I HATE Change!

Have you ever had a really good friend move away and leave? Well because of the turnover, my job at Chick-fil-A is a constant cycle of this. You know, I’ve been with Chick-fil-A  for two and a half years now– lame, I know, but It’s a place I’ve invested a lot of time in and a place I’ve met some great friends at. It’s really more than a job for me. It’s not unusual for us all to get together on Sundays, and the Saturday night closing crew makes frequent trips after work to Steak and Shake. We have Christmas parties, store picnics, all kinds of company outings, and I’ve even been to a fellow co-workers wedding. But recently, my fun little routine at work was thrown off when one of my best friends at Chick-fil-A suddenly decided to put in a two weeks notice last night. This news came on the heels of my previous manager’s departure to open up a Chick-fil-A in Lexington, Kentucky, and another one of my favorite co-workers- Sharon’s- decision to leave to get an office job at a carpet store.

Needless to say, I was very disappointed. But I’ve been getting to know people at work really well just to see them leave since day one. Every summer, a new batch of graduates leave for high school with only the Vol State kids sticking around, and there are incidents of people coming and going sprinkled in throughout the year. It doesn’t make it any easier saying ‘goodbye’ though. I always try to do something special for them when they leave. When Dora left (because it was found out she wasn’t a legal immigrant) I got her a stone cross to hang in her home and a card. When Sara moved off to college I got her a card and Steak and Shake gift card, and a Chick-fil-A gift card to give her an excuse to come back and visit. When Brent left, I got him a card and a c.d., and when Sharon left, I got her a potted plant and made her cookies.

I think I do those nice gestures more for me than the person leaving though. It gives me some closure, and at least makes me feel like, if they have to leave, at least I’ve giving them a proper send-off. But it’s still kind of disheartening sometimes- I Hate Change!! And of course, when someone leaves I make them promise to come back and visit, and they usually do.

At times, seeing people just shuffled in and out of Chick-fil-A makes me want to stop getting to know everyone and just do my job and cook chicken, but  I’m grateful for the friendships I have made, and I can’t help but think that God has me at this darn food court Chick-fil-A for a reason. And I think that’s to reach out to and encourage these people that I meet. And you know- they’re some pretty neat people. We’re not just any fast food restaurant.