Anonymous giving? What is this all about? Sit down, and let me tell you a story.
When I was in high school, my mother, father and I took a trip to see my brother perform in a band competition. One evening we had dinner in the hotel restaurant. A busload of senior citizens arrived, with passengers soon pouring into the surrounding tables. My father called the waiter over and whispered something in his ear. The waiter looked surprised, whispered back and then nodded. “What did you say,” my mother and I both blurted out. My father smiled and simply said, “You’ll see.”
A few moments later, the waiter walked in with a tray full of champagne glasses, filled to the brim. He began to walk around the tables, placing a glass of champagne at each guest’s plate. It went from “But I didn’t order this!” and “Where is this from?” to giggles, smiles and twinkling eyes. They were simply told, “It was from a friend.”
“You did this!! You ordered everyone champagne!” “Shhhhh,” said my father. “Just watch.” And watch we did. It was amazing.
But then I heard a conversation near me. It was a few of the bus passengers asking the driver if he had ordered the champagne. He casually smiled and said, “Let’s just say I might have had something to do with this.” At that moment I nearly stood up and yelled, “MY FATHER GAVE YOU THAT CHAMPAGNE!” But my father saw my reaction and immediately got my attention. He looked me in the eye and quietly said, “When you give a gift anonymously, it is the greatest gift of all.”
I’ve carried these words with me forever. Sadly, my father died years ago, but I still hear him in my heart, telling me this very same thing. I’ve tried to pass this knowledge to my children, who know this story well enough to tell it.
Recently it occurred to me. Why not share this message with the world? You can change someone’s day instantly with one, simple anonymous gift. It doesn’t have to be money, and it doesn’t have to be big. A single flower anonymously placed on a doorstep can make a difference.
My goal is to spread awareness about helping others through one small anonymous gift at a time. Baking cookies? Make a small plate and sneak it onto your neighbor’s doorstep! Have an extra $5.00? Place it in a mailbox of a rundown home with a sticky note stating, “Have a great day!” And then there is the oldie but goodie: buy the meal or coffee for the person behind you in the drive-thru line.
So I challenge you. Read through this website and make a difference!
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