So, we are doing one good deed every day in Lent.  That means 40 good deeds, one done every day to a complete stranger that will change their day, even if in the slightest little way.  It does not have to cost money, that is the most important thing to remember.  My pals and I doing this and LOVING it.  They are learning so much about kindness and strangers and compassion and really, overall – love.  That is what doing all of this boils down to, simple love from your heart to someone you never laid eyes on and probably never will again.

Today we went for a standard “pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru line.”  My pals were so excited about this one at McDonald’s.  As soon as someone pulled up to us they were turning around giggling and just waving like crazy.  It was a mini-van filled with teenage boys.  My first thought was, “ouch….this is not going to be cheap” but we made the deal and if it was 50 dollars worth of Big Macs, really even better, a better story for them to tell.  See, we want people to share the stories and get inspired to do something along the same lines.

Once a year we get a shamrock shake and today was it.  I ordered my pals 3 shamrock shakes and pulled up to the window.  I said to the nice cashier that I would like to pay for my shakes as well as the people who were behind us.  Whatever their order was, we got the whole kit and caboodle.  She looked at me like I had 3 eyeballs.  I then explained to her that my pals and I were trying to bring back some “pay it forward goodness” for Lent and get people thinking about how good they feel when someone does something so simple for them, maybe then they will pass it along.  The cashier got a huge grin on her face and said “This is so cool.  I have never seen anyone do this.”  I also asked her to please give them this note.

She was just as excited as we were.  We pulled up to the next window and saw her hand them the note and they were just going crazy – waving their hands, I am fairly certain I saw a high 5!  It was adorable.  My kids were waving back at them, they were waving like crazy, I was smiling with tears.  It was awesome….all around.

And that was it, we drove away excited to make someone’s day.

And then this happened…..

Which did not make my day.  I had to scrub that down in 12 degree weather but STILL totally worth it.

Game over.

Oh wait, I know you want to know how much the min-van of teenage boys cost me.  It was $6.18.  I said to the cashier, “they are going to wish they all went for that Big Mac when you give them this note.”   We were prepared to pay for whatever they ordered, that was the deal my pals and I made going in to this one but it wasn’t like I could run back and tell them to order more.  It would have ruined the fun surprise.  Hopefully they all shared.

We’ll do this on again at a different spot because it is fun to see the excitement and then peel right out like some Super hero you will never see again…a Super Hero who got you some fries and a story you won’t soon forget. Hell, your poor friend who decided to save his money and not order may even remember it a little longer.

Until tomorrow….