No one had ever asked me that question before. I didn't know how to even answer it. So I said the first thing that came to mind.
"Thank you. I think I have everything I need." I said.
That day, Jen and her family brought me a bag filled with some of my favorite treats from Trader Joes and a gift card for 100 dollars.
That day defined to me what going above and beyond for the people in our lives looked like. And when I asked Why? She simply said this.
That when she is blessed she takes on the responsibility to bless some else. That day, that some one else was me.
Blessed by her generosity, I have tried to keep that perspective in mind. And I thought I was doing a pretty good job of it too.
But that was before Maria called me.
Maria has one of the biggest hearts for people and for Jesus. We see each other at least once a week. So, when we didn't have our usual date it felt odd and we missed each other.
Pretty soon, I received a message.
I want to take you out. It said. When would be the best time to meet?
I replied with a date and drove over to her house, thinking that we would have lunch and chat like we usually do.
But she had a whole different kind of day planned.
Maria took me out to a new place, just because she knew that I enjoyed small adventures like that.
Maria read the reviews, to make sure that I wouldn't be disappointed.
Maria told me to pick anything off of the menu, ordered meals for each of my kids and paid for all of it.
Seeing her pay. I honestly felt uncomfortable. I just wasn't used to this act of kindness from people that i knew didn't have extra to give away. I knew that this was something she might have had to save up for and I felt like I didn't deserve such a grand gesture.
So, when she offered to take me out for yogurt. I declined. I made an excuse that it was too cold for yogurt, that the kids also needed naps, and that we could enjoy a scoop of ice cream at her place. So we did just that.
But that wasn't the end of the story. As we sat and caught up on our lives, we made plans to see a movie that evening with a few girl friends.
That evening, she came to the movie theater first. And paid for Jen and I.
Later, as I drove home, I thought to myself. Who does that? What kind of person takes me and my kids out for lunch on a regular day. Who offers more then she has. Who willingly pays for my friends. And who does it without expecting anything back. Who does that?
The next time I saw her, that's exactly what I asked. And you know what she said.
That she had been blessed and in turn wanted to bless some one else.
I don't know about you. But if there happens to be a day when some one asks that question and says "Who does that?" I want the answer to be, Nadia does. Maria does. Jen does. And so on.
I want it to spread in the same way that I have seen it be spread. Touching the lives of people close to our hearts and impacting the people surrounding our lives. I want to learn how to think about you and practice it in my life . I want to be the one that "does".
That day. I was convicted. I so foolishly thought that I was doing enough instead of going above and beyond.
Hope.
Dearest, you are blessed beyond measure to have such friends! Blessed! This post actually made me cry. Because at times it almost feels for me that people like this don't exist anymore. That genuine generosity and consideration of others has been thrown out the window. Where self-absorbency is the ruling factor nowadays.
ReplyDeleteThe last two years have been so hard for us financially. So, so hard. You can only imagine how many tears I've cried. But it taught me a very important thing. Empathy for others who are struggling to put food on the table. It woke me up. Genuinely woke me up to all areas of struggle people are facing these days and it placed in me an aching desire to bless people, it taught me to always be on the lookout for someone who needs a helping hand.
One thing for sure, in the midst of my struggles, I have seen very few reach out to me. And those few have touched my heart and soul in ways they will never know.
So you're right. Who honestly does that nowadays? It's rare. People are so self absorbed in this day and age. That to have friends who will pour into you like that without a moments notice is a beautiful blessing. Thank you for sharing :)
I have found that by taking what one person believes, and making it some thing you believe in. That is what causes change as well as spreads it. In my life it took Jen. One person. To start start something in me. To start in some one
ReplyDeleteElse. Thank you zhanna for your story. I have a feeling our paths will cross, because I want to hear more about you and know you more personally:)
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