pay it forward

I have been so blessed in my life, in spite of all the trials I've been through.

Years ago, after Dale had already passed away, I decided that I wanted to attend a get together that the widows were planning in Branson, Missouri. I had enough for a flight and for one night in a hotel, but needed help with the rest of the trip.

That's when Joe, a widower from the U.S., stepped in. I flew to Little Rock, Arkansas and he picked me up. We spent one night at his ranch (with his three sons) then he drove us five hours to the venue of the GTG. We shared a room (no hanky panky there) for two nights, then he drove me home and the morning after that, back to the airport. He saved me hundreds and hundreds of dollars, and that trip changed my life.

Earlier that same year, another widow had helped me. We both lived in the same province and I was struggling to keep everything together. It wasn't just money, it was things like forgetting to open the mail - one of the big things that I still struggle with today. These problems led to my power being shut off, not just once, but twice! Other times, I failed to plan for things like winter coats, or couldn't plan, for things like fender benders and having to pay for a dented bumper. My friend stepped in and sent me enough funds to get through the winter, and I couldn't have been more grateful.

There have been a few times since then, that I have been fortunate enough to pay it forward. A girl who needed her internet reconnected to access a support site, donations to the food bank, the youth shelter, and a sponsored child.

Of course, my income took a nosedive this past year and I was back in dire straights again by this past March! My creative financing was starting to take it's toll and before we knew it, I was more than a week away from payday and we had no cash coming in and no groceries in the pantry. The hair on the back of my neck stood up all day, every day and I was freaking out. That's when one of my blogging friends offered to help me. What a life saver! I called him the other day to ask for permission to write this entry, because today I am going to pay it forward. I thought I would start with the food bank, but I have also volunteered to deliver food for Loaves and Fishes over the next two weeks - it's a Christian soup kitchen that also delivers to shut ins. So thank you Tim! I'm going to enjoy paying it forward.