Is It Thursday Already?

I'm sitting here sipping a hot chocolate - I've got a sore throat.  This darn drainage! We didn't find a tree last night.  I'm sure that with what we are wanting - they are out of season/sold out now.  Oh well! Here's the topic of the day that I came up with... I'm watching GMA and there is a vacuum salesman that donated his kidney.  He had gone to a house to try to sell one and the wife that answered the door said "We'll buy a vacuum if you will donate a kidney".  It turns out that the guy was a perfect match and he donated a kidney.  I am inspired by this story. We can all do things that aren't even that extreme.  I love the theory of 'paying it forward'.  So, let's think about this...when you see someone on the side of the road with their sign asking for help...why not help?  If you've got a few dollars (or more) - why not give?  We are not here to judge what these people are going through or what they will use the money for...but...what if that simple act of us helping out someone...changed that persons life in a positive way? What if the whole world thought this way?  Do you think the world would be a more positive world? BTW...in the end, the guy that received the kidney from the salesman didn't buy a vacuum.  That made me smile! I pray that we will all receive something from this story! Tonja

Tonja you must be a very trusting person. Sometimes I wish I was that trusting, but it seems when I am blindly trusting I get used or made a fool of so I have become septical of people. I dont like that about myself, but I have to accept it since I do not like looking like a fool. Would I give a kidney to a stranger, Yes I would! would I give that person on the street corner money, No, I dont feel that they should be given money for just standing there holding a sign begging for money. I have however given them bottled water or a sandwich from a nearby store. Some are thankful some are rude, because they want cash and one woman told me she didnt need my food she got foodstamps. she needed cash. My suggestion to her was to get a job. she told me she was NOT working for min. wage. Since then I have been even more septical of panhandlers. BTW she was sitting with two very young children by a busy interesection in TULSA. She went on to tell me should could easily make $300 a day sitting there with her kids. I feel for those children.

The story about the vacuum sales man is awsome and it was just one of the ways the Lord helps those that need him. Isnt it wonderful that the wife would say that to a stranger and then he actually be a match. That is wonderful. Thank you for sharing it with us. I love an inspiring story like that. It reminds me the world really does have good people in it.

I have always thought of registering as a kidney donor.  It freaks me out that I have something that I'm not really using that could actually keep someone from dying.  Think about, you hold the actual power of life and death in your kidney. I tend to watch a lot of medical shows because I find them interesting, but also because they really remind me that what may plague me is nothing compared to what some people have. I try to bring a positive energy at all times.  My parents are aging and very negative, and I think it's helping them to switch to a different point of view. I have committed to doing 4 brave things this month, and I've decided one of my brave things will be to register as a donor.

Well, I've had to learn to be a trusting person or I should say...It's in the Lord's hands.  It is a phobia/fear that I have had to overcome.  As far as people standing on the corner taking money - it's on their conscious and they will have to be the ones to answer in the end.  As for me - I always think....what if that is actually Jesus standing there.  You Never Know!!! Tonja

Your definately an inspraration to us that are more negative. I was talking earlier with my husband about this subject, he made a good point that we are not accepting of people that panhandle because we were raised with the mentality you have to work for what you get and that its shameful to accept charity because someone with less than you may need it. He has decided that there is one man on the same corner every evening on his way home and he is going to stop tonight and give the man a little cash and a business card and tell him that if he will show up tomorrow he has a job. My hubby is lucky that he is in a position that he can hire people at his job.. and he already went and talked to the boss and the boss said sure. but on the other side of that, they are all betting  that the guy wont show up.. guess we will see tomorrow..  See tonja, your inspiring people off the board too.. your comments have impacted my hubby too...lol

Well, it's refreshing that your hubby is going to offer the job.  I hope and pray that the man will accept and show up.  On the other hand, if he doesn't - don't let that make you feel negative about it.  We can't save the whole world (even though it would be awesome if we could). You and your hubby make me smile!  Thank you! Tonja

Thank you Tonja for making me look at myself and wonder why I am like I am. ...  lol   I wil give money to someone that is in line and doesn't have enough change,  help by donating all of our stuff instead of having a garage sale or we "rent" our youth at a youth auction at church each year and my husband and I bid very high for the kids.  But every since I saw that 48 hour Special with Dan Rather I will not give any person like that any money.  It showed a man sitting on the corner asking for $ but when the camera man filmed him leaving - he walked 2 blocks and got into his Escalade and drove off!   I'm kinda like Sherrie - I felt like I had been taken advantage of.  With that said, if I was was driving by and I saw someone (on the corner with a sign) and I felt "lead" to give - of course I would give....   After thinking about this for a while - it really makes me wonder how giving I am...I guess I "justify" it with I give in other ways..hmmm.....     

My DD is a beautiful caring person. But like she says 'She works hard for her money'. So she hands out bottled water. Might not be what they want but it is what she wants to give. We have always volunteered and donated to local charities. And we instilled that in our children. Giving back to our community must be a priority. Our DD graduated high school and received the highest award from the President for her community service (1050 hours). She managed to complete the hours while being involved in so much other stuff. I mentor teen parents. I have taught them about cloth diapering, bfing, budgeting, cooking and so much more. I also tutor them while having a network of caregivers watch their children. We donated and shop at thrift stores. When our children started getting an allowance they started donating money to charities.

No matter what I do charity wise it isn't as important as what I instill in my children. I could volunteer full time and give away millions but if I don't teach my children to give back then I have done a great disservice to them and the world.

As for paying it forward I am a big believer in it. The other day after a long day at work I saw a woman hitchiking. I know all the warnings but I couldn't let her continue to walk in the rain. I had just stopped at a coffee shop (for a much needed caffeine boost). I pulled over and offered a ride. Gave her my coffee and ask where she was going. She was headed for Wichita Falls, her only child had been in a car accident (her car) and there was no bus service until midnight. I called home to check on my kids and took off.  I went with her into the hospital to make sure we were in the right place. Her son was just coming out of surgery. The look of relief on her face was amazing. She asked me to hold on while she found an ATM to pay me for gas. I left a note at the nurse's station wishing her son and her the best. But the story doesn't end there. On the way home (on the Turnpike no less) I had a flat. Still raining I just set there for a minute. I had worked 12 hours that day, drove from OKC to Witchita Falls and I was zapped. The prospect of changing a tire in the rain (with no coffee boost) was not making me a jolly person. As I was getting the needed things out of the trunk a gentleman pulled up and asked if I needed help. I said " I don't need it but it would be appreciated". He changed the tire while I sat in my car.

Sorry this is so long. But I truly believe if we help someone without consideration of our personal convience it will enrich lives. It goes hand and hand with being enviromentally friendly. It all works out and creates a balance and harmony that makes each day better.

Findingme, that is a beautiful story.