Pay it Forward
My beautiful friend Christie stopped by the other day with a jar of homemade cookies and a pocket full of hope.
Christie’s husband served her with divorce papers last fall… at a Starbucks. After he left, after she cried in the bathroom for awhile, she went up to the counter to order another drink. The man at the cash register had overheard everything, and when he saw her tearstained face he opened up his wallet and pulled out a simple silver ring. “Here,” he told her. “This was given to me when I went through something similar, and now I’d like to pass it on to you.” Christie told me she wore it on a string around her neck for months- that sometimes, on the difficult days, it was the only thing that kept her moving through the hurt. I was so touched by Christie’s story, amazed that a complete stranger who had witnessed one of the most painful moments in her life had enough courage and compassion to reach out and help her heal. There is such beauty in that.
As I was shaking my head at the wonder of what she had told me, Christie reached into her pocket and pulled out the ring tied to a black piece of string. “It gave me hope when I needed it the most,” she said. “And now I want you to have it.” She placed the it in the palm of my hand and told me to look at what was written on the outside of the ring. It says: TRUE LOVE WAITS.
And then, with the deep female wisdom that is forced upon a woman who walks through her pain, Christie looked at me and said, “I’m not sure who I’m supposed to be waiting for to show up and love me, but I have a funny feeling that it might actually be me.”
What a gift this woman is to me.
I think this has to be the best post I’ve ever read. Seriously. Keep strong, babe, gifts in a myriad of forms will show up when you least expect it.
Comment by Redheadmomma — May 18, 2007 @ May 18, 2007 at 9:17 pm
That is wicked. I love when strangers band together, connect, give one another hope. Relate about the human experience.
Comment by krista — May 19, 2007 @ May 19, 2007 at 5:33 am
Stunning post. Truly. What lovely people.
Comment by Karen (Miscellaneous Mum) — May 19, 2007 @ May 19, 2007 at 1:31 pm
How absolutely beautiful!!!
Comment by Amy — May 19, 2007 @ May 19, 2007 at 4:01 pm
This is the best thing I have heard all week.
Comment by Georgia — May 19, 2007 @ May 19, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Wow- I love the head to toe goosebumps this gave me.
Hope and promise and paying it forward, and mysticism. And love. Just love.
Comment by Karen — May 20, 2007 @ May 20, 2007 at 3:43 pm
I’m with Redhead: this is one of the best blog posts I can ever remember reading.
Comment by Antonia — May 21, 2007 @ May 21, 2007 at 6:53 am