Comments on: Corny… but contagious!

By: LindaB

LindaB — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:45:35 +0000

I mean “Pay” it forward. Right? I’ve heard it both ways. But then, I live in Clio.

By: LindaB

LindaB — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:38:56 +0000

“And a couple weeks ago I was in line at McDonalds, and got to the window and the person right in front of me had their bill paid by the one in front of them. So close!” —Karen

ROFLOL Karen!!! Too funny! I wish someone who likes to “play it forward” was in front of me at the county treasurers office when I’m paying my taxes!!!

“Alot of folks think I am kinda over-the-top…fanatic…” — Johnnie

Folks thought Jesus was an over-the-top-fanatic TOO! You just keep on keepin’ on! You energize the rest of us! There’s nothing like a soul just washed squeaky clean by the blood of Christ and still can’t get over the miracle of it! Bless you!

By: karen48

karen48 — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:50:50 +0000

I had a pay it forward of a different kind done to me. Five years ago I had been in the hospital for 18 days with a lung problem. That meant a whole month for me with no paycheck.

I belonged to a lovely group on delphi at the time. They knew I was having problems paying my bills, especially my rent. These lovely ladies put their heads together and sent me enough to pay my rent that following month. What a blessing that was! On the check was a note saying they didn’t want repaid, but for me to pay it forward.

I have paid it forward in small ways as I in no way have enough to pay someone elses rent. But it is fun to do it when you can.

And a couple weeks ago I was in line at McDonalds, and got to the window and the person right in front of me had their bill paid by the one in front of them. So close!!! lol

By: DELIVEREDJEPARKER63

DELIVEREDJEPARKER63 — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:46:32 +0000

I had just sent Tori a picture of me this morning – grinning from ear to ear……BUT IT AINT GOT NUTHIN ON THE HUMONGUS GRIN I AM WEARING NOW! Thanks, gals! Alot of folks think I am kinda over-the-top…fanatic….well, YEAH!!!!! I AM!!!!! I am the debtor that to whom much was forgiven! I am the woman that was deliverd from a legion of demons! And, I am Paul, who went everywhere telling about his Damascus initiation into the Kingdom of God, giving hope to the other lost, confused ones. I cant help but be thankful, grateful, and tell it! It is my life. Thanks for understanding! My church is just not on Sunday mornings…it is every day, all day..my breath, my reason for living.

LindaB & Mama Lloyd – it is SOOOOO good to have a face w/ your names! I love you! Truly hope to meet you on this earth, but if not – we will def. meet on the new one! Glory to Jesus!

By: Barbara M. Lloyd

Barbara M. Lloyd — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:53:40 +0000

Oh dear, that didn’t come ojut the way I meant it, I fear….so let me just say that I didn’t mean because we deserved to be any closer to Jesus’ feet than anyone else…..just that we all will be so excited being in Heaven and that close to our Saviour. Afterwards, I’ll be going around getting hugs from everyone on Tori’s blog. Well, that is, when y’all finally get there.

Gracious, Tori, tell us Russ’ Christmas cd is being released SOON.

By: Barbara M. Lloyd

Barbara M. Lloyd — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:48:07 +0000

Oh my goodness, I love you, too, Johnnie…..and forgive me for previously calling you Johnny, please.

But I bet we will all have a race to our Jesus’ feet…….and I can see Him smiling at us now.

By: LindaB

LindaB — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:19:09 +0000

“…even though she will not beat me to Jesus’ feet!”—Johnnie

I LOVE THAT, JOHNNIE!!! Ya know, you remind me of someone. Remember the story of the woman who was a sinner who came to Simon the Pharasee’s home where Jesus was a dinner guest? She was so overcome with love for Jesus that she washed his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair? And anointed his feet with costly ointment? And Simon thought, TO HIMSELF, that Jesus couldn’t possibly be a prophet or he would have known this woman was a sinner and wouldn’t let her come near to him! (Bad P.R., ya know.) And, of course, Jesus being the Son of God, HEARD HIM! Jesus then, (and I love this part), said, “I have somewhat to say unto thee!” I love it because Jesus didn’t care if Simon was a big shot around town! He didn’t care if He was a guest in his house! He didn’t care if Simon was a “righteous” or “religious” man in the world’s eyes. Jesus was all about the sinner. And He spoke right up for her! He told Simon a story about two men that owed money to their master—-one owed a lot, and one owed a little. And the Master forgave them BOTH! Then Jesus asked Simon which one loved his master most? And Simon said the one who was forgiven the most. And we all know that he was right and Jesus reminded Simon that he didn’t wash Jesus’ feet when he arrived for dinner, didn’t kiss Him (which was customary), and didn’t offer him oil to anoint His head. But this woman did because she was forgiven for a lot! And she loved Him a lot!

