Random Thoughts: Generosity

[Carolnnc]

The other day a friend called and asked me to meet her at the end of my street. She said she was in a hurry but had something for me. I drove up, got out and walked to her car. She rolled her window down, handed me an envelope and took off. When I got to my car I looked inside and found three one hundred dollar bills! I called her when I got home and thanked her profusely and then texted her to thank her again. I was so astounded and grateful. Since I lost my job 17 months ago we have struggled but I've never told anyone. I think she figured it out since I haven't been going out with the girls for lunch and to movies much anymore.

Has someone done something kind or generous "out of the blue" for you lately?

[SummerK]

Re: Random Thoughts: Generosity

What a blessing! Since we moved a year ago, I've had a someone in front of me at the grocery store buy my groceries, AND we've had a gentleman show up at our door with bags of venison.

[Carlie Wolf]

Re: Random Thoughts: Generosity

Oh my goodness yes. When I first moved here 4 years ago I had come down from Canada where I had been abused by my ex (yes I filed charge) and had to go to a woman's shelter for the 2 months prior to returning to the States. (oh and have to mention that they did not allow dogs so a local vet kindly took Carlie in for those two month for free!!! OMG) At any rate I came back to the States with no money and no job and very little social security. After being here about a year although I didn't say much about what was going on I started finding things. Several times an envelope with $100 in it, periodically a large box of food, a pointsetta plant at Christmas and little gifts periodically. God knows I did need it but what really struck my heart was that I was loved by people I didn't really know all that well at a time I needed it the most. It was really striking because it always seemed to happen when I was really desperate and scared that I wasn't going to make it through what was going on at the time. Sometimes I'd go to bed and cry to God that I knew he hasn't forgotten me but it was just so very hard to remember at times. I think it was his way of letting me know I'd be ok, that he was watching and just be patient.

I am one of those people who believes in paying it forward. (Just loved that movie btw )

[pcbatiks]

Re: Random Thoughts: Generosity

Carol, thanks for starting a great thread.....with a positive feel.

Your story made me smile. What a thoughtful friend. Like Summer said.....what a blessing.......and when you needed it.

Even though it isn't recent......one of my favorite stories of generosity to me and my DH was years ago. We had started scraping paint from our house in prep to repaint. During that time we found out DH had cancer and would be starting treatment soon. A few days later a big group of DH's co-workers showed up at our house to finish the scraping and they painted the house for us. They even brought a BBQ pit and cooked food for themselves. As you can imagine, it was very much appreciated.

[JCY]

Re: Random Thoughts: Generosity

Yes. A friend of mine from church recently gave me a gift card for $30. for Hobby Lobby. I plan to use it to buy fabric -- probably flannel for baby blankets & burp cloths. The gift a total surprise. She even came to my house to hand deliver it. God bless her!

[shirleyknot]

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Someone offered to help me with groceries today, but I had just won a fairly good bet (bet a friend my saddle against $300) and had enough for a months worth. Also someone I know was cleaning her sewing room of fabrics she no longer liked, and they ended up in MY little sewing room. I'm WEALTHY now!

[Juliet Taylor]

Re: Random Thoughts: Generosity

How wonderful to know there is still so much generosity in the world!

I usually try to bring comfort and help to my friends and those I know they need, as it's in my possibilites, but I've been struck by the generosity of a neighbor that when my hubby went to give her some informations she asked about he came back with a bag full of bio-snacks and bio-cookies and candies for us! What?? she's so sweet! It was totally out of the blue!

[grammaterry]

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Well, as you all know, my blessings are bountiful this year...you forum members helped me through a huge project that I had no idea if I had the money to commit to, sending tops and fabric and the like. A woman at the goodwill saw me scouring for fabric and brought me 80 lbs of scrap fabric to use. People included $$ in their packages of tops to cover the cost of batting, and I made a huge amount of friends in the process. My restaurant was having a struggle and the generous people that met me thru the quilt raffle started becoming regulars (and I hope they continue) and God blessed my aging husband with a nice big DOE for meat for our freezer last week.

[MayinJerset]

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When I was ill last year and in rehab I received tons Get Well cards and notes as well as a COC quilt from my friends at M* forum, they really helped to brighten my days.

[Cool Breeze Quilter]

Re: Random Thoughts: Generosity

What a beautiful thread to start. It's so wonderful that so many people have written about the kindness and generosity of others. It does a heart good to hear this kind of good news. We all need to hear about the kindness of strangers and friends more frequently don't we?

Yes, we had something similar happen. We were going through a hard time financially. We never told our neighbors, or anybody. There had been a neighborhood gathering where everyone brought a dish. We didn't go because we didn't have a dish to bring. We wanted to go but wouldn't go empty handed. We said we were just busy with other stuff.

