Miracles

Last week I wrote a blog post about how difficult it is to tell your children they cannot do something they want desperately to do because of finances. In this case is was my oldest daughter’s desire to participate on our local swim team this summer – I had to tell her ‘no’. In my writing, I didn’t give specifics about why but I will now. When I was married I was able to afford a membership at a private club where we enjoyed an outdoor pool and swim team. Given my financial situation as a single mother I had to put my membership on hold last autumn, hoping I could rejoin by the summer. Unfortunately, I was not able to make that happen. To be clear, the fees for swim team were certainly something I could do, but not reinstating my membership.

I had no intention for the post to illicit the sort of response it did. With my blog I try and be as honest as I can about whatever issues arise in my life. My feeling is that if I’m going to ask for five minutes of someone’s time, the writing should be authentic. So I write about real stuff that matters to me. It’s always the posts that feel too vulnerable that resonate with people. Although it sometimes feels too exposed, I feel strongly that to write the truth is what really matters.

Keeping that in mind, the response to the post was so thoroughly unexpected, I’m still shaking my head in disbelief. Total strangers, dear friends, and acquaintances wrote to me. “Can I pay Ella’s fee?” I had so many emails I had to put something on Facebook explaining why it wasn’t as simple as just a couple hundred-dollar fee – it was a whole membership.

Later that week I learned from a friend there was a campaign on Facebook comprised of a group of friends trying to raise money.

On Friday I received an email from my best friend from college. She would be mortified if I told you who she is, so I won’t – but what she did was so generous that it makes me weep now as I write this. She figured out via a mutual friend out here who to call at our private club and paid for an entire year’s membership, including the swim team fee.

My first instinct was to say, no. It’s too much. I can’t take it from you.

But in the mail she said two things that moved me to accept. The first was – “I know you would do this for me if the situation were reversed.” This is true.

The second was this. “I remember what it’s like to have divorced parents. Just let me do this for your girls.”

Listen, I can’t write or think about this without crying. The sheer beauty of it is overwhelming. And its not just what my best friend from college did – it’s all of you who wrote to me – all of you trying to arrange something behind the scenes – I cannot express my appreciation adequately except to say, simply, thank you.

I am not worthy of the kind of love that’s showered upon me on a daily basis, not just in this situation but each and every day of my life. I’m so very blessed and grateful and humbled by the love that surrounds my family. I am rich in friends.

Ella was dumbfounded when I told her what my friend had done for her. Then she said, “Mom, I prayed so hard last night that a miracle would happen. And it did.”

A few minutes later she said, “Mom, when your books hit the New York Times Bestseller list, we’re going to do something like this for someone else.

This is the thing – the kindnesses we do for others are not just the act itself, the moment itself. Kindness is perpetuated for years and lifetimes and generations. My daughters will never forget their kind benefactor. It will influence them all the days of their lives. The generosity will be paid forward and forward.

This world is good, my friends. Full of good people. And hope. And faith. And love.

Do not despair, wherever you are in this moment. I had some heartbreaking news today (I can’t share the details but suffice it to say, it hurts badly) but remembering the miracles of last week, I will not despair. Please, those of you out there hurting, do not either. Miracles are everywhere. If you don’t feel one or see one, just wait a moment. Like the unexpected rainbow, it will come.

God bless all of you who wrote to me and to all of you who pray for my family. Love is all there is and all there ever will be.