A cup of coffee on the wall

[LADYPINKtomato1]

A CUP OF COFFEE ON THE WALL


I sat with a friend in a high-class coffee shop in a small town near Venice, Italy. As we enjoyed our coffee, a man entered and sat at an empty table beside us.


He called the waiter and placed his order saying, "Two cups of coffee, one of them there on the wall." We heard this order with some interest and observed that he was served with only one cup of coffee but he paid for two. As soon as he left, the waiter pasted a piece of paper on the wall with the words written 'A Cup of Coffee'.


While we were still there, two other men entered and ordered three cups of coffee, "Two on the table and one on the wall." They had only two cups of coffee but paid for three and left. This time again, the waiter did the same; he pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying, 'A Cup of Coffee'.



It seemed that this gesture was a norm at this place. However, it was something unique and perplexing for us. Since we had nothing to do with the matter we finished our coffee, paid the bill and left.



After a few days, we happened to visit this coffee shop again. While we were enjoying our coffee, a man entered. The way the man was dressed did not match the standard nor the atmosphere of the coffee shop.



Poverty was evident from the look on his face and his attire. As he seated himself, he looked at the wall and said, "One cup of coffee from the wall please." The waiter served a coffee to this man with the customary respect and dignity.



The man drank his coffee and left without paying. We were amazed to watch all this when we also noticed that the waiter took off a piece of paper from the wall and threw it in the dust bin. Then it dawned on us what this custom was all about. The great respect for the needy shown by the inhabitants of this town welled up our eyes with tears.




Coffee is not a need of our society, nor a necessity of life. The point to note is that when we take pleasure in any blessing, maybe we also need to think about those people who appreciate that specific blessing as much as we do but they cannot afford to have it.


Note the character of the waiter, who is playing a consistent and generous role to get the communication going between the affording and the needy with a smile on his face.


Ponder upon this man in need. He enters the coffee shop without having to lower his self-esteem. He has no need to beg for a free cup of coffee. He only looked at the wall, placed an order for himself, enjoyed his coffee and left.



When we analyze this story, along with the other characters, we need to remember the role played by the wall that reflects the generosity and care of the dwellers of this town. What a way to show compassion and maintain human dignity for all.

 

[indianacarnie]

If this was a true story , its awesome.

 

[LADYPINKtomato1]

I've heard of "paying forward.. you do something nice for someone without expecting anything in return.. then they pass along to someone.. keep it ongoing ".. this is a little like that idea, but even better I think.
I'm thinking of asking the manager at our MickeyD's if I might start one there. People are so strapped for money now days and homeless.

 

[indianacarnie]

Great idea! I try to do a little "pay it forward" myself as I've had it paid forward to me a few times. Also the "random act of kindness", makes me feel a little better about myself. Selfish sounding I know, but I have a few years to atone for for lack of a better word. Did one last week for confused and "lost" older Lady at Krogers that made MY day. She wasn't expecting what I did but I can still see her smile and hear her thank you. Random acts, unexpected for both involved parties, are as good for the soul of the actor as the actee. Imho of course.

 

[BrightBlessings]

Yeah, to do something for somebody and not expect anything in return does have it's own reward, and to do it anonymously is good karma all round.

 

[jdXp610]

Here's something to try without having the wall ..

When I get my morning coffee at work I will often say to the cashier
"take the money for the next cup of coffee also" ...

One day I was approached by someone who works for the same company although we do not know each other,
and he asked "why did you pay for the next person's coffee?"
All I said was "how do you feel?" and he said "great" and I replied "that's why".

If those that follow feel a little better then you will have likely made someone's day

 

[kbronski]

Reaching out a hand to help those in need... A simple concept, often talked about but little acted upon.
When I do have enough, I set aside into a benevolence fund that I use to help people in need. Last fall, I had the opportunity to help a young, single mom pay her rent when she was on the verge of eviction. Things like that leave a lasting mark on people.

 

[Layback Bear]

Giving when your not expected to is true giving. Some stories.

A person picked up a hitch hiker. A little small take passed and the drivers told the hiker he could get him about half way to his destination. Driver asked the hiker if a little traveling money was needed and then reached into his pocket and handed the hiker his money and said; please take half and hand the rest back.
After pulling over to let the hiker out the driver said to the hiker to remember. When you get on your feet pass a little giving along to the next needy person with the same request to pass it along.
------------------
A person picked up a young woman walking in the rain at night. Then took the woman to a housing project where she said she lived. Before getting out the woman asked how she could repay the driver for the needed help she received.
The answer was. When you can; give a helping hand to another and ask them to do the same when they can.
One will never know if the helping hands were ever passed on to others but the driver thinks they will.
I enjoy my coffee from cups I bought from the Salvation Army Thrift Store. Used but not abused.
Thank you LADYPINKtomato1 for the video.

 

[LADYPINKtomato1]

Reaching out a hand to help those in need... A simple concept, often talked about but little acted upon.
When I do have enough, I set aside into a benevolence fund that I use to help people in need. Last fall, I had the opportunity to help a young, single mom pay her rent when she was on the verge of eviction. Things like that leave a lasting mark on people.

A beautiful idea, no doubt she will never forget your generous act. I hope we all remember your very kind act, try doing something special to help others .

 

[LADYPINKtomato1]

Here's something to try without having the wall ..

When I get my morning coffee at work I will often say to the cashier
"take the money for the next cup of coffee also" ...

One day I was approached by someone who works for the same company although we do not know each other,
and he asked "why did you pay for the next person's coffee?"
All I said was "how do you feel?" and he said "great" and I replied "that's why".

If those that follow feel a little better then you will have likely made someone's day

So very true..,We are usually more generous than people think, our Sunday School class tries to help those in need.. we have a clothes closet at the church as well our SS class has a food pantry. We did finally have to set a few limits on the clothing closet , our SS class also adopted a child at the childrens home near by , we make sure she has gifts for her birthday., Christmas and etc. along with taking her and a friend out to dinner ocassionally, helping others is part of why we are here.

 

[kbronski]

Giving when your not expected to is true giving. Some stories.

A person picked up a hitch hiker. A little small take passed and the drivers told the hiker he could get him about half way to his destination. Driver asked the hiker if a little traveling money was needed and then reached into his pocket and handed the hiker his money and said; please take half and hand the rest back.
After pulling over to let the hiker out the driver said to the hiker to remember. When you get on your feet pass a little giving along to the next needy person with the same request to pass it along.
------------------
A person picked up a young woman walking in the rain at night. Then took the woman to a housing project where she said she lived. Before getting out the woman asked how she could repay the driver for the needed help she received.
The answer was. When you can; give a helping hand to another and ask them to do the same when they can.
One will never know if the helping hands were ever passed on to others but the driver thinks they will.
I enjoy my coffee from cups I bought from the Salvation Army Thrift Store. Used but not abused.
Thank you LADYPINKtomato1 for the video.

That's really cool. I've always been nervous about hitchhikers, to be completely honest. There are some roads around here where signs are posted that read "DO NOT PICK UP HITCH HIKERS". Apparently in some cities it is illegal to do so. I guess you never know what you're going to find, and the last thing I would want to have happen is to lose my car with whatever may be in it (generally guitar equipment, wallet, phone, and laptop bag) in the middle of nowhere.

 

[jdXp610]

Reaching out a hand to help those in need... A simple concept, often talked about but little acted upon.
When I do have enough, I set aside into a benevolence fund that I use to help people in need. Last fall, I had the opportunity to help a young, single mom pay her rent when she was on the verge of eviction. Things like that leave a lasting mark on people.

AWESOME