Part of the Family

The newest Chick-Fil-A restaurant opens here in Warrenton on Thursday and all three of our kids will be part of the crew. Ben and Beth enjoyed working for Chick-Fil-A back in Arizona, and Becky is excited about starting her first job there as well.

Last night, the company hosted a dedication party for the new team members, managers, other owner-operators in the region, training staff, marketing people, corporate representatives, etc., and Margo and I were invited to join in. It was a lot of fun, and there were prizes! (We walked home with an entire herd of stuffed cows as well as some new coffee mugs, a light-up keychain, a plant, etc.)

Yet what really impressed me wasn't the nice ballroom that they rented for the event. It wasn't the wonderful dinner they served (the tortellini was terrific!). It wasn't the little goodies they gave out. What really impressed me was the caliber of the people that make up the Chick-Fil-A family. This is one incredible business, and it doesn't surprise me that God has blessed them in incredible ways.

From the "second mile service" philosophy that encourages them to go above and beyond in serving customers, to the highly selective process they go through in identifying owners and employees, to the commitment to making a positive impact on the community, Chick-Fil-A sets a standard for excellence.

I mentioned that last night was a dedication celebration -- it was an opportunity to dedicate the new store to the Lord. It's a tradition that Chick-Fil-A has continued since the opening of the very first store. There was no hesitation in saying what their business was all about. They led their employees and family memebers in prayer, asking God's blessing upon their endeavors. All throughout the presentations, Margo and I picked up on language and phrases that draw directly from the principles of the Bible, from their commitment to caring for employees like a family to keeping the doors closed on Sundays.

Okay, so not everyone who puts on a Chick-Fil-A uniform will be the pinnacle of thoughtful service. Not everyone who rides around in a cow-decorated company car will be a model of heroic integrity. Everyone has bad days, and every company has bad moments. But, by and large, God is blessing this business because they're not afraid to do things his way.

I'm glad my kids will be part of this family!