I don’t know his name. He sat next to us at the counter of The Donut Hole in Florida while we indulged in an omelet breakfast. Weezie and I made small talk as he ate a sandwich with coffee. He enjoys fishing in the area. There was nothing remarkable about his appearance, nor was there anything to draw attention to him. After his meal, he ordered a dozen donuts to take home to his family. He quietly pulled out a $100 bill, paid the waitress, and said to her, “Keep the change.” Both Weezie and I noticed. His total bill could not have been more than $30 or $40. We continued our meal, and a few minutes later, the waitress leaned over and told us, “Your meal has been taken care of.”
Generosity is a fickle fellow. We often think of generosity in terms of those who write big checks, buy grand gifts, or treat us to nice meals—indeed, those are generous and deserve recognition. Quiet, anonymous generosity is another thing. I don’t know whether that man left the restaurant feeling proud about his good deed or went home to tell his wife and children of his kindness. Something about his manner tells me that he simply went about his day, and that this act of kindness was not unusual for him. My guess is that his treat for our meal is between him and God, the way it should be.
That anonymous man inspired us towards the type of generosity that isn’t concerned with reciprocation or recognition. Small acts of generosity done quietly speak volumes. Though he may not be giving his gift to us further thought, I hope writing these words may cause his kindness to ripple far and wide. I hope they may inspire many to imitate through similar small acts of anonymous kindness. Wouldn’t it be amazing to put a $100 bill in our wallet or purse and keep our eyes and ears open for the right opportunity to bless someone? Wouldn’t that be a glorious way to live our days?
Pass it on!
What a wonderful story and encouragement to share with others.