To Be Humbled

I am going to go out on a limb here and share something with you. Maybe I shouldn’t because hell, what will you think of me? Yes, it’s humbling sharing this with you but on the flip side what do I really have to lose?  I am so touched and blessed that I must share this.  I also want you to know that when you are reaching out to someone it really does mean something to them.

I have admitted here that things are tough for us right now. They are not tough in the way of not having a place to live or not having food on the table. We are not poor by any means. The thing is we just don’t have money for anything extra right now. Which means Christmas or anything like that.

The last few months of me going to the doctor and for therapy depleted our finances. We don’t have insurance so having these doctor appointments, an MRI and physical therapy has taken a toll on us.

We could use our credit card and charge stuff but we just can’t. As much as we would love to buy gifts for my kids and the little ones, we can’t. We refuse to go into debt in order to buy stuff that none of us really need. I know that some will say that is selfish of us but we have committed to living within our means.

It’s not that we are not working. My husband works long hours. I work as many hours as I am allowed. But, no it’s not enough for things like insurance and getting sick or hurt or Christmas. This is just for a season and as much as it sucks right now, we have to remind ourselves that this is only temporary.

I talked to my kids about not being able to buy gifts and of course they were cool about it. We didn’t have a clue what we were going to do about the little ones. Do you have any idea how humbling it is to admit this to you? Can I even begin to get any of you to understand what it’s like to not have enough? I can’t.

A couple of weeks ago I got an e-mail from a very special friend I met through blogging. He wrote me asking for my mailing address because he had bought me a t-shirt. Then he wrote that he had gotten something for my little ones. I was beyond touched by his thoughtfulness. I was touched because I don’t think he knew that we were struggling.

Can I just tell you how humbling it is to accept a gift when you cannot give a gift in return?

On Thursday, this package from  Santa (my friend I met through blogging) arrived. I won’t share his identity because I didn’t ask him if I could.

I cannot even begin to tell you how blessed we were from this gift. This is what Santa sent to Emeril and Rachel Ray..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And to me…

Santa sent me a “Free Hugs” T-Shirt, a Chicken soup for the soul book, some chocolates and some Christmas books to read to the little's.

To add to this wonderfulness…

At the beginning of December I got a letter from my niece saying that she felt it in her heart to give some gifts to our little ones and that she had a friend that had bought gifts for them also. Mind you, she didn’t have a clue to what was going on with us! I cried and then shared this with my husband. Today we met up with her and she gave our family a gift of books.

 

We were beyond touched by her thoughtfulness. She reads my blog so she knows that little man struggles with being a different color then us and our community. Three of the books are for us to read to the little people and one is for us. Wow.

That’s not all.She and her friend bought other gifts for the kids as well, for us to give the little people from Santa on Christmas morning! My niece is a college student and works part time. Amazing isn’t it?

To say that my husband and I are completely humbled and grateful for their act of kindness is an understatement. All the way home, we were in awe of all of this generosity.

Tonight, I sit here in complete awe. I am humbled. And yes, it is embarrassing to not be able to buy gifts for those you love. I don’t want my loved one’s to think for one second that we didn’t want to buy them something special.

One of the main reasons I am sharing this with all of you is this. Many of you give to those in need. Many of you give and yet have no clue that it makes a difference. I am here to say to you, as a voice for those receiving,  thank you and that what you give means the world to who you are giving to. You make a difference. A big difference. And to all of you that won’t get a thank you, I say thank you.

It’s so much better to be on the giving side. It’s so much more rewarding to be the giver. I’ve been the giver and love being the giver. Does it not feel wonderful to give? Having to humbly accept without giving something back in return bites the big one. Eating humble pie is a lesson in humility. There are times I forget what it means to have to be on the receiving end and so this will be another lesson to remind me for future references when we help someone. 

I want to say thank you to my special friend and my niece and her friend for blessing us in this manner. Because of you my children are so excited about the spirit of giving. Because of you my children have been touched. Because of you, my little people will open presents on Christmas morning.

I want to say thank you to each one of you that took time to give to someone in an act of kindness this Christmas season or any time for that matter. You make a difference. You make a difference because you care enough to take the steps of reaching out and giving. 

I humbly stand before you and weep in gratitude and as a voice for all those that receive from you this Christmas season, say thank you. Bless you. May what you give come back to you in a multitude of beautiful blessings. My husband thanks you. My children thank you.

Love & Hugs, Lori