Day 26: The Ripple Effect

Well, I can't believe that I haven't posted in 4 days, but have been busy with lots of small gives. I have taken the time to read books to my kids in the library during a very busy day, have given money to a homeless man outside of a gas station, bought a friend a bouquet of flowers and wrote her a card, convinced my father to join the 29 Day Giving Challenge, and gave a lot of time and little favors to my husband.

I am continuing to receive a lot of wonderful things from people. My husband offered to bathe and put our 3 young children to bed while I indulged in a 90 minute yoga class, and he offered to let me go every week! A friend gave me some foot soak salts as a thank you, I have been showered with love and compliments from friends and strangers, and have gotten a huge amount of support and inspiration to start up a crafting venture that I had been shrugging off (despite my love of hand crafts such as knitting, sewing, and drawing). I also just finished reading the blog of a friend who joined up after I posted it on Facebook, and was really moved to tears by her generosity and honesty.

My father has had a difficult time with his health: he has been living with a subtle neuropathy that is genetic for years, but a couple of days ago had numbness progress in his arms and severe loss of balance. He was quickly diagnosed with having a herniated disc in his cervical spine and will need surgery immediately. We are all so thankful that this condition is operable.

When I first found out about this from my dad, he was really nervous and speculating a lot of worst case scenarios. I listened to him at length, and then, sort of out of "nowhere", I started talking to him about the 29 Day Giving Challenge. He is never a person that I would have considered even telling about this. So I was truly shocked to hear him say that this is just what he needs! He has planned his first give and has promised to keep a journal; despite the upcoming surgery, etc. I have noticed that he is not panicked, but calm, and even filled with peace. I am so grateful for this that I cannot even put it into words.

So, between my father and my friend coming to this just when they seem to need it most, is such a huge gift to me - knowing that I inspired them!