Tuesday, April 28, 2009

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.

11 comments:

  1. Paying it forward is such a wonderful way to help others during difficult times. Thank you for another honest and moving post.

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  2. I have been paying it forward for many years.
    What a blessing.

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  3. Kate, thank you for the kind words. You're much too generous. I'm glad I could help. :)

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  4. Oh, and Kate. I'm very proud of what you are doing by paying it forward. Very proud. God bless.

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  5. I'm looking forward to the Loaves and Fishes thing. It's about five families, and I can use my own truck. The lady on the phone was so thrilled, and that just made my day.

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  6. There are so many people that want for nothing and still don't give as much as you do Kate. It's an amazing thing you're doing.

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  7. How awesome. I just wrote an entry this morning on sewing seeds of kindness. So glad I read your post.

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  8. I'm so glad that there are such kind and warm hearted people in this world, and that I have had a chance to get to know you through this cyber medium. {hugs}

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  9. Isn't it the most amazing feeling. I was slowly falling in love with Geoff and then I found out about his HUGE generous soul and that sealed the deal for me. We choose to not have any wedding gifts and have our guests (if they choose) donate to Covenant House - -which reminds me I need to make another donation.

    I LOVED the widow GTG's -- my first was New Orleans in 2001.

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  10. Kate: You would be amazed at how many people that were living grand are now living - without even sufficient food. I'm just amazed at the magnitude of the problem that is going on right now - yet - the media is not sufficiently covering this crisis. People are losing jobs - hundreds of thousands of them gone every month.
    Well, anyway, paying-it-forward - is such an awesome thing to do and I totally want to give you huge kudos for doing it.
    ben

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  11. What a beautiful way to pay things forward. Your gesture will carry on........
    Rebecca

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