{Shared with me by my daughter, published with permission from her kindred.}
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RE: If I had a blog, I would post this….
The man behind me in line at Starbucks just bought my drink.
After telling the barista to put my drink on his card, he explained with a smile—a smile very much at home on his kind, round face—that someone in the drive thru covered his meal the other day. He wanted to extend the kind deed to me.
He has short brown hair, he works at Carmax, and every morning he gets a grande bold coffee with a toasted multi grain bagel. He rarely orders anything other than his usual for the same reasons I will order nothing but a white chocolate mocha. Whenever he orders a white chocolate mocha he gets three shots of espresso in it.
I didn’t get his name.
I saw Jesus in his eyes.
I wish I would have told him that.
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I fiercely love my daughter's friend, Maddie. Her friendship (together with Abbie's) was oxygen to my daughter when she transferred schools as a junior. She's a senior this year and, oh, how I've missed seeing these girls in my kitchen, almost as much as I miss my own daughter, now away at college.
Passionate and confident in so many ways, after attending a weekend event I can't recall now, Maddie recently made me crush all over again when she made this declaration:
[It = deleting her Facebook page] "It was great! I actually lived life instead of feeling the pressure to fake-live it on Facebook."
Did I mention she's also wise and mature beyond her years?
When I read her gorgeous email to my daughter, when I noticed the subject line, I thought "You DO have a blog you can post it on…."
Nothing would make me happier than for YOU to share your thoughts and responses to encourage this burgeoning writer as she approaches the end of high school. Can't you sense her potential?! ~ smile ~
This is beautiful.
Happy sigh . . . what a lovely story. These are the stories that should make the news. These are the stories that make a real difference in the lives of people. Thank you for providing the venue, Robin.
Maddie,
You’re doing good, girl! I’m a teen writer too, trying to follow behind Jesus with a line of ink. The responsibility of being a young person with a certain amount of insight into life is that we become quiet, behind-scenes leaders. It can be difficult, but so rewarding. Write on!
Everly
Oh my goodness, so profound. This is beautiful, and a good reminder that sometimes the short posts pack a harder punch than the verbose ones.
P.S. White chocolate mocha is my favorite too. Enjoy those calories while you can! 🙂
“….a smile very much at home on his kind, round face.” Love. Thanks for sharing. Made my day!
Great eye for including details. Hope she pursues journalism or something related! 🙂 (from a journalist 😉 )
This is great!! How touching!
sweet… and encouraging.
Well done, Maddie. Well done and well said.
This is lovely. Why does the girl NOT have a blog again? Someone with such wise words to share should have one!
{{Wow, y’all, your encouragement to Maddie has sent MY heart soaring FOR her! Thank you for taking time to speak LIFE into her life!}} xo, ~ robin
such a inspiring story! so beautifully shared~
thanks, maddie!
Maddie, I love your writing and would put it in my Google reader for sure. It’s always a treat to see the world through the eyes of someone else.
Maddie,
Keep writing! Start a blog of your own, it’s easy peasy!
About a week or so ago some lady did this same thing to me at the Library as I was asking how much my fine was. This lady overheard what the amount was and walked over and put the money on the counter in front of me and pushed it across to the librarian. My mouth dropped open. I have never had that happen to me. All she said was “pass it on”. Wow.
I have paid the toll for the car behind me a few times in the past but had never had anyone do that sort of thing for me.
God is good and rains on the just and the unjust. We should be doing the same.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Such wise and beyond-your-years words! Thanks for sharing your story! May we all be Jesus at Starbucks or wherever we are!
This gave me the little boost of joy I needed to end my day. Thank you, Maddie. Keep writing.
This made me smile. 😉
Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of a good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things. Phil. 4:8