Paying It Forward

As I drove to dinner last night, I saw a family holding up a sign, saying they'd work for food. For once, I pulled over, got out of my car, introduced myself, and asked to hear their story. When all was said and done, I took them to the place of their choosing (Chick-fil-A), bought them a meal, and wished them well. The tears and gratitude in their eyes, the seemingly never-ending stream of "thank yous" will never be forgotten. It's pretty easy to focus on the minor hardships in life, whether it be a traffic jam, the cable going out, or a flight delay, yet many of us often times forget how fortunate we are. While we're struggling to decide where to travel next, another family is struggling to put food on the table and simply survive. Who knows whether or not my gesture will help this family in the long-term, but while I work at home, contemplating on what to eat next, sadly taking such a thing for granted, I'm glad I was able to provide such a necessity to another family in need and hopefully extend their hope in the days ahead. The looks on their faces were priceless. I'll probably never know, but I hope I was able to open a new and brighter chapter in their book of life, and I encourage others to reach out and do similarly. For as common as it is to whine and groan about the minor hardships in life, many others would do anything to swap places with us, and it's amazing what a few words of encouragement, a big hug, or a couple dollars can mean to those individuals. While it may take years for us to finally be satisfied with our own lives, it only takes a moment for us to positively impact the life of another.