pay it forward

i just want to share this story with you. tho some of you may have already heard it but i cant get enough of hearing this over and over again -- it still gives me goosebumps (in a good way!)

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an old woman was travelling to another city when she gets hungry and decides to stop by a diner on the side of the road. she sees a pregnant waitress (her tummy already about 6 months) , balancing food trays in her hand, sweating and tired yet still managing to smile at the customers. when the waitress came to her table, the old woman named Nancy, made small talk with the waitress. she could see the sincerity in her eyes, but it also showed her the strength and determination of a woman and a mother-to-be.

she found out her name was Alison, that her baby was due in 3 months and that she was still working to save up for the cost of giving birth since her husband didnt have a stable job and only did construction work and was a car mechanic. then it was time to go; Nancy asked for the bill. the old woman decides to pay her due, add a few hundred dollars as tip and left a note for Alison saying : "this is for your goodness and for your baby. i wish you well. dont bother to find me, instead concentrate on how you can pay it forward."

Nancy left the diner and continued on her way. she decided to take a shortcut since it was already getting late and she figured out the shortcut would help her arrive faster. unfortunately her car broke down in the middle of nowhere. all she could see was shrubs, the place was deserted. it was one of those routes that vehicles seldom took. one thing was clear : she was definitely not on the highway anymore.

night fell and all she could do was sob inside her car. then she heard footsteps, faint at first but getting louder by the second. then she made out the silhouette of a man walking towards her. she feared for her life because the man might be a murderer for all she knows and she cant get help since there was no service on her mobile fone. but then she saw the man's face -- she suddenly felt at peace when she looked into the man's eyes. He introduced himself as Brian. he offered to take a look at the car since he was a mechanic. Nancy was skeptic at first but she decided to let him be, with her staying inside her car.

After a few hours, Brian finally got her car to start. She was about to hand a wad of cash to the man who had saved her but Brian would not accept it. He said helping someone simply fulfilled him and gave him happiness. So Nancy thanked him and drove off into the night.

meanwhile, Alison went home at the end of her shift feeling happy but somewhat puzzled by the old woman's message. she was wondering how she was going to "pay it forward". after keeping the money she received from Nancy in a safe place and preparing supper for her husband who still wasnt home, Alison decides to write a letter for him. It said : "baby, thank you for the happiness you have given me. i know we are in a tough time right now but i want you to know that everything is going to be alright with us and; our baby. with god in our lives, i know we can make it."

She fell asleep waiting for her husband. In the middle of the night when Nancy turned to her side, she felt the warm breathing of his husband near her. She simply embraced him and said "I love you Brian."

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it just amazes me to think that our lives are all intertwined with one another tho we may not know it but you know someone that i know, one good deed benefits the same set of people we know. lesson learned -- an act of kindness goes a long way. (~~,)