Christmas Challenge

[WonderfulDreamer2]

Yesterday I went into a CVS to pick up a Rx and ahead of me was a very young man and woman with a sick baby. I had waited about 30 minutes for my stuff and they were there before me. When their name was called, the dad asked how much the medicine was, and when told, he didn't have enough to cover it. He told them to put some stuff back. There was no one else around (I didn't want to embarrass them) so I approached them, introduced myself and asked if they would allow me to just put the remaining part on my bill. They both thanked me several times. I told them this was an early Merry Christmas from a stranger and asked them when the opportunity showed itself for them to help someone in any way, to "Pass it along". It felt so good. They have no idea who I am and I don't know them. But they needed the help and it honestly made my heart happy to do something for someone else. Since the season of Thanks is upon us, I challenge you all to do something...anything...pay a toll for the car behind you, assist an elderly person, buy some poor soul on the street corner a hot cup of coffee. It doesn't have to be money, just from your heart. How many lives can we, as a Dis Family, touch this season? And every time you do something nice, I think it inspires others to do something nice as well.
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to all the members of my Dis Family. May you all be blessed as this year comes to a close and find many happy, healthy days in 2007. Cheers!

 

[MissMinnie]

Thank you for going out of your way to help someone less fortunate. I also believe in "paying it forward". Merry Early Christmas!!

 

[SillyMe]

See, I knew you had a normal side to you! Seriously, that was an awesome thing to do. Doesn't compare, but two teenage girls (that I don't know) asked me for 50 cents last night. They were in the hospital and no adults were around, so I don't know what they wanted it for, but I gave it to them. I said they just better not spend it on cigarettes. My mom says to me "Ummm, I don't think they can buy cigarettes with 50 cents."

I like your idea to pay the person's toll behind you. Or perhaps the person's groceries, maybe.

I think your challenge should keep going and people should post about it. Not from a "bragging standpoint", but I'd actually like to see how many nice, thoughtful people are out there. We only usually witness the miserable ones on a daily basis. People don't tend to talk about the nice things they do for others.

 

[Jennifer S]

I love to hear things like this. Great job It feels so good to help others.

Did you hear about Oprah's giveaway? Each member of the audience got a gift card for $1,000 to give to someone/many people in need. Whoever you saw fit.

 

[Hercules10]

That's nice!

Few years ago I had to take one of my dogs to the emergency vet for a boo-boo. While there, a young lady was near hysterics because her pug needed emergency surgery and she had no way of paying. While she went outside to beg and plead with her parents on the phone, I told the Vet tech that I would pick up the bill if she couldn't manage it. I just wanted to save the dog!

The young girl came back in bawling her eyes out pleading with the Vet tech about payment options since her parents couldn't help. The Vet tech just told her that it had been taken care of and she had a "Guardian angel" watching her that day.

The look of relief on that young lady's face was worth more then I could put a price on and she never knew it was me!!!

 

[Aidensmom]

What a wonderful thing to do, and what a blessing for that family.

 

[FroggyinArk]

cool thing to do.

 

[pinkgalYall]

Its strange how much kindness this season brings out in everyone. Although very nice indeed. If i come accross something with which i can help i will.

 

[Brise Nannie]

Makes my heart feel HAPPY to read about these random acts of kindness.

 

[crazee4mickey]

That was such a kind thing for you to do

 

[Amlee]

I'm a firm believer that when you do good it comes back to you!!

Once my mother paid a $400 dollar(several months worth) power bill for a family. 3 days later she went to the casino and won $10K. I bought an elderly couple a meal at the hosptal once. They had got up to the cashier and neither had enough money. I just asked the lady to add their bill to mine. The elderly lady just started crying. They were there visiting their dying daughter. The 3 of us, the cashier, and the people standing around us were all bawling, by the time I had paid. A few days later I was waiting in line to buy tickets for an event. A lady came up and asked me if I had bought my ticket yet? I told her no. She then handed me 2 tickets and told me to enjoy myself.

But one of the best was in the drive-thru at Hardees(Carl Jr's for you West Coast people). I had placed my order and went up to the window. A car early that morning had started by paying for the car behind him. At lunch time the pay it forward was still going. So I added to it and paid the amount of the people behind me. I went by that night and it was still going. They said people had been paying it forward all day long.

 

[tiggersmom2]

That was such a sweet thing to do.

 

[EthansMom]

One thing I love to do that costs me NOTHING: I somehow got on J.C. Penney's mailing list for the good 15 and 20% off Friends and Family coupons. They send two coupons and they are good multiple times during that day. Whenever I'm going to J.C. Penney's, I make sure to take both coupons and hand them off to someone else who doesn't have one. It makes me feel really good when I find a family purchasing a lot of clothes for their kids and I know that I've helped them to save a lot of $$$$.

