The Voices in my HeadPaying It Forward this Holiday Season: A Prequel to the 'A Kid Named Michael...' post
December 24th 2006 07:09
Well, it wasn't really Paying it Forward. That movement is based on the concept that if you have been wronged, bless someone else for it, instead of paying someone back for doing wrong to you.
I guess my motto is "Bless others as you, too, have been blessed."
I have been waiting for this opportunity this season. I knew there had to be a situation that I could help with. I mean, look around. There are literally millions of people who need assistance of some sort. Of the legitimate sort. I am talking about a situation in which a need arose and I could both bless someone who just needed a little assistance and incorporate this blessing others thing I had rolling around in my mind.
I found out about a situation that fit the bill. It was late on a Thursday evening last week when it came across my path. I can't get into specific details here but all I knew is that I first needed to speak to my husband about it.
I have mentioned before that I am a cynical person in many aspects. I don't much believe in the goodness of humanity. I still don't, but I am keeping my eyes open for it again. I am opening my mind to seeing it again. That's all I can do. This Christmas it was really important to me that our family do something for someone else. I didn't care who and I didn't really care where they lived. I just needed to do something. I needed to believe in something other than my own scrooge-esque vantage point of people and the world, at large.
So, I heard about this situation. It was a heartbreaking one. It didn't involve children. It didn't involve a car accident or loss of employment. It involved two people, who I sometimes deal with in my own day to day, in an indirect way.
I called my husband and told him what I wanted to do. I wanted to send this person, this couple, a small token of appreciation for the heroic way that this person handles their existence.
If you only knew, if I could only share with you a fraction of what this person has dealt with for nearly 20 years, you would get it. You would understand so much more. However, I can't share the details. Please bare with me.
My husband was a little apprehensive but he could tell it was something I needed to do. He had been pestering me for a Christmas list of things I wanted, and I kept forgetting to do it. So, I called him and said, "Here is what I want for Christmas. I want to send this person a check to help them this holiday season just for being so incredible, so kind, such an example to the rest of humanity on dignity, grace, humility and generosity." He didn't miss a beat. He said, "Okay."
Understand, my husband doesn't know these people. He has never had contact with them. My husband just freely understood where my heart was...and accepted it.
I was so grateful. I mailed the check with a nice letter and I went home.
After I got home, we attended our youngest children's Christmas program.
Afterwards, I met up with a friend and went to Wal-mart...where I met a kid named Michael...and now I owe someone another blessing. My eyes are already peeled.
If you are sick of presents and commercialism...if you are tired of bad news and heartache. If you are tired of feeling small and minimal in this world of big and bad, please commit a random act of kindness.
It doesn't take a lot of time. It doesn't have to be a check to someone...it could be paying for the guy behind you at cleaners. It could be buying a young family dinner at your favorite restaurant.
Find something beautiful and reward that this holiday season. It will come back to you. Not necessarily in the form of a 15 year old psychotic teenager at Walmart, as was the case with me. *smile* But in a way that will bless you in an unexpected way in return.
If you do this, please come back and share your story. Your little bit of goody goody this Holiday Season.
Change the world....for someone.
I guess my motto is "Bless others as you, too, have been blessed."
I have been waiting for this opportunity this season. I knew there had to be a situation that I could help with. I mean, look around. There are literally millions of people who need assistance of some sort. Of the legitimate sort. I am talking about a situation in which a need arose and I could both bless someone who just needed a little assistance and incorporate this blessing others thing I had rolling around in my mind.
I found out about a situation that fit the bill. It was late on a Thursday evening last week when it came across my path. I can't get into specific details here but all I knew is that I first needed to speak to my husband about it.
I have mentioned before that I am a cynical person in many aspects. I don't much believe in the goodness of humanity. I still don't, but I am keeping my eyes open for it again. I am opening my mind to seeing it again. That's all I can do. This Christmas it was really important to me that our family do something for someone else. I didn't care who and I didn't really care where they lived. I just needed to do something. I needed to believe in something other than my own scrooge-esque vantage point of people and the world, at large.
