This past week I received a note from a reader. You may have seen it on the facebook page.
If not, here it is:
Wow.
Part of me wanted to know who it was from.
But I’m glad I didn’t. Having an anonymous angel out there is kind of nice.
Of course, I called the number on the back of the card to see how much it was for.
$25 would be awesome. A week’s worth of free milk.
I punched in the numbers from the card.
And then I heard that automated voice.
Five.
Hundred.
Dollars.
What the…
That couldn’t be right.
I dialed the number again.
I punched in the numbers again.
Again, that voice said
five…hundred…dollars.
Holy.
Shit.
I was reduced to a convulsing mess.
Five hundred dollars.
Ho.
Lee.
Shit.
Five hundred dollars?
FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!!
HOLY SHIT!!!
I posted a picture of the note on the facebook page.
I didn’t know what else to do. I was kind of in shock.
Comments started coming in.
you deserve it!
That’s fuckin awesome
Good things happen to good people! The world is filled with good generous people, they are just hard to see because they do things “just because” Thank you for sharing this, to remind us all that there will always be more good than bad in this world.
And then someone wrote:
Awesome pay it forward
Pay it forward?
But I just got it! Do I have to?
Am I allowed to just enjoy this?
To have a week, or even a month, where I don’t have to stress about this one thing?
My heart sank a little.
When do you pay it forward,
and when do you just get to exhale?
My husband is like the Do the Right Thing poster child.
I would ask him.
I told him about the card.
And then I said,
“Someone said I should pay it forward.
Do we have to pay it forwar-”
“No.”
The words hadn’t even come all the way out of my mouth.
And so,
I didn’t.
Someday, I will.
But this time, I just enjoyed it.
I appreciated it.
And yesterday,
I spent it.
All of it.
Here it is:
It’s hard to see it all.
But I have enough food to feed my family for the next month.
There’s only enough fresh produce for about a week.
But if we run out of money in the next 4 weeks,
my kids will still have food.
And it’s good food.
Healthy food. For the most part, anyway.
They will also have diapers.
And clean clothes.
Their teeth will be brushed.
And I will have some relief.
So,
to my Costco Angel,
thank you.
Thank you for taking a burden off of my shoulders.
Thank you for helping me take care of my children.
And thank you for reminding me that there are some really amazing people out there.
The world is a better place because you are in it.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
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You don’t have to pay that exact amount forward. 😉 I follow a blog called The Sullengers who lost their daughter in a drowning while she was on a date wither her husband. Their daughter was with the grandparents when it happened. She participated in pay it forward. It is just acts of random kindness. Small or large if we can do things like that to help people. I’m glad someone helped you! You deserve it!
Pay it forward (not the 500.00) but do acts of kindness for other people even if it is only helping an old lady get her shopping cart to the cart holding place 😉
You pay it forward when you are able. You can pay it forward by charitable acts that require no money. Paying it forward simply means doing something for another who is in need.
That is amazing Susie! And you deserve it. You don’t have to pay it forward now or with the same gesture. So don’t worry about that. You needed this now and you have an angel that was looking over you. Enjoy it. Don’t feel guilty. Just breathe and enjoy it. It makes me feel good knowing there are still good people out there in the world our children are growing up in.
Monica
You already pay it forward with the wonderful things that you do – like today’s marathon 🙂
Susie – here is the reality about pay it forward. When I was down & out two friends did amazing things for me. There was no way I could repay them or pay forward at that time. Fast forward a few years…I am no longer struggling. It has become my season to pay it forward. I can tell you, I have probably paid forward 10x what I was given to me. Go forward in kindness. Hold open doors. Make sure your kids pick up & return dropped change. You never know when you are opening the door for your guardian angel.
This is wonderful! I can just imagine your surprise. And relief! What a fun shopping trip that must have been. I agree with the others about paying it forward. I don’t think it has to be a monetary pay it forward. I have no extra money to pay it forward in my world. I have a friend that needed money to reach their goal for a cancer walk. I’m always broke as a joke, but I gave $25 because I am in favor of the cause, but more because my friend is a great person and volunteer. Someday when I am not receiving shut off notices I can pay it forward with money. Until then, I pay it forward with being helpful and kind. I think that is a good thing. 🙂
I don’t think that person meant you had to pay it forward with the card you just got, but like others said, in your own way. Like others have said, it doesn’t have to be money. That is truely awesome that someone gave that to you…enjoy it! 🙂
THAT IS AMAZING!! I love to read these kind of stories!!! So glad you and the kids got healthy food for the month! Awwww! You have a bunch of little angels looking out for you guys! So precious!
I read that comment, “pay it forward” acknowledging something someone did for you. You probably “pay it forward” already in many ways and just don’t realize it. Feel good about their generous offering and that is very special. I was wondering how much that card was for when I saw you post about it 🙂 Thanks for sharing!