It’s Better to Give Than to Receive – by Kristi Jo Jedlicki
There’s a common misconception that people who are homeless are lazy and looking for a handout, but in the day shelter for homeless men where I work, I can say that quite the opposite is true. I constantly am humbled and inspired by their generosity, as they embrace the concept that it is better to give than to receive in their own unique ways. Recently, I was the recipient of one such act of kindness.
Shortly after I assisted one of our guests with placing a long distance phone call, he appeared at the door to my office bearing a small square box.
As he held it out for me to take, he said, “Here, I want to give you this to thank you for your help.”
I explained that he did not need to do anything to thank me, but he pressed the box into my hand and insisted, “You all help me and the other guys every day, and this is one thing I can do to thank you.”
He had a pleading look in his eyes that implored me to take the box, and so, I gently accepted it. When I lifted off the small lid, it revealed costume jewelry- a necklace and matching earrings. I don’t have any idea where he got them, but I do know that they were as priceless to him as they now are to me.
When I thanked him for his kindness, he grinned broadly and responded, “Thank you for letting me give them to you. It has been a while since I have had anyone to give something to.”
You are welcome . . .
Author – Kristi Jo Jedlicki resides in Kentucky, where basketball, horses, and bourbon reign supreme, and not necessarily in that order.
She says she is “a perfectly flawed southern girl who dreams big and has stories to tell. I am simply myself, and I am many things to many people, including, but not limited to:
•a better ex-wife than wife
•a mom to two extraordinary daughters
•a southerner raised by Yankee parents
•the youngest of three daughters, who puts the fun in dysfunctional
•a loyal friend to a diverse cast of characters
•a social worker
•a writer and blogger
•an avid lover of music of all sorts
•a big dreamer, despite living through some nightmares
•a pessimistic optimist or an optimistic pessimist
Kristi is also the writer and keeper of the That’s Another Story blog, which she hope entertains, educates, and/or encourages at least one person along the way, as she strives to change herself and the world one day at a time.
Kindness Blog 
Reblogged this on CrashCourse.
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Thank you for sharing, much appreciated! 🙂
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My pleasure! Great blog! =)
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Crash, thank you for sharing this blog; I really appreciate it!
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You are very welcome! My pleasure! =)
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Kristi Jo, thanks for sharing your story. Your encounter is moving and not isolated. I am fortunate to volunteer to help homeless families where I live. Like your experience, these folks are hard working and giving. Two quick comments. First, the agency I help with requires volunteers to sign a waiver not to proselytize. Yet, our Executive Director likes to point out our families only have their faith, so who is witnessing to whom? Second, one of our homeless teens was previously living in a tent with her family as she attended school and her parents worked. Yes, our families have jobs and are homeless. We found out the she was volunteering at Second Harvest, which is a food bank for the impoverished. To state it again, a homeless girl was volunteering at a food bank for people in need. To me these examples like yours paints a very human picture, one that says people in need can still have dignity. Thanks, BTG
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Many thanks for your kind words and for all of the work you do with families who are homeless in your community! I always like to say that people who are homeless are not “those people”, rather they are “our people”. They have the least, yet I find that they consistently give the most, in terms of their effort to address their barriers to housing and to help others. I am so fortunate to be a part of their journey indeed.
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There but by the Grace of God go I. Your work is appreciated by many.
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Thank you so much, as that means a great deal to me!
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Reblogged this on That's Another Story and commented:
What an honor to be a guest blogger for this inspirational site!
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I always love reading Kristi Jo, although I have been a slacker lately. She is on my favorites list. A wonderful woman, someone you would like to sit down and have coffee and a conversation with.
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You just made my day, and I cannot thank you enough for your more than kind words! Having a chat and a cup of tea with you would definitely be a highlight:)
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Definitely!
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Reblogged this on Embakasi Reloaded.
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Belated, but sincerest, thanks for sharing this!
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wow… very great story here. Thank you Kristi for sharing this with us.
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