A few months ago, I stopped to purchase gas on my way to work. I was paying in cash so I had to go inside. I noticed a gentleman standing in the line next to me but didn’t pay attention to what he was doing. As I approached the window, the gentleman asked if I was purchasing gas. Expecting some sort of scam, I replied ‘yes,’ and braced myself for what he was about to say. He immediately threw $30 down on the counter and said, “fill your car up and have a good day.” I was speechless as the station attendant behind the counter laughed. As I collected my thoughts, I asked the attendant, “who was that guy?” He stated that he comes in often and has done that before. Coming to grip with my good fortune, I went out to thank the man. He simply said, “You’re welcome. Enjoy your day.”
Key Verse
Proverbs 11:25 tells us “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
This verse reminds me of the ‘pay it forward’ movement. The goal is to perform a random act of kindness for a stranger and instruct them to pay it forward. I reflected on the many times I’ve paid for the groceries of people in the line ahead of me who were short of money, as well as the times I bought lunch for coworkers who were out of money right before pay day. I wondered, was I being paid forward for my previous acts of kindness?
What do you think? Have you received a random act of kindness from someone? Have you paid it forward recently?
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