A long time ago, I fell in love with the “Pay It Forward” movement, where you do something nice for someone who comes behind you and they in turn, if they can, do something nice for the next person. In other words, “Pay It Forward.” One classic example of this is when you’re in a drive-through restaurant and when you get to the window to pay for your food, you’re told: “the person in front of you covered your meal.” This is so refreshing to realize that people out there care enough to do that. Then, if you can afford it, you can do the same for the person behind you, or do it yourself another day. The story below is a beautiful example of how this can work out. We don’t know if it’s true, but it’s too good to not pass on. Enjoy.
(I am working the register over Christmas.)
Me: “Find everything today?”
Customer: “Yup.”
(Note: she is silent through the transaction, which includes a gift card.)
Me: “How much would you like on this?”
Customer: “Oh, sorry. Can I have $150?”
Me: “No problem.”
Customer: *after paying* “Can you do me a favor?” *she hands me the gift card* “The next customer you see that you think could use this, could you give it to them?”
Me: *stunned* “…Of course!”
(After a minute another customer comes up, a visibly upset young woman.)
Me: “Hi! How are you?”
Customer #2: “I’m okay, thanks.”
(Clearly she is not ok, but she is trying very hard to be pleasant. She is getting very basic items: milk, bread, eggs, etc. Nothing very festive.)
Me: “So your total comes out to $ o.00.”
Customer: “What?”
Me: “The person before you gave me a $150 gift card to use for the next person I thought could use it. You look like you’re having a rough day, so here are your groceries, and there’s about $130 left on this card.”
(The customer just started crying. Once she could, she thanked me 4 times. Made my whole Christmas season.)
