A Pay It Forward Attitude

It began with a gentleman at a Dairy Queen. He said, “I’d also like to pay for the car behind me.” The girl rang up the two orders and thought that would be the end of it. But two days and hundreds of cars later, she and the rest of the crew were still ringing up “pay it forward” orders.

After a year filled with old covid, new covid, and news of selfishness, injustice, and violence, this story offers a peace to our souls.  It’s not huge. It’s not going to turn the tide of the coronavirus or cure cancer. It is not going to end racism or hatred. Instead, it offers us hope through generosity and caring. The ones who continued the giving didn’t know each other’s political, spiritual, or cultural leanings. It was just a case of generosity becoming contagious.

Paul said in Philippians 4:8-9. “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

What a kind and simple gesture. It was someone doing something that was pure, and honorable, and commendable, and worthy of praise. And it was easily reciprocated. How many other things like this are out there for us to do every day? How can we begin a movement that loves God, and takes care of our neighbor?

It doesn’t have to be a big thing to completely turn someone’s day and life around. Maybe all that is needed is a word. A wave. A pat on the back. Paying for someone’s drink. Even the smallest acts can make the difference to a person who is hurting, or lost, or feeling alone.

What does revival look like for you? And what does it look like for your neighbor? What small efforts can we make to change the course of a life? John Waller has a song, Somebody Else’s Story, and he sings, “I wanna be a part, of somebody else’s story of redemption. I wanna be the one, to shine the light of Jesus into their darkness.” How are we going to fit into someone’s story? We all have a choice.

Do you have a pay it forward attitude?

Peace,
Pastor Donny