Normally I review a book each Friday. But this week – with the craziness of the holidays – I haven’t had a moment to begin a book, much less review one.
So instead, I’d like to share with you a holiday story I heard on the radio last night. It’s about a man who “paid it forward.”
Pay it forward is the idea that we should do favors for others, because – someday, somewhere – someone will perform a kind act for us.
Rather than starting as the recipient, we start as the giver. We pay it forward rather than paying it back.
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Last night, a man wrote to a radio show to recall one Christmas – decades ago – when a he noticed that a car had broken down outside his home.
The car had popped a flat tire. It was an old car, and there was no spare tire in the back. A family of three – a husband, wife and their child — were stranded with a flat tire on Christmas.
The man greeted the stranded family. He invited the mother and child to come inside his home, where his own wife fixed them tea. Then he drove the father to a 24-hour shop to look for a new tire.
The stranded father protested that he couldn’t afford a new tire. So the man asked the shopkeeper if he had any good-quality used ones.
The shopkeeper did, and offered it for $25. The man bought it as a Christmas gift for the stranded family.
“How can I repay you?” the stranded father asked.
“Pay it forward,” the man replied.
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That was decades ago. Who knows where the family is now? Who knows what they’ve done for others — or what they haven’t done? That will always be a mystery.
But one thing is certain: The helpful man recalls that evening with fondness and clarity. Even today, decades later, he keeps getting joy from the memory of helping the stranded family.
In other words, the stranded family paid it forward — unexpectedly — by revealing the joy of giving.
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Happy Holidays from Afford Anything.
I’d Like to Thank the Academy …
- Thanks to the very festive Festival of Frugality for featuring my one of my posts.
- Thanks also to the Totally Money Carnival for featuring one of my posts.
- Thanks to Alex Proimo for the photo.
- Thanks to all of you, my readers, for being awesome!
That was a kind gesture on their part! I had no idea that there were 24-hour shops for that.
@Invest — I imagine it was the type of shop that you’d call if you blew a tire while you’re driving on the highway at 2 a.m. — a junkyard/tow shop type of place. I had to go to one midway through a long road trip when my car broke down late, late on a Sunday night just outside of Auburn, Alabama.
That’s really sweet. Been in similar situations before while traveling, and the kindness of strangers can truly be amazing. Happy holidays.
I am curious, has anyone given you a big “pay it forward” gift?
@Jim — That story reminded me of a time when my friend Kim and I were riding our bicycles across Spain, from Madrid to Malaga. Kim blew a flat tire and was riding on her spare, and later that same day, her spare tire popped. We were outside of someone’s house. The family took us in, fed us dinner, let us sleep in their guest room, and drove us to a bicycle shop the next day.
That’s a nice story. I love hearing stories where people reach out and help others, a selfless act of kindness
Merry Christmas Paula!
That’s indeed a very gracious act. Yeah, sometimes, we just need to be selfless and think of others who are in need and leave no hesitation in helping them out. It’s always a great feeling to remember times that you’ve actually done something for others without thinking of what to get in return. Thanks for sharing.
What a great story! I had a stranger help me recently, and I’m sure to pay it forward when the opportunity arises.
@Christa — I’m glad you got whatever help you needed! It’s always nice to be reminded of the kindness of strangers.
Great story, I think that we should all do more of it, not just at Christmas. I’ve had perfect strangers do me favours for no reason and have done the same for others in return, it really does make you feel good to know that you were able to help.
You’ve brought back memories of that beautiful film starring Kevin Spacey (aptly titled ‘Pay it Forward’). Thoroughly recommend for a feel good uplift!