Lunch Anyone?
On my first Pay It Forward, my buddy and I decided our random act of kindness was to buy lunch for someone.
It was a restaurant where several cashiers staff registers, and patrons wait for an available cashier to place their orders. As we placed our order, we told the cashier what we wanted to do and gave her $10 to cover the next person’s meal. We asked her not to reveal our identities to our recipient and only to tell him it was a “Pay It Forward” gesture.
We sat down, and we watched. The next person at that register was a nicely dressed, clean-cut man, probably 35. As the cashier explained that someone was buying lunch for him, we could see his reaction in his gestures. He “pushed back” by raising his hands and shaking his head, and then he turned around to scan the crowd. This man obviously didn’t want to accept the gesture. After looking around for a bit to see who had paid for his lunch (my companion and I were “busy” looking elsewhere as much as possible), he finally shrugged and agreed to take the meal.
When the man sat down, we watched him tell the other people at his table. His expressions and body language again said, “I didn’t want to take it, but hey, what can I do?” His tablemates looked around and shrugged as well.
We stopped gawking at his table and finished our lunches. As we were leaving, the cashier flagged us down. We hadn't seen this, but the man had gone back to the cashier after he finished his meal, and he bought dessert for other patrons in the line, also as anonymous gesture. Although he was hesitant at first to accept the gift, it was gratifying to see he wasn’t reluctant to extend the kindness to others.
It was a restaurant where several cashiers staff registers, and patrons wait for an available cashier to place their orders. As we placed our order, we told the cashier what we wanted to do and gave her $10 to cover the next person’s meal. We asked her not to reveal our identities to our recipient and only to tell him it was a “Pay It Forward” gesture.
We sat down, and we watched. The next person at that register was a nicely dressed, clean-cut man, probably 35. As the cashier explained that someone was buying lunch for him, we could see his reaction in his gestures. He “pushed back” by raising his hands and shaking his head, and then he turned around to scan the crowd. This man obviously didn’t want to accept the gesture. After looking around for a bit to see who had paid for his lunch (my companion and I were “busy” looking elsewhere as much as possible), he finally shrugged and agreed to take the meal.
When the man sat down, we watched him tell the other people at his table. His expressions and body language again said, “I didn’t want to take it, but hey, what can I do?” His tablemates looked around and shrugged as well.
We stopped gawking at his table and finished our lunches. As we were leaving, the cashier flagged us down. We hadn't seen this, but the man had gone back to the cashier after he finished his meal, and he bought dessert for other patrons in the line, also as anonymous gesture. Although he was hesitant at first to accept the gift, it was gratifying to see he wasn’t reluctant to extend the kindness to others.
welcome to the club!
God bless! (Comment this)