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| Courtesy Holtfield Station |
"Just a regular cup of coffee, please," I replied after the voice had asked me what I wanted. I frequent this small town treasure so often, sometimes they greet me and tell me to just "go ahead and pull on up," already knowing what I want. It's a "Cheers" kind of moment.
When I reached the window, the manager, Tina, told me that the person in the car in front of me had just paid for my coffee.
"What? Really? You're kidding," I said, my mind now trying to recapture any detail from the vehicle that might clue me in as to who this sweet person was.
"No kidding," Tina said.
With no one behind me and Tina taking care of other business, I noticed someone I knew waiting on his morning beverage inside the store.
"Brent, do you know who that was by chance?" I asked, hollering in at him.
He moved in a little closer to say: "No, I sure don't," but he did try to describe her.
Well, I knew it was a her at least.
Stories are being told by media outlets around our area, including our very own Hillsboro Times-Gazette and Wilmington News Journal, about individuals anonymously paying off the layaway balances of those indebted this holiday season.
Perhaps this lady felt inspired to do something benevolent having read these stories. Perhaps she's the very reason for those stories in the first place. Nonetheless, I may never know who she is and, therefore, certainly never discover why she bought my coffee Tuesday, Dec. 20, but that isn't the point, is it?
Generosity such as hers makes you stop and consider your blessings, brings out humility and greatly inspires you to pay that kindness forward.
Thank you, ma'am, for the coffee. It only cost you $1.29, but it restored my faith in mankind this holiday season. Furthermore, that state of "grateful flabbergastedness" in which your kindness left me was an important reminder of how I feel each time I think about what Jesus did on the cross.
"What? You did that for me? Why, I didn't do anything to deserve that!"
No, I certainly didn't ... and that's the point of Christmas.
Please have a wonderful holiday season, everyone. Merry Christmas!
7 comments:
As I was saying on Facebook, "great post." I could hear your reaction in my head as I read this and what a wonderful reminder of what Christ did for us. We may never know the price He paid because it is not measurable, but nonetheless it was amazing. Merry Christmas my sweet friend...
What a great surprise to your day!
That is an awesome!!!!
and
I just remembered I owe you an email, I am soooo sorry that I forgot, I will send it today
There is a radio station here that was encouraging people to pay it forward like that in the drive through. I love hearing the stories. Such a small act of kindness that goes such a long way in brightening someone's day.
I LOVE doing that for people in the drive-thru! Particularly when the person behind me looks angry, or is driving a much fancier car than my own. The best part is when I get to Starbucks the next morning and tell me I started a trend - my longest streak is about 12 people paying it forward. :)
Merry Christmas to you, too, Meredith!
A nice surprise indeed, TriGirl.
That's OK, BDD. The holidays are super-crazy anyway. I'll look forward to the email.
I've heard K-Love was encouraging this, too, Karen. Cool to be a recipient of a random act of kindness.
Twelve people, Alili? That's awesome! It's great that you pick people who look stressed. It would be easy to look at them and dismiss them as a jerk or something. Very, very cool.
That is awesome! What a great idea!! I'm gonna steal it :-).
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