Every now and again, you’ll get the chance to make a difference in someone’s life. The trick is spotting those moments before they pass you by.
But when you can spot them… lives can change. The young man in the story below was saddened to see a family of 6 order a small pizza -all they could afford- and then profusely apologize for the $1 tip they handed him. What he did next will absolutely make your day.
The Story – told from the point of view of the young pizza-delivery man.
I delivered pizza for a couple years after high school. We knew who tipped and who didn’t. Guess who’s order got bumped to the top of my route whenever possible?
But from time to time I did get a heartfelt apology on why they couldn’t tip more.
I got one such apology from someone that still sticks out in my mind.
It was a man in a small unkempt house(at least on the outside) who had ordered a small cheese pizza. He was profusely apologetic that he could only tip $1 (still not a no-tip like some other more well off people).
I could tell he was being extremely genuine.
Then I saw through the door to the kitchen: all 4 kids and a teenager were waiting anxiously for their pizza. 6 people sharing a small pizza because that was all they could afford.. It broke my heart.
My shift was just about over so I went back to cash out and made 2 large pizzas, wings, chicken tenders, grabbed some sodas, the whole 9.
Then I went back.
It looked like this grown man was going to burst into tears when I gave it to him, he was just super appreciative.
He offered to come down and pay for it all another day which I flat out refused. Yeah I didn’t do anything to get them out of their situation and it was the restaurant footing the bill anyway. But my hope is that he remembers that and maybe his kids learned that when you treat someone like a human being good things can happen.
Amen.
