on my perspective. They inspired me to see the world differently and recognize the abundance of goodness that often goes unnoticed.

While at James Super Save Foods, a customer approached me and told me how happy they were with the windshield repair I had done on their car. I was surprised. That is not the kind of thing that usually happens. Anyone in business knows that a satisfied customer seldom lets you know they are satisfied, but a dissatisfied customer will tell you they are unhappy.

Last week, as they were dropping off their car for a window replacement, a customer asked me if I could buff out a minor blemish on the rear bumper. I told them it would only take a few minutes and that I would be happy to do it at no additional charge. When the customer sent someone to pick up the car, they sent a check for fifty dollars more than the price I had quoted. I told them the check was wrong, but I was told, “She appreciates you so much and wanted you to have it.”

A few days ago, I met someone in Wal-Mart. She said, “I have appreciated the columns you have been writing recently. I like the personal stories.” We are so used to criticism and negativity that when someone gives us affirmation and encouragement or does something special for us, it takes us by surprise. Most of us aren’t accustomed to hearing encouraging words. 

Paul understood this when he wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV), "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Elizabeth Harrison, a pioneer in early childhood education in America, stated, "Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize.” Are you encouraging those around you?

Is there someone in your life who needs to know how much you love them? Is there someone who would benefit from your kind words and encouragement? Don't underestimate the power of your words. Sometimes, we think, “They know I love and appreciate them. I don’t need to say it out loud.” But we must tell them what we admire and appreciate about them. They need to hear it. Your words can be a beacon of light in someone's life.

Gentle Reader, even if you can’t afford to pay for a table at a restaurant, you hold a gift within you that is just as valuable: encouragement. When you share this gift, you are not only uplifting others but also empowering yourself. You are showing God’s love in action. So, go out and encourage someone today. You never know; your words might change their life! 

Colossians 3:12 (ISV) tells us, “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” We can encourage others by being compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Who can you encourage today?