MISSION POSSIBLE: CARING, SHARING, INSPIRING
A major tendency of
our times is for many of us to become completely self-absorbed. One noted sociologist terms our time in human
history as “The ME Generation.” Too
often it seems that life is all-about-US, instead of being all-about-OTHERS, as
Our Creator originally designed it to be.
Please read the following story of selfless sharing by an unknown author
– and who knows? You just might decide
to commit a random act of kindness in the course of your day!
I was sitting in 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. I own a landscape company and have
never felt that I made a difference in people’s lives.
As I sat there feeling sorry for myself, a young lady who looked about 25 walked in and sat down in a booth waiting for her friend. It didn’t take long before I saw she was trying to stay hidden from other people’s gazes. When I realized what was wrong, my heart sank. You could see her hair was falling out and, at such a young age, she was must have been receiving chemotherapy.
I sat there watching her trying to remain composed and she was having a tough time of it. I ached for her, imagining what it must be like to go through this; and yet I know some of her pain.
You see I buried my wife, the love of my life, just a few short years ago and watched while she slowly faded away. I needed to get a message of hope to this girl, but how? What should I do? What could I do?
Then it hit me! I called over her waitress and explained that I wanted to buy the girl and her friend’s lunch, but I also told her you can’t tell her it was me. It had to remain anonymous. In doing so, I handed her a note to give to the girl when she told her that her tab was paid.
The note read as follows:
“Someone today thought you were beautiful. Someone today thought your smile glowed with excitement. Someone today thought your eyes lit up the world. Someone today cared and wanted you to know. Enjoy the rest of your day, pretty young lady.”
About 15 minutes later the young girl asked for her check and I watched as she was told it was already paid. She asked why? Who? What for? The waitress simply handed her the note and informed her that the gentleman who did it had already left, in order to keep me anonymous.
I watched as she slowly read the note. Her eyes teared up, for only a moment, and then came the smile! A huge, beautiful, hopeful smile! She lit up the room and then sat up straight, not caring who saw her. Her friend also beamed, not for what was done but because her friend was feeling beautiful again.
It’s not how we look or what we have, it’s not our houses or how many cars we have, nor is it how much money we can earn. No, it isn’t. That’s not life at all. You see, it’s all about how much we CARE and what we DO for others, even if it’s only making someone feel beautiful for one moment.
Yes, lunch cost me a few dollars, but the wonderful part was this: The JOY that I carried with me throughout that day was absolutely free!
As I sat there feeling sorry for myself, a young lady who looked about 25 walked in and sat down in a booth waiting for her friend. It didn’t take long before I saw she was trying to stay hidden from other people’s gazes. When I realized what was wrong, my heart sank. You could see her hair was falling out and, at such a young age, she was must have been receiving chemotherapy.
I sat there watching her trying to remain composed and she was having a tough time of it. I ached for her, imagining what it must be like to go through this; and yet I know some of her pain.
You see I buried my wife, the love of my life, just a few short years ago and watched while she slowly faded away. I needed to get a message of hope to this girl, but how? What should I do? What could I do?
Then it hit me! I called over her waitress and explained that I wanted to buy the girl and her friend’s lunch, but I also told her you can’t tell her it was me. It had to remain anonymous. In doing so, I handed her a note to give to the girl when she told her that her tab was paid.
The note read as follows:
“Someone today thought you were beautiful. Someone today thought your smile glowed with excitement. Someone today thought your eyes lit up the world. Someone today cared and wanted you to know. Enjoy the rest of your day, pretty young lady.”
About 15 minutes later the young girl asked for her check and I watched as she was told it was already paid. She asked why? Who? What for? The waitress simply handed her the note and informed her that the gentleman who did it had already left, in order to keep me anonymous.
I watched as she slowly read the note. Her eyes teared up, for only a moment, and then came the smile! A huge, beautiful, hopeful smile! She lit up the room and then sat up straight, not caring who saw her. Her friend also beamed, not for what was done but because her friend was feeling beautiful again.
It’s not how we look or what we have, it’s not our houses or how many cars we have, nor is it how much money we can earn. No, it isn’t. That’s not life at all. You see, it’s all about how much we CARE and what we DO for others, even if it’s only making someone feel beautiful for one moment.
Yes, lunch cost me a few dollars, but the wonderful part was this: The JOY that I carried with me throughout that day was absolutely free!
Think about it. Why not make TODAY the first step of your compassionate
trek into MISSION POSSIBLE: CARING, SHARING AND INSPIRING OTHERS?
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
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