arrived here is Los Angeles and stayed with me and my son for two days, before resuming her trip to her son's wedding in Mexico. The days that I spent with her I enjoyed immensely. A few days later I had heard from her and she wanted me to come to Hawaii and spend some time with her. A few days before I was to leave, she had a terrible accident at work and severely hurt her back. I told her that I will still come to see her and spend some time.
When I arrived she was in terrible shape. I almost did not recognize her. I helped her and got groceries and did some things around her house. She was very upset that she was so injured that she could not tour the island with me as she had planned. I assured her that I will entertain myself when I was not with her, which I did. There was something that I wasn't saying and that was she looked so very different that I had a queasy feeling something else was not right, but I shook it off. I did get to spend a lot of time with her and enjoyed being and meeting her family members.
I return back to my life and she started to recover from her injuries about 6 weeks later. She was starting to go back to work and wanted me to eventually come back to Hawaii. She went to the doctor as she was not feeling well and got some tests, the doctor informed her that she has a malignant cancer that has already spread throughout her body and she had very little time to live.
She went to her sisters for the hospice and died. You see I gave her the memory of her son's wedding. The time that she spent with me and her son, she had told me was the best time of her life. She had danced at his wedding and was happy. This woman had two biological children and 4 adopted children. She dedicated her life to them.
I passed on my blessing in the form of money, time and companionship during her last days. I had no expectation of reward, but what I received was the gift of joy, knowing that in some way, I contributed to her happiness. That was a reward within a tragedy. I still grieve a little from time to time and miss her. I don't even remember her name only her smiling face and playful spirit for that I am thankful.
It still hurts to tell this story.
You see my intent was to help. At that time I was in position to give and was not obligated, I could have dropped the relationship as soon as money came up but I decided to bless her and in turn my life was blessed. It was my intent, to give from the heart and not from some other place expecting some benefit. When one gives the receiving is automatic.
I am not always in the position to give. Sometimes it just isn't possible. The only option is to do better in life, so that you are. My giving is through these writings, I receive no financial reward at all. I believe by sharing my stories that it may help someone to do better, to have a better vision of themselves and somehow that they will get blessed, I have been.
You don't know what your giving will do. If you heart is in the right place and you feel that it is a good thing to give, then by all means do so. It is not the amount of money or time that you give, it is the intent. Giving is a form of passing on blessings, whether to your church, charity or cause. The receiving is always automatic.
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by John Tebar
Most people are generous. Some people are really stingy. Some give when they feel obliged or when they are anticipating
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