Do you remember the movie Pay It Forward? If you've never seen it, I highly recommend this family drama.
The movie is about a little boy who starts a trend to "Pay It Forward" by doing something kind for someone else, them repeating it, and an entire chain of goodness spreading throughout the culture. It's a great concept, but how often do we stop and think how we can 'pay it forward'? I'm guilty of being too busy to slow down and take in what surrounds me.
In October, I was sitting in the OB's office when I met a couple who were expecting boy/girl twins. They asked me several questions of 'how to' and 'what if'. In hindsight, the best way to know the answers is to practice, but we want to know so we can prepare for what's to come... It's a human trait.
After I left the doctor's office, the couple weighed heavy on my heart. I was frequently reminded of all the blessings we were given during our pregnancy, hospital stay, and after the birth of M and P. It has been my prayer that I 'pay it forward' when the opportunity lies ahead of me. Well here it was... I had something they needed: resources.
I went home and gathered all of the extra necessities we had- from bottles to clothes to bibs and so on- to pass along to this couple who were soon to have their bundles. I found so many things I had forgotten about and others that were more than we needed. I dropped off a trunk full- as many have done for us!- and was excited to share our blessings.
It's not often we get to see God work full circle, but today I was able to revel in His glory. As I checked out at Target, there stood the family of 4. I approached them, and she hugged me as if we were old friends who were just reunited. "What you did was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me," she said.
Please do not think that I am gloating at my actions at all. I was merely a servant for Him as He placed before me an opportunity and filled my mind with reminders of blessings for me to respond. I was graced with the opportunity to see Him work in my life and in theirs. What a joy, what a peace! Thank you for using me, Father!!
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying,
“Teacher,
what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
He said to him, “What is
written in the Law? How do you read it?”
And he answered, “You shall
love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as
yourself.”
And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this,
and you will live.”
Luke 10:25-28
Let us seek opportunities to "Pay It Forward" as they lie before us.
