Several years ago during the time leading up to Christmas, I started something that has become an on and off habit. On and off, because admittedly sometimes I am so caught up in myself and thoughts that I forget to do it. It started out while standing in a checkout line in a store. The customers in line in front of me consisted of a mother and a young child. Suddenly, a voice in my head said, “Give that child a dollar bill and tell them to take it home and put it in their Piggy Bank.” I have learned over the years that that voice is the voice of the Holy Spirit prompting me to do something I would normally not think up on my own. So, I listened. The child and the mother were both shocked but very thankful for this random act of kindness.
So, I have continued to do this over the years. When out eating in a restaurant or standing in line, if I see a young child I give them a dollar and tell them one of my goals in life is to help kids Feed the Piggy. I have received a variety of responses to this over the years, but always positive. Some children are of course shy and they nestle into the arms of a parent, tentatively reach for the dollar, and maybe mumble a small thank you when prompted. Others get this big smile on their face, reach for it, and say thank you without being prompted. Still others smile, get excited, and tell me about a toy or game they have been saving up for and how this will help them reach their goal. The best, however, is that rare occasion when the child after one of these reactions turns to their parent and asks if they can give me a hug. A million dollar hug in exchange for a dollar is not a bad investment at all.
On Valentine’s Day of this year I found myself standing in line at the coffee shop of a local bookstore. While waiting for my order to be prepared I was standing near a table where a very young couple and a very young baby were sitting. I of course smiled and waved at the baby who gave me a small smile back. This led to me striking up the usual conversation with the parents – “How old is he? What’s his name? And I love his little Valentine’s Day bib and outfit.” The mother replied, “5 months. Jonah. And yes, he is Mommy’s little Valentine,” with obvious pride and love in her voice. After I got my coffee I walked over to the table with a dollar in my hand. I asked Jonah if he had a piggy bank yet. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t answer. But his mom said, “No, not yet. I wish.” I handed her the dollar, and still talking to Jonah I said, “Well, when you get one, here’s your first dollar to put in it.”
Obviously, Jonah didn’t respond. But the mother’s reaction melted my heart. She was so grateful and thankful. She told me that was such a sweet thing to do and that when she got home she was going to write the date on the dollar and write down how and when he got it. I wished them all well and went on my way.
While I’ll never know if that’s what she actually does with the dollar, a part of me kind of hope she does. Not for my sake. She doesn’t even know my name and will probably soon forget what I look like. But for Jonah’s sake I like to think that years down the road he’ll still have a dollar with a date written on it and a story behind it about the kindness of a stranger. I like to think that dollar will follow him through life and that on those days when life seems hard, harsh, and unkind that he will use to remind himself that not everyone is like that. And I like to think that it will inspire him to be the kind of person to share similar acts of kindness to the people he encounters in his life.
As stated, this all occurred on Valentine’s Day. According to a quick Internet search, I discovered that the people in the United States were expected to spend a total of $26 billion dollars this year for the holiday. I’m sure many of those gifts were bought and given with sincere love for the other person and received with sincere gratitude by the person getting the gift. Yet, we all must admit the commercialization of this holiday (and others) has also created a culture in where people feel the pressure of being obligated to spend big money on someone to express their love, as well as creating within others to feel a sense of entitlement to receive a wonderful and expensive gift.
Yet, my experience with my “Feed the Piggy” efforts over the years I have learned that the best gifts and the most appreciated gifts are those that come unexpectedly out of the blue and for no seemingly purpose whatsoever. That is true for the child (or parent on behalf of the child) receiving a simple dollar. But, I would dare say it has been even more true for me as I get the gift of simply giving someone a moment of unexpected joy and surprise.
I am writing this on the second day of the Lenten Season. So, to sum up, I would encourage you all to take time during this period of reflection leading up to Easter to think about the unexpected and unmerited gifts of Love, Mercy, and Grace offered to us by God. If you have taken advantage of them in your personal life, then take this time to be thankful. If you have not, here’s a message for you that they are available for the taking.
Notes from a Book Nerd 