AND WHO ARE YOU?! (Pay it forward)

Just the other day I ran (drove) to the bank to deposit some money. When I walked into the bank I suddenly became irritated. Somehow the line wrapped around the entire lobby three or four times over. I felt as if I was in line for a roller coaster; however, the end of this line was a far cry from the Kumba or Montu.

I decided to wait for a customer service rep to issue me a new debit card so I could just use the ATM to deposit money in what would take only a fraction of the time. As I waited, an elderly woman came in yapping on the phone while speaking with the concierge at the front desk. The lady was insisting that this bank remove the block on her account.

This block had happened because the lady was trying to fill her car with gas. She went to two pumps with no success. NO GAS, she was on empty. When she came into the bank she was on the phone with the Gas station manager. He could not help her as there was nothing to refund (no gas pumped), and somehow her account got frozen and locked up the only money she had in it, which totaled $5.

I heard her story about three times as I waited, and then once again while I sat with the customer service rep; coincidently, the lady sat right behind me with her service rep, who was not able to help her either until the next day.

I was to be charged $10 for a new debit card. My rep came back with the card and “accidentally” forgot to charge me. Wow! How grateful I was. That was ten more dollars towards my credit card, or lunch, or gas for my car… Suddenly a realization…

This was a test… There was no coincidence here… I expected and budgeted to pay ten dollars for a new card. My rep forgot to charge me.

I was faced with the dilemma that so many of us face daily when we see people in need. Do I keep the ten dollars and call it a lucky day… or do I do something outside of the perimeter of self-centeredness? I chose the latter. I walked up to the lady, gave her $10, and said “I got away scot-free without paying $10 for a new debit card and I want to pay it forward to you.” Her response, I will never forget… She looked at me with a sigh of amazement and said quite surprisingly, “AND WHO... ARE…. YOU?” I recon she was shocked by chivalry. To which I simply replied, “God bless”.

I left the bank with a good feeling. A great feeling! I had helped someone in need other than myself. Later on as I reflected on this situation, I truly believe that God gave me this opportunity to choose to do good. And it was in my choice to obey his guidance.

========================
Editors Note:
What would the world be like if each of us took advantage of the many opportunities that God gives us each day to be a part of His plan and bless others?  Sometimes I think we forget that God doesn't bless us simply so we can be blessed, instead He blesses us so that we can bless other people...