Day 3- Pay for Someone Else’s Meal

I have been hearing more and more stories every day of people “Paying It Forward,” and I think it’s absolutely wonderful.  I ALWAYS try be kind and generous, and to look for everyday opportunities to help shelter the homeless, clothe the needy, and feed the hungry.  And from time to time, I’ve found myself in a restaurant, looking around at the other customers, and wondering if anyone there is in need, or could use a little help.  But I never made the decision to actually do it- to pay for someone else’s meal.  In part, because it’s tough to choose just one table, and the other part is because you really don’t know how much their bill is going to be!  That’s totally besides the point, but unless you’re a millionaire, it’s something that you might have to keep in mind!

Well today, I decided to make a difference in someone else’s day.  My family and I went out to breakfast this morning at Eat’n Park.  (Which, by the way, shouldn’t it be Park’n Eat since you have to PARK before you can go in and EAT?  Makes no sense….)  ANYWAY, It was nothing fancy, but they have a pretty decent breakfast buffet, and anything that involves a shorter wait time when you’re dining with a 3 and a 1 year old is a BIG win!  

I was hoping we’d see a family to pay it forward to, because life just gets expensive with kids!  There was actually only one other family there at the time we sat down; everyone else must’ve been there for the senior’s special. ;)  I realized that the OTHER difficult part of all this was that, while this act-of-kindness can be anonymous to whoever’s bill you’re paying, you have to tell the servers!  For someone who typically prefers quiet, unnoticed good deeds, it felt a little weird.  But to my delight, the waitress was very helpful, quick and quiet about it, which was PERFECT.  I didn’t want the pat-on-the-back “oh how nice of you” and I didn’t get it!  Watching the family (by means of quick glances) as the waitress informed them that their bill was taken care of was a bit… anti-climatic.  The wife and two of the children had already left, and the dad and third child stayed back to pay.  All we saw was a quick conversation, and then the dad got up and looked around as he walked out.  I hope I was misreading his face as he left, but he looked a little… embarrassed.  

Ugh… I felt awful. 

I have to take a step back and realize that if I were out to eat with my family and someone paid for our meal, I’d probably cry and then smile and wave and everyone in the restaurant, just in case it was that person who blessed us.  That’s just me.  But then afterwards, I might wonder… do I look like I couldn’t afford my meal?  Is there something about my family and I that makes us look like we need help?  And for a proud father who probably CAN support and feed his family, maybe that was just a punch in the gut. 

Honestly, I don’t know what I expected to happen.  I didn’t want them to know it was us, but a part of me wanted to tell him that I wasn’t trying to judge them, I just wanted to spread a little sunshine.  Couldn’t do that, without making it seem like I wanted to be thanked. 

So here’s what I’m left with:  I have to just offer it up- my feelings of guilt and self-doubt about what I did today- and pray that it helped them somehow.  Maybe it could have been a few smiles and laughs in the car, and a “I can’t believe we got a free breakfast” conversation on the way home.  Maybe they really WERE struggling financially, and every little bit helps.  Or maybe it’s a tough lesson on pride.  But I did what I did so that I could “pay it forward,” and I won’t stop doing things like this just because of an un-known ending.  In the future, I might begin to focus my attention more on people who I know need help, instead of random acts of kindness.  I will definitely continue to pray each day that God presents me with opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and to help others in whatever ways I’m able to.  Again, not for the glory of it, but just because that’s what I think we’re here for- to help, serve, and love each other. 

And fortunately, I have proof:

"And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’"

Matthew 25:40