Jenny Young shared how a kind stranger paid for her and her husband’s lunch while they were running errands; the act of kindness deeply moved her.
South Africa (17 October 2023) – Jenny Young, a retired South African, was left in awe when she learned an anonymous man had paid for her and her husband’s lunch. The random act of kindness moved her to share the details on her blog.
“Yesterday was a busy day. Normally on a Monday night I do a load of washing of towels and bathroom mats and then on Tuesday morning, the bedding and pyjamas. Because we have been away, we had an accumulation of dirty laundry to which we added pillowcases and pyjamas and it was a full two loads. All of it had to be hung on the washing line.
Tuesday is also shopping day and, again because we have been away, it was a bigger shop than usual. It was nearly 2 pm and we were still doing the vegetables when I suggested to my husband that we stop at the restaurant near the fruit and vegetable shop for lunch.”
As the pair were awaiting their pension payments, they split a single toasted sandwich and opted not to have a coffee. They sat chatting about the day and when they were done, asked for their bill.
“A pretty young trainee waitress came to clear our plates and I asked her to organise the bill for us. We waited and waited. Then, when we saw the man who had seated us and taken our order, we asked again for the bill. We know him quite well as we have been going to that restaurant for years and we’ve seen him rise from a junior waiter to the one in control of the floor. He said, “Not today. You can pay next time,” smiled broadly and went away. I thought he was joking.
We really had to get on with the recycling before going home to unpack. We hesitated a bit longer, not certain of what to do. Finally, I called him again. “Are you sure we don’t have to pay?” I asked, “What’s going on?”
“Somebody else paid for you,” he said. “Didn’t you see that man over there?” He pointed to an empty table diagonally behind me. “Didn’t you see he had two bill folds?”
I hadn’t. He had been behind my back. Although my husband had briefly glanced at the man at the table, it was not anybody that we knew.”
Jenny was deeply moved by the act of kindness and was so chuffed that they had been the recipient of a random act of kindness.
“My reactions were mixed. I was dumbfounded. Embarrassed. Grateful. Humbled. Excited. Inspired. It was only a couple of days ago that I read of a coffee shop in Jo’burg where patrons are encouraged to “Pay it Forward.” Now it had happened to me.”
She shared the moment in full via her blog here along with messages of hope and scripture related to kindness and giving. Her experience shows that even the smallest acts of kindness bring untold joy to those who receive them.
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