When Janet talked about “Unexpected Outcomes”, I couldn’t help but think about my daughter’s own “Pay it Forward” experience.
You probably remember the movie, “Pay it Forward”. Trevor, a 7th grader fulfilling a homework assignment, allows a homeless man to live in his garage. The man repairs his mother’s car, which inspires her to do a kindness for another who is equally inspired to help someone else … all without expecting anything in return.
This “Pay it Forward” concept, helping others without expecting something in return, trusting that the good we send out to the world by our selfless action will return to us in time, is simple enough. Yet, it has the potential to change the face of the world! Think about it . . . if each of us performed simple acts of kindness solely for the purpose of helping another, possibly a stranger, without expecting anything in return, what chain of good deeds could follow?
My daughter, Theresa’s, experience this summer is an excellent example. She worked in a retail store where her favorite assignment was the Customer Service desk. One day, a woman approached her counter and began by saying, “I probably got the person who checked me out all confused because I was buying gifts off of several registries.”
Theresa immediately assumed the woman was going to complain about some mistake one of her co-workers had made and tensed herself for the conversation. Not so – my daughter was in for quite a surprise!
The woman continued, saying, “You see, she didn’t charge me for one of the items. By the time I realized this, it was too late for me to come back because I had to get these gifts to my friends. Do you think I can go find the item and pay for it now?”
After recovering from her surprise, Theresa helped the woman and completed the transaction … with an air of awe!
Now comes the “Pay it Forward” part. When Theresa told me the story, she began by saying, “This is something you would do, Mom.” I was flattered, but had to be honest. She was right, I always make sure I pay properly … when I catch a checker’s error at the store; that is, when it is convenient for me. I don’t know that I would have gone out of my way as this woman did.
My candor created quite a conversation with my daughter and my niece, who was also part of the conversation. All three of us concluded that, thanks to the inspiration of this woman, we all will now do the same in the future.
Better yet, when Theresa told her story to friends the night we moved her into her new apartment, they all were similarly inspired. This woman, a stranger to all of us, has effectively influenced at least eight people through Theresa’s telling of her action. And now, we are all “Paying it Forward”!
Questions to Ponder: Have you ever been the recipient of selfless kindness from another? How did it make you feel? Were you inspired to do the same? When have you been the one to “pay it forward”? How did it make you feel?
You probably remember the movie, “Pay it Forward”. Trevor, a 7th grader fulfilling a homework assignment, allows a homeless man to live in his garage. The man repairs his mother’s car, which inspires her to do a kindness for another who is equally inspired to help someone else … all without expecting anything in return.
This “Pay it Forward” concept, helping others without expecting something in return, trusting that the good we send out to the world by our selfless action will return to us in time, is simple enough. Yet, it has the potential to change the face of the world! Think about it . . . if each of us performed simple acts of kindness solely for the purpose of helping another, possibly a stranger, without expecting anything in return, what chain of good deeds could follow?
My daughter, Theresa’s, experience this summer is an excellent example. She worked in a retail store where her favorite assignment was the Customer Service desk. One day, a woman approached her counter and began by saying, “I probably got the person who checked me out all confused because I was buying gifts off of several registries.”
Theresa immediately assumed the woman was going to complain about some mistake one of her co-workers had made and tensed herself for the conversation. Not so – my daughter was in for quite a surprise!
The woman continued, saying, “You see, she didn’t charge me for one of the items. By the time I realized this, it was too late for me to come back because I had to get these gifts to my friends. Do you think I can go find the item and pay for it now?”
After recovering from her surprise, Theresa helped the woman and completed the transaction … with an air of awe!
Now comes the “Pay it Forward” part. When Theresa told me the story, she began by saying, “This is something you would do, Mom.” I was flattered, but had to be honest. She was right, I always make sure I pay properly … when I catch a checker’s error at the store; that is, when it is convenient for me. I don’t know that I would have gone out of my way as this woman did.
My candor created quite a conversation with my daughter and my niece, who was also part of the conversation. All three of us concluded that, thanks to the inspiration of this woman, we all will now do the same in the future.
Better yet, when Theresa told her story to friends the night we moved her into her new apartment, they all were similarly inspired. This woman, a stranger to all of us, has effectively influenced at least eight people through Theresa’s telling of her action. And now, we are all “Paying it Forward”!
Questions to Ponder: Have you ever been the recipient of selfless kindness from another? How did it make you feel? Were you inspired to do the same? When have you been the one to “pay it forward”? How did it make you feel?
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