Together We Do Make a Difference-

Giving a monetary donation can be risky. Unless you know the person or the organization to whom you are donating, giving money to those who ask for it can be a risk that you are not willing to take.

All I can say is that I am so very thankful for each person here on HubPages who has sent 'pennies' (many of them in the form of a check) to help us cover the mountain of medical bills that has already been incurred for my baby (six year old..who reminds me he is NOT a baby ) grandson.

It is difficult for me to read the names on the cards when I first open them because tears fill my eyes and my heart...tears of thankfulness and tears of joy that precious friends here on HubPages are sharing our journey. It is so humbling to have lovely individuals reach out to us across the nation...many of whom I will never meet in person. I cannot truly express how touched I am.

Mr. Emerson chose these few words to say what it took a page full to say.

...that is what it is all about!!!

Putting the needs of others first will bring untold joy to them and to us.

How many times have you needed a helping hand? Maybe just for something as simple as toting a fallen branch after a storm. Maybe in a time when finances were bad and you needed someone to just listen and help you try to make sense of it all.

Maybe you have needed one too, when a loved one was very ill and needed 24/7 care. You needed that someone to take your spot by the bedside for a few hours while you snatched a few minutes of much-needed rest.

We could choose to exclude all others from our lives. We could choose to try to tackle those "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" that come our way. And in some cases, many cases, we can face off with whatever lands in our lap and try to muddle through.

Just let me say, for me, having the arms and uplifting spirit of others lifts so much of the pressure from my shoulders and makes the walk much easier.

And without thinking about it, or, trying to make myself seem 'more wonderful,' there are so many opportunities that I have each day to reciprocate the kindness that lands in my lap following close on the heels of some unwanted, unanticipated unfortunate event or circumstance.

For me, and for many that I know, this walk is truly not a singular walk. As John Donne said so well..."No man is an island...." Reaching out to others links us in an even closer bond than we might have once believed is possible.

How easy it is to share kindness each day...

A smile can mean so much. And we never know when that smile is just what someone needed, just at the moment you share it.

A 'hi, how're you doin' ?' quickly spoken as we pass each other on our way to and fro can begin to turn a glum kind of day into a whole new experience for someone who is receiving our greeting.

And there is always actually giving something to someone else when they are in need.

Perhaps giving clothing or food to a family directly when you know they will not feel 'bad' because we did can be huge.

Giving food and clothing to organizations that can in turn pass these items along to those in need too can mean so much.

Taking school supplies--pencils, paper, glue sticks, crayons, tissues, and on and on, to schools for those who may not be able to afford them is another way we DO make a difference.

And of course there are monetary donations that we make that can mean more than we ever realize.

The giving just keeps happening. Here in this very tiny town I was reunited with a young woman to taught opposite me while I was still teaching. Her name is Yvonne...I spoke with her just this morning and she gave me permission to use her name. She is still a teacher and is artistically talented.

She texted me and asked me to come over. That she had some money for us and had something to chat about with me.

When I stepped into her home, she hugged me and introduced her husband. She then lead me over to the counter in her kitchen and handed me a large gift of money...so many pennies!! And of course I was reduced to tears...happy tears.

She then went on to explain that while she was going through a most difficult time fighting a debilitating illness she sought an avenue to occupy herself and express her feelings. So she began to design intricately fashioned hearts. She had been told she should do something with them so that others could see them and enjoy them.

She said, 'We can use them to help your family, your Heston. We can call them 'Hearts for Heston'. And so it goes. I have made copies and have already sent a half dozen out to those who have donated.

You will receive a 'Heart for Heston' if you are able to donate.

Pennies add up. And know please that we do not take one donation for granted.

Our baby boy needs care. His Daddy's medical insurance does not cover so much of the expense. With your help, we can insure Heston Wayne's care will occur.

Two by two, we do matter. We do cause change.

We do impact the lives of another.

We may not think about it when we do something kind for someone like opening a door or dropping coins in a jar at a store counter for a child or family in need but those gestures are far more meaningful than we ever realize.

Taking time to reach out to someone in a way we may consider inconsequential can have profound and long-lasting effects on the lives of others.

There have been times we I have been so bogged down with all that is swirling around my family that I have almost given up writing here... With.my ill daughter (that you would not think is ill as she is always doing doing doing for her family, especially Heston, right now, and for others) and Heston Wayne and his brother, Jay, who also is sick (but soldiers on every single day), I just felt I was not giving HubPages the attention it needs.

But now I am so thankful I still have this way to express my hopes and fears (just from time to time I have a few....my humanness showing)....it is cathartic for me. And reconnecting with so many lovelies here who have reached out and continue to do so is just plain good for my soul. So I am so glad that I decided to stay here and share as much as I can and read and respond to as many hubs as I can.

If there are periods of silence from me, please know we are treading some difficult waters and as soon as we conquer them I will return.

Know please that I am sending Angels to each of you this morning. Those Angels keep us lifted up and able to tread water.