My Challenge To You & Starbucks (LOL!)
February 15th, 2011 @ 12:21 pm
As many of you know, my current favorite Starbucks concoction is the Caramel Brulee, which is seasonal and not currently in season at this time.
I love our Starbucks for many reasons, but my top reason is that they are adventurous and willing to try anything. They’ll create whatever I want them to and if I don’t like it, they’ll make me something else for free (even when it’s my idea for the bad concoction). For the record, I have never had a bad one, but to know that they’re willing to remake me something is very cool.
They also are full of suggestions. For instance, I went inside this past week to ask them a question (as it just didn’t seem worth asking in the drive-thru). LOL! I asked them if they had anything similar to the Caramel Brulee and lo and behold, someone came up with a concoction that is almost dead on in taste. They even wrote it down for me before I left. Score!
So, if you’re a fan of the Caramel Brulee or hadn’t taken time to try it and wish you had, have your Barista make a Grande with 2 pumps of white mocha, 1 pump of caramel, and 1 pump of toffee nut. Perfection!!!
Ok, so for my challenge for you all…(and I don’t mean to be tooting my own horn as it seems to sound like that now that I’m rereading what I wrote, but necessary to explain my challenge to you):
I went through the drive-thru the other day and I often times pay for the person behind me. This particular visit, the thought crossed my mind to pay for the person behind me, but immediately, I told myself “no” because if I did, then that’s one less visit I’ll get to make this month (how selfish am I?). As I get up to the window and waiting for them to make my drink, I look in my rear view mirror and see a lady with a look of stress on her face or she was flustered because she had a lot on her plate (or whatever) and then notice the infant car seat in the back seat of her vehicle (yes, I could see this all in my rear view mirror). Again, the thought pops into my mind to pay for this lady behind me. I wasn’t going to let this thought pass me by again (maybe even a God prompting to bless this lady in turmoil behind me). I decided to follow this possible God prompting, giving up my selfish thinking (wanting to hoard it for myself).
Every time I choose to do this, the Barista always asks me if I know the person behind me. I had never thought about that (that I might pay for the person behind me because I know them). I guess I never think it’s possible to be in a Starbucks drive-thru with someone I know right behind me. Anyway, I say, “no” and the Barista always seems to be impressed. I then think how I’m not only blessing this person behind me, but also “speaking” to this Barista who gets to experience my generosity toward a stranger and get to see the look on the persons face behind me that gets the surprise that her order had just been paid for by someone she’ll never meet.
Today something interesting happened when the Barista asked if I knew the person behind me. He mentioned that sometimes this starts a chain reaction. The person behind me decides to pay for the person behind her and so on. I had never thought of that happening. By me choosing to bless someone behind me, they may make the choice to bless the person behind them and so on. It’s a blessing that keeps on giving and it wasn’t even planned or thought through. And even if the person doesn’t decide to pass it on, they’ll remember what I did for them throughout the day, go home and tell their loved one or a friend, and possibly one day do the same for someone else because they remember how it felt to be blessed out of the blue by a stranger. It’s something so simple and it isn’t expensive to do.
My Challenge To You:
I challenge you to go throughout your next week or two and bless a stranger in some way, then come back here and leave a comment telling us what you did (and you can choose to do the exact same thing I did). I can’t wait to hear the stories! Have fun and know that this could be just what this person needs to set their day on a great path. 
Miscellaneous
First of all, how I am your friend? I feel like a selfish schlub compared to you.
I have always wanted to do this — but never have. I’m going to try it..however, there are no drive-thru Starbucks in NJ. I’ll try someplace else.
What you have done is a true Pay It Forward (Great movie, might I add)
Seriously Jan, there have got to be more people in the world like you. You are certainly doing your share by selflessly giving of yourself because you want to.
And coincidentally, it’s Random Act of Kindness Week.
You are truly amazing. I know I say that a lot — but it’s true!
Feb 15 at 8:53 pm
Rachel – did you not read that I wasn’t meaning to toot my own horn? I am a VERY selfish person by nature (having Brody has taught me that…learning to put others first). I honestly don’t think I ever did this before having Brody. Now that I have him, I have an idea how flustered Moms can get, life is hard and different than it was from day-to-day. There are stressful days, frustrating days, days of joy, days you want to give up and so on. Doing something nice for someone else brings me joy. It not only lifts up the spirits of those I bless, but it lifts my spirits as well. And very cool that it happens to be “Random Act of Kindness” this week. Ironic!
Feb 15 at 8:56 pm
Well, you know me well enough to know that I don’t like coffee of any kind and those price$, but that was great to read that you DID go ahead and pay for the one behind you and the chain reaction is wonderful, too.
A couple weeks ago, our pastor and wife handed out $5 to each of us in church and we were to report what we did with it. One report was a woman buying a Thinking-of-You card and leaving it on a grouchy co-worker’s desk. I guess this woman went around with a smile on her face.
I will report this next Sunday with a sackful of Caps for the Homeless that probably cost only 50c each to make out of acrylic instead of the $5 that the wool helmet liners each cost the last 5 or so years when I was making 2 a week and taking 13 hrs. each to make. What a relief to learn that the govt. is now going to supply them. I hope they are of wool, too, as wool does not burn….
Your gramps had asked when I was going to quit and I had answered, When they all come home or I die. I didn’t think about the 3rd possibility.
Mary and Wayne did that (pay for the one behind you) deal when FCC had only one service and told people to go out and BE the church. I guess they just cut into line and paid people’s bills. It took a while to spend the $80 total that the whole family, in the van, had to spend.
More fun, they claimed.
Love,
gg
Feb 15 at 9:48 pm
I love the story about the lady purchasing the “thinking of you” card for her grouchy co-worker and how it made her co-worker go around with a smile on her face. See, it’s that easy. Just a simple gesture changes things for one person. It’s worth it!
Feb 15 at 9:52 pm
Great challenge, Jan! I sometimes do this also and it’s a lot of fun to know you’re blessing someone and being a witness for Christ at the same time. I can’t wait to hear what we all do with this challenge.
Feb 16 at 10:07 am
I’m not surprised you’ve done this before Susan. We have the same brain and all, so it makes sense we would do the same things. LOL! I love spreading God’s love (being Jesus with skin on).
I know there are a lot of people that read my blog, but have never left comments. Whether you leave a comment or not, I hope you accept this challenge. See how good it feels. 
Feb 16 at 11:04 am
While working at the coffee bar at our church, we have lots of people “pay it forward” and it’s not uncommon for the next person to do so as well. As the cashier, I often have lots of money to keep paying for the next person! I especially love it when it’s for a little kids that just wants a $1 Smoothie. It’s fun to see the smile on their face!! I agree….it is very rewarding!!
Feb 16 at 11:35 am
I hadn’t thought about people doing that at church. Very cool! And how fun for a child to go to get something and find out it’s free. That has to speak to them and blow their mind. Very cool!
Feb 16 at 7:04 pm