You talk about how bad the sinner was that you USED to be, Johnnie. But now that you are forgiven, you are so quick to thank God for everything! So faithful to serve others. So happy to be a believer now! You have been forgiven much and you LOVE MUCH! I think Mother Theresa will step back and let you kiss Jesus’ feet first! And I hope I get to see that! It will be glorious! I just love you, Johnnie!

(Sorry, Tori, for the epistle. Got carried away.)

By: DELIVEREDJEPARKER63

DELIVEREDJEPARKER63 — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:04:03 +0000

And, maybe we pay too much attention to the blessings we are supposed to receive, and not enough about the blessings we are supposed to bestow, and the motive behind the giving. I was such an awful person before Jesus changed my life, I guess that is the main reason I now focus on trying to bring blessings to others. I have brought waaaay too much pain in the past. Peace

(back to class……i am subbing Pre-k today! woohoo! I’m gonna need one of those pumpkin lattes afterwards – too bad there’s not a Satrbucks w/in 15 miles! gotta settle for Gevalia)

By: delightedabroad

delightedabroad — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:44:46 +0000

Delivered, I totally agree with you! I often think about the very true expression that ‘non-believers do read just one edition of a bible: the life of the believers around them’.

By: DELIVEREDJEPARKER63

DELIVEREDJEPARKER63 — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:46:23 +0000

Well, maybe I am waaay off track here, & maybe an extremist, but isnt that what we should all be doing if we have been blessed by the Lord, (which all of us have – to even be able to read these blogs!) – He blesses us in order that we can in turn bless others.
I mean, I AM DEFINITELY NOT MOTHER THERESA – NO WHERE CLOSE, (even though she will not beat me to Jesus’ feet!)- but i incorporate things like this as often as possible in my day…cards unexpectedly to folks, little gifts “just because”, …etc…..I think most of you reading this blog do things like this every day, not even thinking about it – showing love to the next person….which was our commandment from Jesus. We can draw others to Christ thru love when they are blocking out the Word.

Or maybe I am just too serious.

By: DELIVEREDJEPARKER63

DELIVEREDJEPARKER63 — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:34:49 +0000

LOOK – I HAVENT READ THE POST, YET…..I ONLY GOT AS FAR AS YOUR TWITTER POSTS…TORI – HAVE THOSE REVIEW GUYS GOT A DEPT FOR TV REVIEWS? they really need you over there! I didnt watch the awards, but I gotta find a clip now to see the MEAT DRESS! AND CHER’S DRESS!
And, your commentary on Kanye was hilarious!

will be back after reading your post on Bloomr! love ya!

By: LindaB

LindaB — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 05:55:41 +0000

I mean “tough”………….but “touched” would also work, I guess.

By: LindaB

LindaB — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 05:54:33 +0000

Well, I tried this yesterday…..only I did it at the Clio McDonalds…..(Not Starbucks—I hate paying 4 bucks for a latte for MYSELF even). So, I paid for the person behind me’s coffee and TWO Big Macs. THEN, they followed me everywhere around town, pulling in behind me wherever I stopped. I KNEW this wouldn’t work here!

Then I started worrying that this person would spill his hot coffee in his lap and SUE ME! This is a touch little town.

