Let us turn this anger into sadness
Let us turn this sadness into mourning
Let us turn this mourning into REMEMBRANCE
Let us turn the remembrance into ADMIRATION
Let us turn the admiration into INSPIRATION
Let us turn the inspiration into PASSION
Let us turn this passion into ACTION
Let us turn this action into CHANGE
and change into healing and caring and loving and reaching out
Healing for the world and every single person in it.
aw wow guys. This is really bringing tears to my eyes. I know it sounds all corny but online, sometimes you just have to say it since you can't show.
Thank you everyone who reads this, participates, and shares in here.
I want to share my experiences lately since posting this. The night I posted this I had a friend of mine phone me at 4 am in the middle of a deep sleep. At first I didn't quite recognize who it was when he asked if he could come crash on my couch and thought it was another man who has a girlfriend and a bit of a crush on me, I thought it best to say no, it's not a good idea and wouldn't be appropriate. Then when I hung up it started to bother me. I thought about what I said in this thread and figured I'd better call him back and let him know I have an extra bed he can sleep in. Turns out it was a different friend of mine who was from out of town and had been in town drinking at a bar till 4 am. Not exactly ideal for coming to my home to sleep, but he's a friend and I know I'd be alright. Anyways, he showed up and was like a little kid at his first sleep over making it impossible to sleep by talking. Eventually I got some sleep and though it would have been easier to have said no, he might not be with us today as he was drunk, and possibly would have tried driving back home, or somewhere else.
Another time I was out doing errands with my daughter in the truck and we were almost totally out of gas so we stopped at a station. The second I pulled up someone came up and asked "excuse me miss, but can you help me out..." and I was so worried I didn't have enough money for gas, and was feeling really strapped financially that I just looked up kind of helplessly and said "No, I can't. I'm a single mom of four kids without a job right now." I didn't even let him finish. I have to say, I failed that time. .. or maybe it was alright and I can't look at it as failure because I was putting my children first at that time when I felt strapped. They should come first and there are always other ways that I can help. Maybe I didn't deal with it perfectly, but I'm sharing it to show my full experience lately. At least the ones that made a big impact on me.
This last one that stood out to me was when I decided to put my trailer up for rent instead of for sale. I could have rented it out for between $800-$900, or up to $1200 if I rented it by the room to college students. Instead I decided that if I am at least bringing in enough to take care of the place and pay lot rent, then I'll be doing alright and I should ask for $700/month rent and choose carefully from who I get. I wanted someone who was in need of an inexpensive place, but could pay what I am asking so that I am not put in a bad financial position. I got a call from a homeless man yesterday who made me nervous actually. Not because he is homeless at all, but just a bad feeling I got when talking with him. He wanted me to pick him up and bring him to the trailer to stay that night. I said no. He got upset and told me he wants to have a shower and sleep and he just got into town. It just didn't feel right to be honest and there are shelters people can go to here, plus it's nice out and he'd be fine. The next day a lady called for her elderly father who is moving in from Trinidad. He's handicapped and married to a younger lady and has young children. They have nothing but their clothes and will be here on Friday. Right now they are living in a shack basically. They want to raise their children in Canada. The daughter assured me that they will be able to pay the rent but are desperate as there is nothing out here for rent right now that is affordable. I asked if they'll need furniture and she said yes, so I am going to set it all up for them with what I have and what I'm able. I put together a care package for them of extra food I had. They will get to move in early (without paying for the extra days) and I'm helping them however I am able right now. The second I got home, the homeless man called me to see if I could pick him up and when I told him it was rented out, he cursed me out and hung up on me (I do want to do something to help out homeless people, but this isn't how I am able to right now, and it did more good to help out four instead of one). So.. the moral is...you may not be able to help out everyone, but help where it feels right. Plus for myself, I do have to make sure that my children are taken care of first and foremost as they are my responsibility, but then we can help out others together. There was another man who called to look at it but he sounded like he was doing alright so I felt best about picking who I did as I thought it would do the most good.
It's interesting. I always thought I was a good person and helped out everyone, but since being more aware of it all after posting this thread, I have noticed that it sometimes is a struggle. But it's alright. We do what we are able, and we learn along the way. I hope my experience is a help as well.
:better:
thank you. I just wanted to show that it can be something little like giving a friend a place to sleep, to something that seems a little bigger. But there will be times when you feel you didn't do enough, or maybe should have helped, but didn't.. it's like anything worthwhile; you don't give up. You make it a part of life, even if sometimes you have to say no. The thing is, when you are able to, and it feels right (be a joyful giver) then you say yes
Michael has inspired me. He's healed me. He's opened my eyes to the beauty of the world and humanity. The beauty in every single person. Michael always looked at the heart, and never judged because of what someone looked like. He is the definition of caring, selfless and love. Everyday I try my best to live like he did. With love in his heart. Doing something good for the world can really help when you're feeling down. There is no greater feeling than giving or helping out fellow human beings. Regardless of who they are, what colour their skin is or where they stand in society. Heal the world, make it a better place. For you and for me and the entire human race. Michael healed me. He healed my racism when I was in my darkest hour, my deepest despair. Michael was my someone in the dark. Thank you so much Michael. I can never thank you enough. Getting all teary now
God bless.