So, I heard about this situation. It was a heartbreaking one. It didn't involve children. It didn't involve a car accident or loss of employment. It involved two people, who I sometimes deal with in my own day to day, in an indirect way.
I called my husband and told him what I wanted to do. I wanted to send this person, this couple, a small token of appreciation for the heroic way that this person handles their existence.
If you only knew, if I could only share with you a fraction of what this person has dealt with for nearly 20 years, you would get it. You would understand so much more. However, I can't share the details. Please bare with me.
My husband was a little apprehensive but he could tell it was something I needed to do. He had been pestering me for a Christmas list of things I wanted, and I kept forgetting to do it. So, I called him and said, "Here is what I want for Christmas. I want to send this person a check to help them this holiday season just for being so incredible, so kind, such an example to the rest of humanity on dignity, grace, humility and generosity." He didn't miss a beat. He said, "Okay."
Understand, my husband doesn't know these people. He has never had contact with them. My husband just freely understood where my heart was...and accepted it.
I was so grateful. I mailed the check with a nice letter and I went home.
After I got home, we attended our youngest children's Christmas program.
Afterwards, I met up with a friend and went to Wal-mart...where I met a kid named Michael...and now I owe someone another blessing. My eyes are already peeled.
If you are sick of presents and commercialism...if you are tired of bad news and heartache. If you are tired of feeling small and minimal in this world of big and bad, please commit a random act of kindness.
It doesn't take a lot of time. It doesn't have to be a check to someone...it could be paying for the guy behind you at cleaners. It could be buying a young family dinner at your favorite restaurant.
Find something beautiful and reward that this holiday season. It will come back to you. Not necessarily in the form of a 15 year old psychotic teenager at Walmart, as was the case with me. *smile* But in a way that will bless you in an unexpected way in return.
If you do this, please come back and share your story. Your little bit of goody goody this Holiday Season.
Change the world....for someone.
| 32 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
Thank you for stopping by to visit~ Remember to subscribe to this blog at the bottom of the page and to check out my domain blog, Muzikal Mafia.
~Do come back~
~Do come back~
Comment by pegasus
Poker Addict
I'm glad that you believe in, and participate in, random acts of kindness.
Are you sure you can't share a detail or two about the couple you sent the check to? You've peaked my curiousity. But, I'll understand if you don't want to eloborate.
I'll do a follow-up post soon on my 'Pay It Forward Please' piece to ask for follow-ups and experiences.
Cheers,
Peg
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
I wish I could but there are legal considerations because of HOW I know who they are and what they have been through...I can only say that this person has dealt with more than you could possibly know. It is a miracle that they are the type of person they are.
I am looking forward to that post.
Come back,
Voices~
Comment by Moonbeam
Other than my usual trays of homemade goodies to those who are shut-ins, I didn't do what I would call anything major. During Thanksgiving, I bought two bags of groceries & donated them to a local food drive, & everytime (this was a new thing I did this year), I ran into a salvation Army bellringer, I put a five dollar bill in every Salvation Army bucket I came to. That was @ least three each week, & I felt good about that. I also noticed this year, that the bell ringers were putting out some extra effort; I ran into one who sang her heart out, singing Xmas carrols; another wore a Santa hat & he greeted every single person he saw, whether they dropped anything into the bucket or not, & blessed them as they went on their way; another guy had his children w/him, & they were singing carrols. When I came out of the store, I not only put $$ in the bucket, but had bought a box of assorted granola bars for the group, & hot chocolate for all of them, from the Deli, since it was a cool, breezy day. The father said, "oh, no....we shouldn't.." And I said, "of course u should; u just brightened my holiday season with this family effort u have going here." And I wished them a Merry Christmas & went on my way. I'm thinking of volunteering to be a bellringer myself next year, & would like to get my buds in on it too, so we can spread the cheer & goodwill in a group effort. We'll see how things go.........
Moonbeam
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
Classic Auntie Moonbeam. *smile*
love you,
Come back,
Voices~