Say Yes to the Drink

A journalist was interviewing a relationship expert on a morning talk show, and she made a statement that caught my attention. She said, “If you are in someone’s home and you are offered a drink, say yes.” That sounded like a good idea to me — I could always use help staying hydrated — but that wasn’t her point. When we turn down the drink, we deny the host the opportunity to serve, and in doing so, we deprive them of the graces that come from generosity.

We’re constantly reminded of the benefits of service, especially if you have a faith practice. Serving our fellow man is part of our purpose on this earth, and we reap the rewards it offers. Service softens our hearts. It builds empathy and purpose. It even improves our mental and physical health. But we often overlook the other side of the relationship: someone has to receive the service—and sometimes that’s the harder role.

Relationships only work when there is give and take. For many of us, the giving comes more naturally than the receiving, yet both are essential. We all face seasons when we need the generous act of someone else. At some point, our very lives may depend on another person’s service, and we may not be able to reciprocate. In those moments of trial, we’re invited into humility and gratitude, allowing the other person to benefit from their own kindness. That becomes our gift back to them.

Learning to receive is its own kind of generosity. It asks us to trust, to soften, and to let others step into their calling just as we step into ours. So the next time someone offers you a drink — or a hand, or a kindness — consider saying yes. You may be giving them exactly what they need.