Later that day someone left a big bag of groceries at the door, filled to the brim. No name and we don't know who it was. Then other food started showing up at our door. Also other things started showing up at the door like laundry detergent and dish soap. There were no notes or names attached. A few people came by saying they were cleaning out their pantries and/or fridge and had too much food. They needed to get rid of it and didn't want to throw it out.

Some of you know that I make quilts for kids for children who are living in poverty. When I posted a thread showing some of the blocks I was working on many people here wanted to help the children. That's what quilters do so often and so well isn't it? Some of you sent fabric for the kid's quilts and some of you sent quilts.

[geegeequilts]

Re: Random Thoughts: Generosity

I strongly believe in Paying it forward. I do what I do...give money, doing things, time whatever because I want to & because I can. I don't do anything because I want the glory or recognition. I just do it. Makes for a brighter day.

Gina

[alliek]

Re: Random Thoughts: Generosity

When my DH had his first by pass after a heart attack, he was on disability which meant we had to live on a little above half of his salary. I had one child in his second year of college. A highschool senior and a junior. I also worked at a clerical job, but living on Long Island N.Y. we kept falling behind especially since those medical bills started to roll in. One day a knock at the door and Sophie a little lady from church showed up. She had a dinner from soup to nuts prepared. At church the following Sunday another couple pressed money into my hand and this happened a few more times. I was so grateful for all this help, but mainly for the fact that people wanted to take some of your burden away any way they could. There is much good in this world, it is done quietly from the heart and with caring and love. This good work will continue and sustain us whether receiving it or giving it.

[bubba]

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Recently, no. When MM turn 50 ten years ago, I sent an email out to many people asking them to email him on his birthday or send him a card in the mail. One of his former bosses who liked him a lot was one who sent a card in the mail with the following note - I think you know that you are one of my most favorite people, and so for your birthday I am sending you $100 for each year you have been alive. She sent him a check for $5000!!!!!!!

When we are able, we anonymously do things while out and about, usually for someone in the military that is far from home.

[Cokie]

Re: Random Thoughts: Generosity

Yes, several times I have been on the receiving end of someone's generosity. Two things come to mind. The first happened just a couple of weeks ago. I was in a local restaurant picking up something for dinner, and a police officer was in line in front of me. I asked him if I could please buy his dinner to thank him for all he does for our community. He was a bit embarrassed but finally said, "I don't suppose you're going to take 'no' for an answer, are you?" and he thanked me, and left the restaurant. Then when I went to pay for my dinner, they told me there was no charge! I asked what they meant, and they said, "You did something nice for that police officer, so we want to do something nice for you!"

Several years ago, when my oldest was in middle school, he wanted a new bike for Christmas. We were getting by financially, just barely, but there was no money for a new bike. DH mentioned the bike to someone in hopes of finding a bike that someone might want to get rid of, that he could maybe paint and fix up for my son, and a family in our community heard about it. I got a phone call from a lady who said that her family rode bikes, and they had a couple that they no longer rode, and asked if we might be interested. I thanked her profusely and told her that we would. Then a few days later, she called back and said that her family had decided that they wanted to buy my son a new bike for Christmas. And that wasn't all. Her family - she and her husband, some siblings, and grown children - all wanted to go together and provide gifts for our family, including a generous gift certificate to a local grocery store to purchase food for Christmas dinner. She asked the interests of my kids and the sizes they wore, and even asked about DH and me. Then, on Christmas Eve, after they went to church (probably around midnight), they came to the house and unloaded bags of gifts for the boys, including a beautiful new bike. They even included a gift card for DH and me. They came late because they wanted the boys to think the gifts came from Santa - they didn't want any recognition or anything. It was absolutely overwhelming, and it turns out that one of the grown children in that family was one of my oldest son's teachers! She never mentioned anything to him about it. Years later, I told him about it and he was amazed. We have never been able to be as generous as that family was to us in a very hard time for us, but every year at Christmas we do something with the Angel Tree or Operation Christmas Child, or something similar. One year there was a tag on the Angel Tree where a boy was asking for a bike, and our youngest had an almost new bike that he happily donated to the child. I couldn't help but feel that even though it wasn't brand new, we were able to pay it forward for another child. I still get teary-eyed when I think of the generosity of that family, and their kindness in making us feel so blessed by giving and expecting nothing in return.

[Granny Judy]

Re: Random Thoughts: Generosity

Brings tears to my eyes when I read everyone's stories.... There are a lot of very loving, caring people in this world..

So I want to remind everyone to put their snail mail address in their user notes.. just in case the people here want to "pay it forward" without letting you know in advance. It is getting close to Christmas and I have received some very beautiful cards and little sewing goodies from our members.

I have received an over whelming amount of Orphan Blocks that members have sent... and I make them into quilts for the local Abuse Center... I love our MEMBERS.... you all have such loving hearts.