Sometimes the smallest gesture can have the most profound impact on a person’s life. A man recently posted to his Facebook wall what you are about to read. He describes a random act of kindness during his lunch break.
John Stevens:
I was sitting at the bar of a local restaurant having lunch and taking a break from the daily grind, sitting there thinking about how tough I had it lately and how I was sick of what I was doing to make ends meet. I own a landscape company and I have never felt as though I was making a difference in people’s lives.
As I sat there feeling sorry for myself, a pretty girl who appeared to be about 25 years old strolled in and sat down in a booth to wait for her friend. It wasn’t long before I noticed how she was trying to stay hidden from people’s stares and my heart just sank. You could see her hair was falling out and it was apparent that she was receiving chemotherapy treatment.
As I sat there and observed, she attempted to remain composed but was having a difficult time of it. My heart could not help but ache for her as I tried to imagine what it must be like to experience what she was dealing with, and yet I know some of her pain.
You see, it was a few short years ago when I had to bury my wife, the love of my life, after having to watch as she slowly faded away. I desperately needed to give a message of hope to this young woman but how? What could I possibly do?
Then like a bolt of lightning it hit me! I got the attention of her waitress and explained that I wanted to buy the girl and her friend’s lunch, but I also requested that she not reveal that it was me because I wanted to remain anonymous. In doing so, I handed her a note to pass on to the girl when she told her that her tab was paid in full.
The note read as follows:
“Someone today though you were beautiful.
Someone today thought your smile glowed with excitement.
Someone today though your eyes lit up the world.
Someone today cared and wanted you to know this.
Enjoy the rest of your day, pretty young lady.”
About fifteen minutes had pass when the young girl asked for her check and I observed as she was told that it had already been paid for. She asked why? Who? What for? The waitress simply handed her the note and informed her that the gentleman who did it left, so as to keep me anonymous.
I observed as she slowly read the note. Her eyes filled with tears, if only for a moment, and then her face lit up with a smile. A huge, beautiful, hopeful smile! She lit up the room and then sat up straight, not caring who might see her. Her friend also beamed, not for what was done but because her friend was feeling beautiful again.
It is not how we look, nor is it what we have. It isn’t our homes, nor is it how many cars we own. No, it isn’t about how much money we can earn. you see, it is about how much we care and what we do, even if only for a moment we can make someone feel pretty and important.
The lunch I paid for only cost a few dollars but the magic it created was free, yet priceless.
A contemporary Christian music group performs a song that goes like this:
Light your world,
Let the love of God shine through,
In the little things you do,
Light your world.
And though your light may be,
Reaching only two or three,
Light your world.
Read more: DailyHeadlines