Spontaneous Acts of Kindness For Our Men and Women in Uniform--Follow Up #2

This is an idea that came out of experience. While in our local Paneras (a wonderful sandwich and bread shop chain), we saw an airman in uniform buying some food at the bakery counter. We were in line to get lunch, so I held our place and my husband went to the other cash register and insisted on paying for the airman's order. The manager, behind the counter, was so nice--he told my husband that if there were more people like us in the world, there would be no problems. He gave us the receipt for the airman's meal and directed my husband to go to the first of two registers with it. We did--though he HAD already paid at the bakery register. We didn't quite "get it" until we got to the register and ordered our lunch. The guy behind our register said, "no--your bill is taken care of. Trust me, it really is." We then realized that the manager was so moved by our "random act of kindness for the airman," that he in turn took care of our meal. That certainly was not our intention, but it also was a wonderful exhibition of human kindness "paying it forward." My husband did say the manager was visibly moved when the airman and he shook hands and thanked each other for their service (my husband is a Vietnam vet).

The following week my husband again saw a military soldier at a convenience store. He was already leaving and had already paid. He said he really wanted to do something for the guy, but didn't want to chase him down and give him cash. He probably wouldn't have taken it.

So... here's the addition to the random acts plan. I've decided to buy some gift cards at various local convenience stores, gas stations, etc. And now when such an occurence takes place, we'll be prepared. We'll give him or her a gift card that they can use whenever they like. I think I'll just go with getting $10 and $20 per card. It's the thought after all. Just passing it along to you too. Arm yourself with some gift cards and see what magic happens when you "Thank" a member of our armed forces!