By: swerchon

swerchon — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 20:12:22 +0000

I have done something very similar to this about two years ago. I was with family and friends and we went for breakfast on a Saturday and having a great time. We were all laughing and having fun with the waitress (she was a hoot). I had noticed this woman (a bag woman I believe, if not she sure looked it), anyway I noticed her and silently kept watching her sitting by herself and focused on the food on her plate. No one else from my table seemed to have noticed her or even noticed that I was so fixated on her. My heart was so heavy and it hurt for this woman. While everyone was still horse playing and whooping it up, I pulled the waitress to one side and insisted that she give me her bill and NOT to say anything to the woman that it was me who paid her tab.

With all the joking and fun going on at our table that morning, I had more fun watching this woman find out her meal was paid for – it was fun and made me feel so good.

By: Nova Scotia Mama

Nova Scotia Mama — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 12:44:08 +0000

My friend Debby often pays for the coffee order in the car behind her in the Tim Horton’s drive thru…she gets downright giddy afterwards because it makes her feel so good. Because we live in a rural area where pretty much everybody knows everybody, the drive thru employees sometimes ask her “are you paying for yours plus the next guys today?”

By: delightedabroad

delightedabroad — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 10:00:20 +0000

These stories are great! They also remind me of the book “What would Jesus do”, you know it? While reading the post and the comments and thinking about them I remembered two situations especially: I had to take the bus and the urban railway (is that the correct expression for ‘S-Bahn’??)to reach my school and one time a young mother with a toddler and a little one in a buggy had difficulties to get on board. It was absolutely self-evident for me to seize one end of the buggy to help her. No one else in the bus moved! On another occasion an elderly lady asked me if the next train was heading for the city. I answered her and when I heard she had problems with a bad sight I offered her to take my arm. She was so thankful and happy that someone was helpful and kind to her, she almost told me her whole life on the ride.
I’m apalled that something like this seems to be extraordinary though in my opinion it should be common.

By: Days of reckoning « My Life as the Glue

Days of reckoning « My Life as the Glue — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 01:12:37 +0000

[…] and looking around at our so-called community, while I see a lot of good and coming together and paying it forward, as my friend puts it, I also see a lot of judginess, small-mindedness, and lack of […]

By: tori

tori — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:37:59 +0000

Momma Lloyd– OK, that did it. I’m cryng.

By: Barbara M. Lloyd

Barbara M. Lloyd — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:25:56 +0000

It always makes me cry to tell this about my dad. For as many years as I can remember growing up, on Christmas Eve he would take me to Mr. Taylor’s Men’s store, where at Christmastime Mr. Taylor would have a toy stores upstairs. This would be after hours and Mr. Taylor would let my dad and me pick out some toys at a great price….then we would drive them in the wee hours of the morning out in the country over bumpy dirt roads to a very small farm house, Inside, a precious mom and dad would be waiting for our arrival while their children were sleeping in their beds. Their little Christmas tree was always trimmed with strings of berries, popcorn and ssorted cutouts of angels, etc. We would put the toys around the tree and leave as quietly as we had sneaked into that little house. My dad was by no means a wealthy man but he had a heart for people and especially this one little family. Without hesitation, this part of my Christmas was always the best part of all. I can still remember those goosebumps riding down that little country road. When my dad passed away, it was this man who always showed up to shovel snow, cut the grass, put on storm windows….without ever being called. Through the years, they even named one of their children after me….my dad’s kid.

By: tori

tori — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:33:29 +0000

LindaB– Ooh, Taco Bell might be a good idea… Unless you’re behind me. I can do some damage with those crunchy tacos, yo.

TexasEbeth– We don’t have any toll roads around here, or I would be all over that! (And yeah, I got a little choked up when that girl paid for my coffee, too…)

rachelbaker– First of all, I LOVE Stratford-upon-Avon! Russ and I went there many years ago… And you gave me a good idea about looking out for slightly panicked-looking teens at places like that– I bet mine have probably run short a couple of times!

chillybean– Oh, Colleen, bless that sweet family! Those parents must be doing something right for their kids to be that generous. I love that story

chall– The laundromat! Never thought of that! Wouldn’t it be fun to get a $10 roll of quarters and just go crazy?!

justmalia– Love the idea of a whole Starbucks line of people that just keep on paying for the next guy… And I’ll get right on that longest line research.

jonny–See? That’s why you’re a rock star– leadership quality!

