I was out with a friend recently when she realized it was my Birthday.  As usual, our outing culminated with coffee at Starbucks.  She had already gotten her coffee by the time I returned from the restroom.

“Make sure you see Chad at the counter. He’s expecting you,” she stated.  In answer to my raised eyebrow, she continued, “…with your Birthday coffee.”

“Oh, thank you!  That is so sweet of you!”  I smiled.  With a light and happy heart, I went in search of Chad.  After waiting in line longer than seemed necessary for a pre-paid cup of coffee, it was finally my turn.

“Hi Chad, I’m here to collect my Birthday Coffee.”

“Coming right up!” he said with a smile.

The man behind me overheard and piped in, “It’s your Birthday?  Let me buy you something,” he said as he pointed to all the goodies beckoning from behind the display case.

“Oh, thank you!” I laughed

“No, I’m serious!” he exclaimed, “Please let me get you something!”

What do you say to that??  He couldn’t have known that I rarely let those pastries pass my lips nor could he have known that I had already had breakfast.

After a third try, he realized that, while I appreciated it, I wasn’t going to take him up on it.

He was waiting at the end of the counter for his order when I stepped forward to fix my cup of coffee.  I turned to him and said,  “I want you to know that you made my day!  The idea that a complete stranger cared enough to want to make my Birthday special has really touched me.  Your kindness will not stop here.  I know that the next time I come across someone who is having a Birthday, I will do the same for them that you did for me.  Thank you again!”

“I believe that’s what we’re called to do… to bless one another,” he replied.  Rather than believe in theory, this man put his beliefs into action and what a powerful impact it had on me!

It got me to thinking again about my good friend who committed to performing 60 acts of kindness as her 60th Birthday gift to herself.  This is just the sort of thing she would do!

In the busyness of my life, how often do I miss out on opportunities to bless others? “Others” who I perceive to be strangers, but are merely friends I haven’t yet met?  It’s time for me to join my friend in performing random acts of kindness more intentionally. Having experienced first hand the power of such thoughtfulness, I am compelled to look for opportunities to pass it on…

~Zanne

InSearchOfAuthenticity.com

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