I agree, that was a beautiful post. There are so many in this thread that once I thought of pointing out one then there was another and another..lol I really am so glad people are taking part and sharing and commenting. We really can make a difference! If we take this far, and tell others about it too, we could start quite a movement I think. It's possible.
Neeve, I love your dream! It fits perfectly. I had one too and posted it in a dream thread but I'll share a bit of it here too.
I was out shopping in a busy store and turned a corner and there was a sweet little baby boy looking up at me with his big brown eyes. I almost stepped on him so it shocked me. I looked around and no one was watching him so I picked him up thinking I couldn't just leave him there. I worried for a bit how it might look like I'm stealing him so I went to the ladies close by and asked if he was their's and they said no, so I wanted them to know that I wasn't taking him, but just caring for him till I could find his parents. Anyways, I never did find his parents so I decided I would bring him into our family. I actually thought, what's one more baby. (I have four children).
Now that I look at it, I think it might mean that even though we do have our own families and people we care for, there is always room for more. Always room for caring about more than those we already do. Also maybe God presents those opportunities for us to help others, and we accept them or not. Sort of like "If you choose to accept this mission..." lol.
Anyways, I just wanted to share that. I think it joins in nicely with Neeve's dream as well.
I know it's not may make a huge amount of difference on the world..
But I'm doing the 40 Hour Famine at the moment for the first time in my life. For those of you who don't know - the 40 Hour Famine involves not eating for 40 hours to raise awareness and money about the issues of poverty and in particular malnourishment in countries less fortunate than ours. I'm currently 9 hours in and I'm starting to get quite hungry - but with each donation I collect and with every hour that goes by I feel I am making the world a better place. It feels so wonderful raising money in this manner. If I raise $480 I can help feed SIXTY children for over a month! It's a huge goal of mine to reach this target. I feel I can make that change. Since Michael has finally healed me I've really felt motivated to do whatever I can. I feel like I'm saving lives, bringing happiness to others who are less privileged. Thank you again Michael, my angel. I want to continue his legacy for as long as I live. That's a promise. It feels so satisfying and I want to do similar things like this to make the world a better place.
Heal the world
xx
That is great! ..and it does more than that, it gives those who take part an idea of how difficult it must be to go without food. It's not a small thing. Please don't belittle it. That's wonderful. Plus by doing this, you are making us aware of it too. I had no idea $480 would feed 60 children for a month. Wow.. I know they do that 40 hour famine here. I'm going to have to find out when. My donation will be with you in mind
I forgot to mention to Neeve. Thank you for sharing that dream. It's special. I read somewhere on this board that there was a study done on prayer for things that had happened in the past. I don't think we can ever fully understand it, but people were able to help others from the past with their prayer now. To me, dreams like that are like a prayer. It's wishing well for others. So maybe you really were able to help him as well somehow with that dream. I know it's pretty wild thinking but I know we haven't figured everything out in life yet. Far from it. So I'm open to it being possible. On top of that though, it gave you a special meaning that you got from it and can now implement that into your life.
I think no act is too small. Also no act too large to strive for. Each moment can be an opportunity to help
Sorry, I didn't want to ignore this. I think that's a really nice idea. You should probably talk to one of the staff and see about setting something like this up. Or even just do a bit of research on your own about one or all of the organizations that he has supported in the past and then make a thread about it? Yes I think it's a really good idea !Would it be possible to organize something through the mjjc. Where we could all give to Michael's organization not that it should be the only way any of us do something, we would have greater impact if we could do both.
Wow you are doing amazing I'm so proud of you ..lol like your my kid or something hey? haha but actually cause you're a fellow MJ fan (and poster in this thread !! woohoo!!) and are doing such good. It's wonderful.
I hope what I'm going to say doesn't take away at all from what you've done, cause I really don't want to do that...and you know what you should do for yourself, plus that was such a nice thing you've done. That's exactly what being a joyful giver is and it's so nice to see. ..I just wanted to let you know that sometimes universities will pay for those things so you might want to check. If it's the students themselves then that's great that you've denied payment, but if it is the university, you might want to accept the payment, even if you chose to donate it elsewhere, or as a student (if you are like I was) you are probably short of funds and might need it yourself and you don't have to feel any less good about doing what you are doing. Consider it a perk to doing what was on your heart to do. (or don't listen to me and keep on how you are cause it is a really thoughtful, giving selfless act). I just wanted to mention that possibility. I used to tutor at college and the college paid for it. (ohhhhh I forgot to put that on my resume)