Gramma Jac– Maybe we should do regional ‘Bloomr meet-ups! We could have area chapters, like the Lion’s Club! It could be a national movement!

aurburn60– Love that Meredith– you’re such a good mom. And she gets extra points for not telling you until now!

itsvikki2u– Grateful to be yours, too. And come back and report to us whenever you do pay it forward!

kidpyramid– Parking meters– another good idea. I love the Del Taco story… and the tattooed guy and the ditch one is even better!

VA-Cathy– I guarantee you your kids are noticing. I was raised by parents who quietly went around helping people without drawing attention to it, and I never forgot it.

By: VA-Cathy

VA-Cathy — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:52:19 +0000

When my son was around 15, we had one of those meal fundraisers after church. He and I were working and we stayed busy the whole time. Since it was for teens, my daughter who wasn’t yet a teen, and my husband, ate with the crowd. When we finally got to where we could eat, they had already cleaned the kitchen and packed up what little food was left. We dropped my husband and daughter off at home, then we went to Pizza Hut. I saw a family there that I knew from work. They asked why the rest of the family wasn’t with us so we explained. I kept waiting for the waitress to bring me the ticket and finally asked her for it. She told me that the people that left about 15 minutes before had paid it. It impressed my son so much. He talked about it for days and would ask, can we do that for somebody sometime? We’ve done this in smaller ways many times and I hope our children have noticed. They are 17 and 21 now and would give you the last dollar they had if they thought you needed it, so the must have. I think they’re going to take my last dollar too, but that’s a different story!! Thanks for sharing, you are inspiring!!!

By: kidpyramid

kidpyramid — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:21:45 +0000

Let’s see, I like to put change in parking meters. Recently a young girl was ahead of me picking up her pizza at Dominos and they had raised the price of their large pizzas by $1. Her mom had givenher exact change based on the old price and she was calling to ask Mom to bring her more money. I just threw down the cash. No big deal, it’s the right thing to do.

Last time I was pregnant my husband was out of work and we were headed to have lunch with some friends after church. As I pulled into the Del Taco parking lot someone stopped their car behind mine and blocked me in. I wondered if I had cut her off as she approached my window. She handed me a $50 bill and said they she wanted to bless me. I was completely blown away! We proceeded to pay for our friends’ lunch as well.

One day I saw a guy whose truck had stalled at the end of the freeway offramp. People were honking and driving around him. I circled the block and pulled my van up behind his truck to give him a push into the gas station. My children asked me why I was helping this stranger and I told them that if we can help someone we should. A couple weeks later we were driving to the pumpkin patch and got lost. (Thanks, GPS!) As I was backing up my rear wheels went into a ditch. We were stuck. Not knowing exactly where we were we didn’t know about calling AAA. About 10 minutes later a guy (covered in tattoos and with skull stickers on his truck) stopped to pull us out of the ditch.

You never know about a person by his appearance and you should always do someone a good turn when the opportunity arises.

By: itsvikki2u

itsvikki2u — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:27:09 +0000

Wow, just reading this has made my not so great morning GREAT! I’ve heard of people doing it but its one of those things that you intend to do it but don’t. I WILL do it and Thanks Tori for this post BIG TIME! Love it Love it Love it! Grateful & Thankful to be Tori’s friend.

By: auburn60

auburn60 — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:12:02 +0000

Sorry to say that I haven’t done it…always think of doing something like that AFTER I drive away. But I’m glad to say that my daughter did something close. When Hurricane Katrina victims were coming through here, relocating, with cars fullof their stuff and kids etc. my daughter was filling her car at a gas station when she heard a family arguing about how much money they could spend at the convenience store. Seems between gas and food they were tapped out and not near their destination yet. So Meredith went in the store and paid for their gas. She didn’t even mention it to me until recently. I always wondered what that family thought when they found out that they had a few more dollars for their trip.

By: Gramma Jac

Gramma Jac — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:27:55 +0000

I’m inspired!! By the way,chillybean: hi neighbor! (Sort-of) I’m in LaCrosse, WI. Maybe this get-together they’re always talking about should be up in the frozen North!! (Course there is that draw of Southern cooking!)