Several years back, I was standing in the cab line at the airport in the rain at midnight on New Year's. Due to weather delays, I had spent HOURS on planes and in airports and had gotten back too late to go out for New Year's with my friends. I was hungry, tired and utterly miserable. The girl behind me started crying. She too had had a miserable day traveling, her friend hadn't picked her up at the airport, and she wasn't sure that she had enough money on her to pay for the cab to get home. I gave her $20 and when she asked for my address to repay me, I told her to just help someone else sometime.

I know a lot of us are leary of giving money to beggars, but I once had a man who was pretty obviously homeless ask for money for food. I, unthinkingly, reached into my pocket and gave him a fistful of change and kept walking. He chased after me, thanking me profusely, because I had given him enough money to buy a hot dog. Odd, how something as simple as a fistful of pocket change can mean so much to someone else.

This year, we're doing a little better financially than in past years and I'll be on the lookout for ways to help others. Often, it's the little things that help the most.

 

[binny]

I'm a firm believer that when you do good it comes back to you!!

But one of the best was in the drive-thru at Hardees(Carl Jr's for you West Coast people). I had placed my order and went up to the window. A car early that morning had started by paying for the car behind him. At lunch time the pay it forward was still going. So I added to it and paid the amount of the people behind me. I went by that night and it was still going. They said people had been paying it forward all day long.

That is cool!

I started a pay it forward thread a while ago too. I didnt mean it to be a bragging thread but to convince people to go out and do the same. I hope people will listen!

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

As the people from my school would put it, you just did a random act of kindness!

I'll take the challenge, as I must every February.

 

[L107ANGEL]

I'm a firm believer that when you do good it comes back to you!!

Once my mother paid a $400 dollar(several months worth) power bill for a family. 3 days later she went to the casino and won $10K. I bought an elderly couple a meal at the hosptal once. They had got up to the cashier and neither had enough money. I just asked the lady to add their bill to mine. The elderly lady just started crying. They were there visiting their dying daughter. The 3 of us, the cashier, and the people standing around us were all bawling, by the time I had paid. A few days later I was waiting in line to buy tickets for an event. A lady came up and asked me if I had bought my ticket yet? I told her no. She then handed me 2 tickets and told me to enjoy myself.

But one of the best was in the drive-thru at Hardees(Carl Jr's for you West Coast people). I had placed my order and went up to the window. A car early that morning had started by paying for the car behind him. At lunch time the pay it forward was still going. So I added to it and paid the amount of the people behind me. I went by that night and it was still going. They said people had been paying it forward all day long.

That gave me the chills!!! I also believe you will get back much more then your receive. I recently gave a lady a ride home, long story, but I gave her my business card just so she knew I wasn't a stalker or anything. 3 days later I received a wonderfull thank you note from her at my office. I was having a crappy day and that just brightened it to no end

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I love hearing this stories! Even the smallest acts can mean something to someone else and they don't even need to cost much, if anything. Even just a helping hand, holding the door open, allowing someone to pull out in traffic, etc, are nice little gestures. The bigger things are wonderful of course, too. If we all can just slow down a little and brighten someone else's day when we have the chance it really gives us all the warm fuzzies--not just the person on the receiving end.

 

[mommaU4]

I love this!! What a nice thread for a change.

I will definitely make it my goal to do something nice for someone else every time I can.

 

[Tiffer]

I'm in!! LOVE this stuff....

We used to be Santa's. Meaning, my cousin, who has passed away, worked in Manhattan and would get a hold of letters to santa. Me & My mom would split a letter and usually they were things like, socks, underwear, a winter coat, etc.

We never knew where the letters came from, so we aren't able to get them anymore.

If you can't think of anything, or have no other opportunities to pay it forward....

I am a BIG fan of 1. Ronald McDonald House of New Haven (CT) 2. Make-A-Wish foundation 3. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp (I've haven't donated to this one yet, but I hope to in the near future)


My family has been personally touched by these charities. Just a thought if you have no opportunities to give.

 

[msdznyduck]

We have a AAA baseball stadium only a few miles away. The team is not affiliated with any major league team. We usually go a few times a year, and I have some connections, so am able to get free tickets occasionally. I had 4 tickets for a game, but could only use 2, and was going to see if there was anyone buying tickets that night to let them have them. Doesn't usually sell out, but because it was fireworks night, there were no more tickets left by the time we got there. We were just walking up the sidewalk towards the ticket window, when there was a guy with his little boy, about 7 or 8, complete with his baseball glove, leaving the ticket window. He was so disappointed, when his dad told him there were no more tickets for the game. I pulled out the 2 extra tickets.....the look on his face......priceless.