More Of No Little People -- No Little Places

It's ironic, but this comes on the heels of a post that I made last Thursday. It was my intent to post this on Friday, but other things came up.

This is the heart-warming story of Jessica Osborne, 20, an Angola, Indiana, Pizza Hut waitress who received a check for $10,000 from a family who wishes to remain anonymous to everyone but Jessica.

A mother and two sons frequented the Pizza Hut coming in at least once a week and sometimes more. They always asked for Jessica because she had been nice to them on their first visit. Jessica made it a point, as she had time from her duties, to interact with them, and they shared what was going on in each of their lives. In their chats Jessica had told them about enrolling in college twice but had to drop out both times because of lack of funds. She had been editor of her high school newspaper and had a burning desire to study journalism.

A couple of weeks ago the family came in as usual but told Jessica that they were going to move away to another city and probably would not be seeing her anymore. Saddened Jessica asked them to come back and say goodbye before they left town.

The Sunday after that they returned with some other family members. When all of Jessica's tables were taken care of she greeted her "regular" customers and prepared for her goodbyes. After the usual pleasantries and introductions to the additional family members, Jessica was handed a folded check. The woman explained that the money was coming from an educational fund that had been set up when a family member died.

Jessica declined the gift, they insisted and Jessica will enroll in college this fall to persue her dream of becoming a journalist.

If you remember last Thursday's post -- No Little People - No Little Places -- some would say that Jessica was an insignificant person in an insignificant restaurant. But Jessica acted out her "sermon" and apparently greatly influenced this woman and her two children beyond her wildest dreams.

We may not be able to give something monetarily, but what we do give people in kindness, thoughtfulness and caring may be worth lots more to them than we would ever know.

May God bless you and yours.