When our son-in-law resigned from his job to accept a new position, colleagues blessed him with many good wishes, including a quilt, cards, a memory book, and gift cards. One gift card was for Cracker Barrel.
The family planned to enjoy supper one evening at this fun restaurant. As soon as the family swallowed the last glass of water, placed their silverware on plates, and bunched their soiled napkins, the waitress returned to their table with a big smile.
When our son-in-law whipped out the gift card, she beamed and said, “Oh, no, sir, you don’t need to use that at all. Someone in the restaurant paid for your meal.”
“Wow!” our daughter exclaimed.
“Who paid for our dinner? Can you tell us?” their daughters asked.
“No,” the waitress replied. “The person wanted to remain anonymous and bless your family.”
“Well, let’s keep this thing going,” our son-in-law replied.
All four looked around the restaurant to pick out another family to bless.
The waitress was only too happy to participate in these two generous exchanges. She took the gift card to the family as my daughter and her family headed out the door. The person who paid it forward to my daughter’s family had no idea another family would also be blessed by their kind act.
We’ve all heard stories like this one. Occasionally, a generous donor might bless us by paying for our coffee or even a whole meal.
The story of Jesus’ generosity in paying it forward by leaving heaven for all of us is divine and unparalleled. His death on the cross represents the ultimate gift for all our sins—past, present, and future. He paid His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness forward so that we could spend eternity with him.
Some of us may be the lucky recipients of a generous donor who anonymously pays for our coffee or dinner at a restaurant. But in truth, we all receive Jesus’s pay-it-forward gift of His sacrificial life daily.
Enjoy God’s gift to you and look for ways to pay it forward to others who need to hear Christ’s message of salvation.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay and sahinsezerdincer.)
Becky Van Vleet is a retired teacher and principal and award-winning multi-genre author. She and her husband make their home close to Colorado Springs, where she enjoys gardening, hiking, oil painting, power walking, and spending time with her family, especially reading books to her grandchildren. A member of ACFW, Becky has devoted her website to creating and preserving family memories and sharing family stories for the next generations through her monthly blogs. You can find her at: https://beckyvanvleet.com.