Pay It Forward

Today’s post is to encourage you to do a lot of little things for others.  Rather than waiting around for the opportunity to do “the big save”, keep your eyes open for the chance to make a small, positive difference in someone’s life.  A  case in point, a young mother advertised her unborn child’s bedroom furniture on Craigslist the other day because their car had broken down and they needed money for repairs.  She wasn’t asking for help; she was merely offering some items for sale and an explanation as to why she was selling them.

A friend of mine noted her ad and, after another person offered to cover the car repairs, asked the young mother what she most needed.  The answer was “a car seat and a stroller”.  Soon money was being collected, gifts being offered, and deliveries being set up to help this young family out of a difficult spot.  Other than the man who is paying for the car repairs, none of the others was offering a large amount of money, time, or effort.  Yet all of those contributions pooled together is making a significant difference for this couple and their soon-to-be-born child.

There are countless ways to make a small difference:  pay the toll for the people behind you on the freeway, hold a door for someone, pick up someone’s tipped over garbage can and reload it for them, smile at someone, strike up a conversation, comment on someone’s strengths.  When you are running to the store, ask your homebound neighbor if s/he needs anything, return someone’s movies to the kiosk for them, pick up some litter, wave to someone.  One that I used to love to do with my kids was buy a gift card for groceries and mail it anonymously to someone.  I’d ask the kids to write the card out so my handwriting wouldn’t be recognized.  All of these simple acts help pay it forward, lift spirits, and make the world a much nicer place to dwell.

What can you do today?