Back before we had babies I worked at a hospital, and as a gift from the Lord Himself, there was a little coffee shop in that hospital.

One morning, as I was getting ready to start my shift, I hit up the coffee shop.

There was a nurse in line in front of me… boy, I wish I could remember her name!

{If you’ve had kids – you know you start forgetting an awful lot!}

Anyway, this gal was sweet as honey!

She ordered her drink and when she was taking her coffee in hand, readying to go save some lives, she said to the barista while pointing at me, “This one’s on me! Charge her’s to my account.”

Then she turned to me, raised her coffee cup in the air as if to say “cheers,” and started on her merry way.

I was taken back because I surely didn’t expect that. …

This random act of kindness took me off guard and left me wanting words but not much came to my pre-caffeinated head except,

“What? You don’t have to do that! Thank you!”

She turned over her shoulder as she made her way through the room, smiled a real smile (you know the kind) and said, “Have a great day! ~ Pay it forward.”

And just like that, this magical coffee-gifting-nurse-Santa was in and out, and off with a dash… leaving that place better than she found it.

All these years later (…maybe something like 15 years later…?), I still remember that moment.

I don’t remember her name or what unit she worked in, but I remember how she made me feel.

Today, as you do your thing in whatever your places are, be like that nurse … be like the bee … color the world with simple acts of kindness.

Don’t overthink it.

Don’t try to talk yourself out of it.
Follow the lead of your heart & know that no act of kindness is too small.