LIVE A POSITIVE LIFE. INFLUENCE OTHERS.

I was enjoying the last slices of my roasted chicken in this well-known fast food outlet when my eyes widened upon seeing traces of blood on the chicken meat and the chicken bone. The funny thing about this is that my shock led me to swallow the meat in my mouth in a split second.

As I reached out for my glass of water, hoping to push down the slightly raw chicken on my throat, a waiter passed by as he delivered the order from the next table. I politely told him of my discovery so that he could give the kitchen guys a heads up and hopefully produce a well-cooked batch of chicken from then on.

I was surprised when he asked me if I wanted another piece for free. I was delighted and hesitant at the same time. I was hesitant because I sort of already consumed a number of calories for dinner and second, when I asked the waiter, he said the first meal will be charged to the staff in the grill station. I said it’s totally up to them if they are willing to replace my meal. I was calm and collected because I was not really asking for any replacement. I was contented with his kind attention. Some 15 seconds later, the manager himself came to me and asked me and offered a new meal. I finally said yes to another round of chicken.

My meal was swiftly delivered to me in less than three minutes.

I made my first slice just to check if it was just like the first one. Nope. It did not have any hint of blood in it. It was perfect, except that they forgot to give me my set of utensils. But I didn’t mind raising my hand again to ask for my spoon and fork. 

My mind tells me that this second serving tastes way better than the first. Is it because it was free? I don’t know. I’d like to think that it tasted better because it was served with a conscious effort on quality and it was laden with courtesy when the plate was laid on my table. ^-^

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I’m in a coffee shop right now and I just can’t help but share this story printed on the Readers Digest in August 2010.

The story aptly titled ‘Perfect Strangers’ told of how kindness often begets kindness even from total strangers.   

Twenty one years ago, a Singaporean man was flying to the city of Surigao in the north of the island of Mindanao, Philippines. He was flying solo and his flight schedule required him to spend a night in Cebu City before he could catch a ferry the following day to Surigao City.

In the plane, he sat next to a Filipino man who was in his 40s. They did not pay much attention to each other during the trip. But as they are nearing their destination, the Filipino guy took out a magazine and painstakingly read it - squinting as his eyes coped with the darkness of the cabin. Outside, the sun was setting and it was nearly dark.

(image courtesy of google)

The Singaporean guy quickly pressed the button that turned on the reading lights. As the lights came on, the Filipino guy smiled and uttered his first word to the stranger: “Thank you.”

The Singaporean man then learned that he was sitting next to a pastor who was living in Cebu City.

To make the long story short, the pastor offered the Singaporean man not just a ride in the city but also a place to stay for a night in Cebu City.

This was what the Singaporean guy said in the story: “I was speechless for a moment. Here was a stranger I had just met on the plane, a man I hardly knew, and all I did was to switch on the reading lights for him. I did not expect anything in return.”

The Singaporean accepted the Filipino man’s hospitality. Years later, it was the pastor’s turn to visit Singapore and he received the same courtesy and hospitality from his Singaporean friend.

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Friends, never forget: What goes around comes around.

You give kindness, you receive kindness.

A man reaps what he sows. Galatians 6:7 (NIV)