Dear Teacher Paying it Forward,
Two days ago, the Whataburger at Five Points in Pace, FL, made the local news for a string of 105 pay it forward drive thru orders. The act of kindness lasted hours before the chain finally broke.
I love stories like these because they remind me of humanity's decency. They restore my hope that there is good in the world, even if every news outlet is broadcasting storms instead of rainbows.
I wasn't in the drive thru line that day, but I am willing to bet a honey chicken butter biscuit that many of the anonymous givers were sporting school badges.
It is no secret teachers make very little money, but the best-kept secret is that when you don't make much money, you realize you don't need much anyway.
As a result, you begin to give away even the little that you do have. This is because most teachers understand an investment in people rather than stocks pays larger dividends in the economy of ultimate contentment. They know this because they've been investing small tokens in the lives of their students for years.
Whether it is a smile, a kind word, a free pencil, or a couple of breakfast burritos, they somehow know the interest will compound eventually, and it does.
Again, I can't be certain any of the customers in line a few days ago were teachers. However, I do know every person who paid for another person's breakfast has had a teacher at some point, and most likely that teacher modeled what it means to be a generous giver.
If not, then how in the world did this chain reaction last for over an hour?
-CDB