Pay It Forward (02/21/2024)

I varied from my usual, and instead of going to the counter to order my coffee, I browsed for a bit. I noticed a young man probably in his 30s enter from the back of the store, go to the counter, and place his order. I decided to continue browsing until he left. He chatted with the staff while he waited for his cup of coffee. After he walked away, I went up and placed my order. As the clerk handed me my cup of coffee, she told me, “The man ahead of you paid it forward. Enjoy your coffee.”

I learned that the store actually had a “Pay It Forward” cup by the register. I liked the idea and sometimes, recalling that young man’s generosity, I do it myself. Yesterday was one of those days, it just played out a little differently. I was ordering my coffee and scone when a woman who’d been browsing with a to-go cup stepped up. I realized she wanted a refill before leaving and that the clerk had already started to ring up my purchases. I told the clerk to add the refill to my tab and told the woman, “It’s on me. We do that here.” She was thrilled.  

As I sat down to enjoy my coffee and scone, I thought about my first experience in the store with “Pay It Forward.” Then I recalled the conversation I had later with the man himself. He explained that he’d come into the store, upset because he’d just lost his job. The owner gave him a cup of coffee and told him “It was paid for from the ‘Pay It Forward’ cup.” The man never forgot that. He got another job. He comes by frequently and clears the shop’s sidewalk when it snows or helps with heavy parcels. And frequently he gives the clerk extra with the words, “Pay It Forward.”

A loving kindness rarely stops there. Have you ever noticed that? There’s something about receiving such kindness that opens us up to repeating what we’ve just experienced or at the very least wanting to be an agent of loving kindness ourselves.

As we continue on our Lenten Journeys, let us be people who pay it forward realizing that our loving Redeemer did just that – He died for our sins though He was without sin himself. He did this long before we ourselves stepped into life to claim that salvation. Christianity is a “Pay It Forward” way of life.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.

Thoughts? Questions? Requests? – katewiskus@gmail.com