Pay it forward means that when someone does something for you, instead of paying that person back directly, you perform a good deed to another person instead. What a beautiful concept. Imagine, someone doing something special for you and the only thing they ask in return is for you to do something special for someone else when the time comes.

I remember driving on the Delaware bridge with my family once and when we got to the window to pay, the toll operator said “no payment required, the person in front of you paid your toll.” I was so touched and so happy to think that someone would do something like that for my family. A complete stranger wanted to do something that would bring joy to an unknown person.

In my lifetime there have been many strangers that have blessed me. Once in New York city I was in the store with my kids (they were young) and did not have enough money to pay for my purchase. A woman said to the cashier, add the rest to my bill. I said “thank you but that’s OK” and she said “no worries, people have helped me in the past and I am happy to help you.” My heart was filled with happiness, not because she paid the balance, but because she paid the balance and didn’t even know me. A few months later I was in a store and the same thing happened only vice versa. Someone was in line and didn’t have enough money to pay for their groceries. I stepped in and offered to provide the difference. When the lady looked embarrassed I told her how someone helped me a few months ago and the way she could pay me back was to one day help someone else if possible.

Luke 6:37–38 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Provide a blessing to someone when you can, in the end you will be blessing yourself. Be blessed in Jesus’ name.

Mary Simmons is a guest columnist for The Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch. She can be reached at Marysimmons6@hotmail.com.