Much has been said in recent years about how nice it is to perform random acts of kindness for others...especially those you don't personally know. I have done that a few times myself, but until a couple of days ago, I was never the lone recipient. Don't get me wrong, many times we have had goodies left on our doorstep or Christmas Carolers from Church serenading us with Christmas songs, and youth groups performing service for us, but those were done by ward members who we love and associate with. My experience this week seemed different somehow. This is how it all went down:
As I left for the temple on Wednesday and was on my way to pick up a friend (Billie Jean Rose), I realized that I had left the snack I had packed for my break in the refrigerator at home. I decided that rather than turn around to retrieve it and be late picking her up, I would just purchase something from the cafeteria. Later, as I was waiting in line to pay for my "lunch", Brother LaLanne (another Ordinance Worker on my shift) and I were chatting with the cashier. During the conversation, he let us know that he had celebrated his birthday the day before. I started to sing "happy birthday to you" and then he told the cashier that for his birthday present he wanted to buy my lunch for me. It didn't amount to much, but I thought that it was such a kind gesture on his part. It was a true random act of kindness.
Interestingly, at the end of my shift I went back to the cafeteria to purchase a sandwich for Billie Jean and the cashier recognized me as the recipient of a random act of kindness earlier in the day. She told me that three other brethren had purchased lunch for others after Bro. LaLanne did it for me. I guess that act was going viral that day, which is a very good thing. In order to "pay it forward" I purchased Billie Jean's sandwich for her and I also went home and bought her a new temple dress so she won't have to rent one each week. It feels good to serve others.
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