Pay It Forward

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Giving Quote in White Lettering on a Black Background
Photo Credit: http://www.youtube.com

For the past few days, I have experienced writer’s block or, perhaps, kindness block.  Whatever has had me in a sort of literary limbo, I just now am loosening its grips and feel like I have something worth sharing in this forum.  It figures that it was one of the finest gentlemen in all of Louisville, aka one of the men from the day shelter for homeless men where I am employed, who helped me find my voice once again.

This afternoon, I made my way across town to the modest apartment of one of the men who used to be a guest at the day shelter.  Today, I was a guest in his home during a monthly visit that is part of his participation in our permanent supportive housing program, and it was the highlight of my day.  I was there to offer him support in reaching his goals, but at the end of our visit, he was the one offering the support.

As we wrapped up our home visit, he asked me if I was going back to the day shelter when I left his apartment.  When I said that I was indeed, he asked me if I would do him a favor.  The favor turned out to be delivering over a dozen gently used paperback novels to the current day shelter guests, and it was a favor I readily agreed to do on his behalf.

He explained that when he was a guest, he did not like to watch television, as he preferred to read the books that filled the small bookshelf in the day shelter.  He remembered that sometimes the reading material was sparse, and he wanted to replenish our selections with books given to him over the years by his brother.  He had read and enjoyed books by various authors, and he remarked, “You all did a lot for me when I was there, and I just want to do something to give back to someone else.”  I thanked him profusely for his thoughtfulness and generosity, and I returned to the day shelter with the books in tow.

As I placed the newest additions to our meager library on the shelf, one of the guests looked over my shoulder to browse the titles.  He became excited when he spotted a book that he had wanted to read, and when I handed it to him and explained who donated these particular books, he grinned broadly and said, “That’s really cool.  Someday, I am going to give back to you all, too.”  He walked away, not to sit down, but to continue sweeping up the floor.

You see, this guest already is giving back, as he voluntarily was helping to clean up the shelter.  Someday was today.  That’s one of the many beautiful things about kindness.  It is contagious and can be shared by anyone in any place at any time.

Just one thing each day . . .

47 comments

  9. In regard to your comment of having ‘kindness block’, I thought I would let you know in one area that you have been highly successful this past month and how you have helped me get through a huge stumbling block. I have had quite a bit on the go the past four months and something simply had to go. Regrettably it was my house work and it mounted up and up. Recently, with the other things easing off, I turned around and faced my mess and thought, – ‘how on earth am I going to get through all this back log of work?’ And do you know what got me started? It was your little mantra at the end of each of your posts ‘just one thing each day’. Every day I felt I could not face it, I said to myself ‘Just one thing each day’ and I would do just one thing. Then the next day again I would say ‘just one thing today’ and I would do just one thing. Then the next day one thing. After two weeks of doing that, I can finally sit back and relax that I have conquered the huge mountain of back-log and am back to square one.
    Thanks for being the little kindness voice in my head to help me get this done.

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    1. Elizabeth, as I am struggling at the moment, your note truly means the world to me. I hold you in such high esteem, so, to know that I have been able to somehow help you a bit from half way around the world makes this even more meaningful. Thank you for your kindness and being a kindred spirit! We will just keep doing one thing each day . . .

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  19. Pingback: My Article Read (1-18-2015) (1-19-2015) | My Daily Musing

  20. Yes, and the best thing about kindness is the fact that you can do many things that are free and it can be as simple as a smile! I think you have to have been a recipient of it however, to truly give it away to another!

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  21. My Introspective on Paying-It-Forward

    Over the past four decades of my adult life, I’ve lost count of the number of people that I helped thru financial and personal struggles; always believing that, whether you consider it Karma or the Christian principal that “you reap what you sow”, my charity would return in due time. I’ve never had an abundance to give from, but have always given out of my own necessity; not just giving money, but even opening my home and pantry to entire families, often for extended periods of time, until they could again stand on their own.

    My fiancé began medical treatments for several conditions, including rehab for legally perscribed opiates and cervical pre-cancer, about a year ago. Even with her ACA (ObamaCare), my out-of-pocket payments have ranged up to $2,000 a week at times and I’ve done my best to keep her medical bills paid – being told repeatedly that “just another week” and it will be done. However, 2015 has been a real struggle, with several months of unemployment and relocation for a new job. I’ve drained both my savings and 401k, sold everything I can spare, maxed-out my credit cards, borrowed everything I could from family, and taken out several personal loans. Financially, I can survive with the $20,000+ debt I’ve incurred (even though it does put me line-to-line with my earnings), but I have nothing left to contribute to her continuing treatments. We just postponed today’s simply because there’s nothing left in checking to cover the co-pay, or food and gas for the next two weeks.

    I wish I could wait for my “due time” to come around, but I’m at my wits end and don’t have any options left but to ask for help – something that my pride has always kept me from doing. At this point any help or direction would be greatly appreciated.

    God Bless

    Tom M
    oldbiker13@yahoo.com

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    1. Tom, I am so sorry that you and your fiance have had such a difficult year, and I hope her health improves and that she makes a full recovery. It sounds like you have given what you can to others, so, now, it is time to reach out for help to allow others to give back to you. I am not such where you live, but one place to start would be by calling “211”, which is a resource line most communities have to direct people to community resources, such as food, clothing, shelter, transportation, etc. As far as your fiance’s medical expenses, there are copay and prescription assistance programs that help with costs not covered by insurance. Ask either your local Health Dept. or one of her medical providers, and you can also do a Web search for such programs. If you have social service agencies, such as the Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, Metro United Way, Community Action Agency, etc., in your area, contact them for both assistance and for referrals. There may be support and help out there, but you will not know until you ask. It can be difficult to ask for help, but it takes a great deal of courage and wisdom to know your own limits and to realize you cannot do this on your own. That is not weakness; that is an opportunity to reap what you sow and to survive, then thrive. I hope that this has helped a bit, and I wish you all the best. Hang in there, and, please, do not give up!

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