Friday, May 21, 2010

Pay it Forward

Among the many ‘regulars’ in my apartment block is this bunch of elderly ladies who get together and chat for a couple of hours. Most of them sit down on the low concrete platforms built for the purpose, but one always has the security guard bring her a plastic chair. We know the ladies are there, but they are so much a part of the landscape nobody really pays much heed to them.
Yesterday, the lady who sits on the chair arrived a little early. Her friends hadn’t come yet, and she was standing near the platform waiting for them to arrive.
A six year old was loitering nearby, waiting for his friend to come. He saw the lady standing, brought the chair out, and asked her to sit. She patted him on the cheek and said thank you. He blushed, and ran away.


I did not witness it, but when I heard about it, my heart swelled with pride. The six-year was my son, and his instinctive act of kindness gave me more pleasure than I may have got if he topped in class.

Call it ‘Random Acts of Kindness”, as I do, or “Pay it Forward” as B. Miller does, but I do believe in the power of doing something selfless for someone you have absolutely no expectations from. It invariably creates a ripple effect- whether you ask the person to ‘pay it forward’ or not, he person you have been nice to is invariably nice to someone else, and that person is good to someone else in turn. The circle may or may not close back on you, but it does increase the total amount of happiness floating around.

B. Miller is also running a Pay it Forward giveaway – further details here.

20 comments:

Amber at The Musings of ALMYBNENR said...

What an inspiring post! I'm proud of your son too! 6 years old! :)

Lydia Kang said...

You should be so proud! I am!

Jackee said...

So sweet. I love when I hear about how nobly my child has acted when I'm not there.

Such a proud moment!

Marjorie said...

What a good boy! I wish I could just give him a great big hug. How nice to see that your son is so kind to others.

Jaydee Morgan said...

Ah, yes, you're son is definitely a sweetheart and I understand your pride totally :)

Have a great weekend!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Awww...I'd be a proud mama too! :-)

Have a great weekend!

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

You must be proud, but a child gets their good
(and not so good)points from their parents, so
indirectly how you have reared him have had a part to play,

Enjoy the week-end.
Yvonne,

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You've raised your son well, Rayna!

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a touching post. I'm so proud of your son too!

Stacy Post said...

Fantastic news! Often we don't see or hear about our children's kindnesses. You are so blessed! Be sure to tell that story to him when he is older. What a kind spirit!

Hart Johnson said...

That reinforces what a great mom you are that he knows how to just be a NICE kid! I'm so proud of him! My kids will be arriving Mid-June so you can perform said miracle with them.

Jan Morrison said...

Ah! The nut doesn't fall far from the tree does it? and what a face! proud mama you done good raising those kids.

Unknown said...

You have brought up your son right and you see the rewards. I'm proud of him. Great pay it forward.

CD

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Oh that is so sweet!!!! You proud mama!

Hold my hand: a social worker's blog said...

Dear Rayna,

Thanks for visiting my blog, and for your thoughtful note. I certainly enjoyed reading it. I have also enjoyed your insightful posts. Thanks for sharing. Blessings.
Doris
www.doris-socialworker.blogspot.com

Jemi Fraser said...

Wonderful! Your son is going to become a great young man :)

Unknown said...

How incredibly sweet and thoughtful, you should indeed be very proud Rayna. And I completely agree with you, kindnesses are always paid forward, whether we see the fruits of our labor or not!

Lisa said...

What a precious little sweetie! And he's quite adorable too!

dipali said...

It's one of those things that is so heart warming to read!

Natasha said...

Replying very late, but I love you all, and thank you for bearing with me.

@ Amber - makes up for all the times when he exasparates the hell out of me.

@ Lydia - you bet I am

@ Jackee - it is always a proud moment, isn't it?

@ Marjorie - I'll pass the hug onto him.

@ Jaydee - he is, isnt' he?

@ Shannon - I am.

@ Yvonne - wouldn't I like to believe that.

@ Alex - thank you
@ Fiona - thank you

@ Stacy - he is a kind chap. I was lucky I got to hear of his kindness

@ Tami - I would love to have them. Nat seems a teen version of him.

@ Jan - I definitely am a proud mamma

@ Karen - thank you, and I hope the kindness remains. At the end of the day, that is all that really counts.

@ Clarissa - thank you

@ Diane - that I am

@ Doris - thank you. I love your blog too

@ Jemi - great, I don't know about. But kind is perhaps more important.

@ Trudy - I am proud. Very proud

@ Lisa - thank you

@ dipali - I would have said the same had I read about something similar. Now I am just proud

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