Well, I just finished watching the movie “Pay It Forward”. I had seen it several times but forgot the ending. If you have not seen it, you should. Essentially a little boy, as a result of a school project, comes up with the idea to “Pay It Forward”. The challenge is to do something nice for 3 people. If the receiver accepts the gesture than they have to pay it forward to 3 other people. Spreading pure kindness all around this world.
We could do that too, but in a different way. Just purpose to do something nice for someone that you don’t know. Let the person behind you in the grocery store with 2 items get in front of you and your completely full basket. Hold the door for the elderly man coming in the store behind you. Say please and thank you. When someone allows you to get in the lane in front of them, waive your hand as a gesture of thanks. Allow someone to get in front of you. You may be running late, but the 2-3 minutes that it will take for you to do this, won’t make a big difference. Give the person with the sign some food or money. Don’t worry about whether they need it or not, just be nice.
I know for me there have been days that were just not going so well and when I receive a kind gesture, it meant so much to me. It encouraged me to do something kind. I also know it was God.
The writer of “Pay It Forward” had it right. As the teacher put it, he was not expecting them to change the world, he wanted them to think about it and imagine the possibilities. The grades were on the effort not the results. The other warming moment was the ending. I know someone who put himself in harm’s way for you and me.
Truth:
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2