By: jonny

jonny — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:39:46 +0000

Yep. Have done it often. Never heard of the film before, though.

By: justmalia

justmalia — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:37:04 +0000

I found myself in a pay-it-forward line at the Starbucks in Cool Springs a few years ago. It was really neat. My drink had been paid for, so I paid for the person behind me. I’ve heard this is a fairly common phenomenon for Starbucks drive through locations. I’d like to know what the longest running line has been. (Surely they’ve case studied this, right?) I think it’s awesome that you initiated it. That should be on my life list.

By: chall

chall — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:49:50 +0000

I’ve seen the movie and what a tear jerker!

My church does what we call ARKS, acts of random kindness. We put quarters in laundromat machines, give out free water, and this December we will give back our offering for the second time. Envelopes are passed out with varying amounts of money and folks are asked to go find a way to give it away. It was awesome last year, with lots of stories of how God changed lives. My pastor got the idea from other churches who do this as well. What a wonderful revolution of kindness!

I’m in southwest VA, btw.

By: chillybean

chillybean — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:12:11 +0000

Tori, there is a Christian radio station here in Minneapolis/St. Paul called KTIS. They promote this type of action through a program they call the Drive Through Difference. It is pretty cool when people call in with their stories. Usually, the ones they put on the air are the hard luck, I was having a horrible day type stories and how this really made a difference to change their mood and day. Whenever I hear the stories on air, I always get a little tear in my eye they are so sweet.

I can’t think of when this may have happened to me specifically, but I do remember a time at perkins, I was newly divorced with a young toddler and preschooler. Kinda stressed and decided we needed to get out of the house. They were REALLY bouncy at the restaurant. The kids (maybe 8-10) at the table next to us had begged their parents for a toy from the crane machine that they just had to have. On their way out of the restaurant they very generously gave the toy to my kids. Just because. It was a very sweet gesture and of course, made me cry.)

Colleen

By: rachelbaker

rachelbaker — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:46:07 +0000

I saw the film … feels like a long time ago but I seem to remember enjoying it.

I heartily approve of random acts of kindness – I wonder what actions this blog will be the catalyst for.

I don’t think it has ever happened to me, but know a few people who have had things paid for. When I was 16 we went on a Literature trip to Stratford-upon-avon with the school. It was great (well we saw 4 or 5 shakespeare performances in 3 days and had the rest of the time to ourselves). One day a group of about 5 of us went into the Haagen Dazs cafe for an ice-cream. We were looking at the menu just as an older couple were leaving and one of my friends said to us ‘I’ll just get a drink as I’m running out of money’. Immediately the couple stopped, gave my friend a 10 pound note and said, ‘there you are, get want you want and enjoy yourselves’. Then they left. That one event caused as much discussion as most of the theatre experiences on the trip. That was before the ‘pay it forward’ film craze too.

By: TexasEbeth

TexasEbeth — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:33:59 +0000

I had someone do it for me on the toll road one day. It was enough to make me cry as I had the toll money gathered up in change (lots of pennies) in a ziploc baggie that day. I was so broke! I did repay the favor by doing the same for someone else later on when I had actual dollars at the toll both.

I should do it more often.

By: LindaB

LindaB — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 05:10:41 +0000

Okay, I might just do this sometime……but I’d prefer to do it in the Taco Bell line. Certainly not at the gas pump! I usually don’t have anything left after filling up my minivan anyway!

Tori, this just proves you really are SO NICE!

By: tori

tori — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 04:22:22 +0000

Wow, Amy– maybe it’s an Arkansas thing!

By: asmed415

asmed415 — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 04:18:09 +0000

Aunt Tori –
Wes (my boyfriend) and I had something similar happen the other day. He was getting gas in his truck because we were headed to Hot Springs for the weekend. It was pouring cats and dogs and the credit card reader at the pumps was on the blink. So, he went inside with his debit card to pay. Of course, something was wrong with the card reader inside too. So, he was in the process of calling his dad (who owns the convenience store) to tell him that something had knocked out the credit card lines. When he hung up with his dad, the cashier told Wes that the lady that had just walked out had paid for his gas! Such a blessing!!