Pay it Forward...

I honestly don't know what has gotten into me. I've always been a hopeless romantic but lately I've become even more sappy and sentimental. So here is another one of my touchy feely posts...

My friend got married last week and I am so excited for her! I wrote her a little congratulatory message and she replied, "It's honestly been so busy! We haven't had a second besides the honeymoon to feel like we're married!"

This statement could not be more true. Before you get married you devote every waking moment to planning and preparing for the wedding. You keep thinking, "what am I going to do with all my time after this wedding?" And then...BAM! You're married and you are somehow MORE busy than you were before. You barely have a moment to catch your breath.

So here we are 8 months into marriage and I think, "where did all that time go?"
(warning...SAPPY MOMENTS AHEAD) That is why you have to appreciate everyday.

I have a story to tell you. It makes me take a step back and think about the things that are truly important...

My sister went to the University of Alabama. One weekend she decided to drive to Atlanta to see some friends at UGA. Knowing my mom wouldn't want her driving alone at night, Bonnie promised her she would leave Saturday morning. Not Bonnie...she decided to embark on her little journey on Friday night. Half way through her drive, she stops for gas only to realize her entire purse was back at school. So there she was in the middle of nowheresville, alone, and with no money. There wasn't much she could do even though her friends offered to come pick her up. Feeling lost and helpless, she gets into her car and starts to cry.

Just as she is about to give up, a man knocks on her car window (at this point I would be totally freaked out and ready to call 911). Not Bonnie...she rolls down her window. The man says, "My family and I can see that you are in trouble."Bonnie starts to cry hysterically and tells the man her entire dilemma. Not only does the man fill up her gas tank AND give her $100 in cash, he won't give Bonnie any information. Bonnie begs him until he gives her a business card. He says, "I don't want any money. I just want you to pay it forward."

Bonnie wrote him a thank you note and included a check to reimburse the man. He never cashed the check...

Bonnie had her chance to "pay it forward" over Christmas break. A man from out of town was parked outside Bonnie's place of work. On her lunch break, she saw that the man was clearly distressed. He had locked his keys in his car and couldn't afford to call a lock smith. Not from Richmond, he didn't have anyone to call for help. After lunch, the man was still trying to get into his car. Bonnie knew she had to help him. She called and paid a lock smith to open his car. The man said to Bonnie, "you have no idea what you have done for me."

Bonnie replied, "Oh yes I do...just remember to pay it forward."

There were plenty of people who saw this man in trouble but only Bonnie felt the need to help. She probably wouln't have if it weren't for the man who helped her. We are all busy but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take the time to help others in need.