Greg and I had a great discussion today.  Greg was feeling up beat about what he had done for Wayne, as he had begun to see a change in his attitude, he was showing a lot more appreciation, he was asking Greg for a can of drink, respectfully and the words   "THANKS GREG"  began to slip out occasionally, and that's all Greg needed...Greg was in a great mood.

But something else had begun to happen, Greg was saying, every-time he gave a pizza away to Wayne and others especially those who could not afford to pay, he felt this awesome feeling of love ...It was also the same sort of feeling he always feels, when he makes his pizzas for his customers, it wasn't making the pizza, it was the reality of creating an experience, by preparing a quality pizza, giving quality ingredients, and not shortchanging people.

it was as if the sense or act of giving, gave him a special sense of significance and he could see that Wayne was experiencing this as well, because Wayne knew that not only was he selling hearts for himself, but Wayne was giving hearts instead of begging and Wayne also knew in his own limited way, that he was helping a young Autistic girl with special needs, who was to receive some of the proceeds.

I shared with Greg, that their is a well known principle, that the moment you are in the act of love, as in service or in giving, then you are blessed instantly inside, your inner value, your inner self worth is raised. I also shared that the giver is more blessed than the receiver. A favorite quote given to me from a very dear friend is ...Never underestimate the opportunity that you give to me, in allowing me to give to you. Greg recognized that opportunity as he was experiencing that inner experience every time he gave the hearts the pizzas, the cans of drinks to Wayne ...he really did feel better having chosen to give to Wayne it was as if Wayne was in his life for a very special lesson on love and giving ...AND TRIALS.

Greg sat down and had a good chat with Wayne today,  not sure if Wayne really understood, but Greg felt a lot better having talked to Wayne and there did seem to be a spark of appreciation in Wayne, but in his own limited understanding.

I also had a chat with Wayne he talked a lot about God which surprised me and Greg he seemed to have had some connection with the salvo's but Wayne felt that he was too far Gone for God to love him and I had quite a long chat on that point and I think Wayne has rediscovered his faith in his way ....I am sure God has his hand on Wayne and Greg for that matter.

I turned up at the pizza shop and Greg is mad ..

Greg is pissed off, no other words to describe it. Greg in no uncertain terms is really annoyed with Wayne. Wayne's been rolling in, orders his pizza, grabs a drink while he waits for his pizza, then another can while he eats and oh yeah and one for the road when he leaves.

Greg explains, he just felt totally feelsa used, Wayne never says thank you, doesn't seem to have any idea of the word appreciation, he sells his hearts, makes 30 to 50 Dollars in a hour and is free to come and go as he pleases.

Greg just feels he is trapped in a pizza shop that is going broke, and all he's doing is feeding the hungry of Croydon.

I remember Greg's words, "WAYNE IS BETTER OFF THAN I AM ...HE GETS A FREE PIZZA, CAN'S OF DRINKS ANYTIME ANY DAY, AND $30 TO $50 DOLLARS IN HIS BACK POCKET AND IS FREE TO COME AND GO WHENEVER HE PLEASES and Greg can't even get a moment to run to the toilet.  

So Greg and I bounced around, locked horns in the back kitchen and after a few hours Greg had reconciled himself, and recommitted. After all he had to accept, he was either going to give cheerfully or not at all...He chose to get over himself and bring his attitude under control, but we both agreed Wayne was no easy child minding exercise ...he did at times seem to act like one.

In he comes, like the king of Croydon orders his pizza with the lot and drinks, lately he doesn't even ask, he just takes it ...I 'm not so happy with that, he just grabs and drinks, not even a thank you.

I saw him selling his hearts, he sometimes sits on a bench and just holds his hand out with the little gift bag and people walking past get curious and buy his heart ...oh well he is certainly a character, but the hearts just sell themselves i guess.

Cheers Greg.

Hey Hey ....IT WORKS, Wayne has been busy he comes in and orders his pizza with the lot and a can or two or three cans of drink and then grabs about 30 hearts and off he goes. Back he comes with his empty basket and with his cash and tips and I put some aside for Jasmine and the rest I give to Wayne ...Off he goes proud as a pea in a pod...Go Wayne though he is a bit wobbly.

Greg re-visited young Jasmine today, and has decided to use her idea of selling gift hearts, and has also agreed to give part of the proceeds, as a royalty.

Greg chose to purchase a few hundred hearts, just to see how Wayne would go.

Now Greg has to convince Wayne, to sell some hearts, but at first Wayne is too scared and just shakes his head and shyly says no. But as he walked out the door, Greg had an Idea and he urged Wayne to go over to the lady at the Chinese shop, Wayne had struck up a friendship with her and he agreed to at least try it with her.

Ten minutes later Both Greg and I witnessed a beautiful sight ...Wayne came hurrying into the shop, looking like the champion of champions, he had the biggest smile and was holding high above his head his first $2.00 "HE HAD SOLD HIS FIRST HEART" Guess who also was excited, Greg then decided he would invest in a few thousand hearts and would order them from China.

The most amazing thing is that Greg decided right then and there, that if Wayne was "THE BIGGEST GIVER" Then Greg would also give inspired by Wayne's and the tip jar story, Greg decided right there and then, he would take no profit from the hearts, in fact he chose to use his own money to buy those hearts and would not even ask for his cost's back.

Greg saw this enterprise, as simply a great contribution towards Jasmine the autistic girl, who came up with the idea and an opportunity to help Wayne. Wayne then went out with 30 hearts and within a few hours Wayne came back with an empty basket and a handful of cash.

Wayne had never done anything like this before, he has turned a corner ...he has succeeded and brought every single cent to Greg, including tips. He had no idea of the value of the money, he asked Greg to count it, and waited eagerly to see what was his. He is obviously financially illiterate...but his disability had not stopped him.

GO WAYNE YOUR A LEGEND...So are you Greg

Shayne.

Jasmine, while visiting Greg at the pizza shop, noticed Wayne hanging round and suggested that Greg encourage Wayne to sell her gift hearts.

Jasmine had in the past helped other homeless people sell her hearts, she encouraged them to stop begging and sell hearts in a tiny gift bag for $3.00 as a gift, instead.....Greg bought a heart from Jasmine and said he would talk to Wayne.

Wayne is causing Greg some grief,

He continues to beg in the shopping center and local business and security guards have informed Greg that they don't want Wayne hanging round.

They are blaming Greg as he feeds him and encourages him to hang round, but Greg has dug in his heels and his response, is to take up the contract that co-ordinates the shopping center trolleys, hoping that Wayne can have a part time job and then he won't need to beg.  Will this work?....