THE BIG GIVE
This morning I dropped off my BIG GIVE Thanksgiving meal to the woman our local food pantry connected me with. We’ll call her “Rose”.
I took my boys with me and we piled into her little apartment and loaded the turkey and side dishes onto her table. The boys did normal boy things like climb on her furniture and ring the bell she had sitting on a shelf. She handled it very graciously and was so thankful.
We chatted with her a bit and then left to do some errands. I thought I would leave with a sense of blessing–you know–the affirmation that comes when given the opportunity to touch another life.
And I did. She was indeed grateful.
But another odd feeling began to take the place of my satisfaction. I soon recognized what it was.
It was sadness.
I don’t know Rose’s story. But I do know that she fought back tears when I asked her how she was going to spend Thanksgiving. She wasn’t sure, really. A kind couple had offered to take her to a local church that offers free meals. She considered inviting a neighbor over.
Where was her family? I wanted to ask. But didn’t feel it was my place to pry.
And now here I sit. And the tears are flowing. I can’t stop thinking about Rose.
It was just supposed to be a meal given to someone in need.
But I’m pretty sure that giving isn’t just meant for the recipient.
By the way, as it turns out, Rose goes to my church. I had never seen her before today, but I’m guessing I’ll see much more of her now.
I can’t wait.
Have you completed your BIG GIVE yet? Be sure to submit your photo on the giveaway post here to enter for a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Code.
While you are there, be sure to read the stories that others have left. I have been so touched by the ways people have chosen to give, even when giving isn’t easy. Thank you.
Kaley,
I had plans to create something special for “The Big Give” but then I changed my mind and just wanted to share my couponing story. I’m not in this to win and if I did I’d actually ask you to give another reader the prize who could really use the help this year. My “Big Give” comes in small packages every day. I wanted to take my camera along and take pictures of random people that I meet in the stores. People that don’t expect a stranger to ask them if they’d “like a coupon for that” or to use my store card if they didn’t have one to get an extra 10 or 20 percent discount on their purchase. The elderly woman who was overwhelmed when I offered her boxes of free kleenex outside of the Rite Aid or the almost 2 year old who was admiring a small balloon and was able to get it because I gave his mom my UP rewards. The man at Giant who helped me grab a box of pasta because I was too short and then giving him the coupons to get the same boxes for free! The neighbor who needed a specific product that couldn’t afford it and I worked a deal around it so I could get it for pennies. The people’s homes I go to and sacrifice my time to teach them how to coupon so it can save their family money or the seminars I offer to MOPs Mommies to help them, too. The faces are different every single day and every single day there is a different need or a different blessing. I just know that God has called me to take this gift and share it among his people so they can see first hand that He is real and that He can use ANYBODY do to even the littlest things and make a huge difference in the lives of everyday common people like me 🙂 Yes, I have given “Big” and have shared my stock with others. A mother of a young 4 year old who is a missionary in Haiti who found out that her daughter had stage 4 cancer. They had to move back to the states without a home and without anything to go with it. I took everything I had and loaded up a friend’s car so that this family could feel peace about things they shouldn’t have to even think about during a time like this. My point is that the “Give” can be great or small but it always has the same impact. The impact of Grace and the impact of Love. Thank you, Kaley for giving us the opportunity to share our “gives”. I pray that you continue to bless as you are! May you be blessed this season and all throughout the year to come! Your coupon sister in Christ, Kim 🙂
You truly have shown the true meaning behind Thanksgiving by helping a neighbor in need. May you and your family have a very happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you, Lori. It’s been a humbling experience. I hope your Thanksgiving is a blessed one!