Paying it Forward!

byCarlamarie58

1.5K followers

9 years ago

I love the saying, "Pay it Forward". There is so much 'good' in my life that I can't pay 'back'. I was blessed with parents who loved me and sacrificed for me....provided for me and protected me from those things that might cause me harm. Although my parents are fortunately still alive and well, they would not benefit from me trying to reciprocate all they have done for me. However, they have told me many times that watching me raise my own children to be good citizens, to serve God and country and their fellow man, was more than reward enough.

I was inspired to become a math teacher by two very wonderful specimens of that ilk, who have both passed on to Glory. I can't go back and thank them for the wonderful job they did as teachers, nor can I convey to them that I still get all misty-eyed when I think of the confidence they had that this starry-eyed nerd would 'make good'. All I can do, and what I have done, is try to pass on to other students the passion they passed on to me.

What of the 'greats'...the great preachers, teachers, authors, doctors, inventors, scientists, historians, statesmen, leaders, that never knew me, and yet their life work, their accomplishments, and their many sacrifices have benefitted me greatly. There is no way to really thank them, and yet, how dark would our lives be without them.

But I think most today of the unsung heroes that protect our country and our cities. Our soldiers and our police officers! Those that lay their own lives on the line each day to make sure that we have the freedom and peace to walk each day without fear. Those that have died in the line of duty, and those that each day wonder if the same will be their fate. Never will our gratitude to those who have sacrificed be spoken often enough or loudly enough to be sufficient. However, perhaps we can 'pay it forward' by honoring and respecting the position held by those currently sworn to serve and protect.

These are difficult times we live in. Times when human life is cheapened, times when heated words travel at light speed, times when fear is gaining an upper hand over reason. But the idea of 'paying it forward' is only a beautiful concept if it is 'good' we are paying forward. It is the laying aside of all the hurts and past wrongs and choosing to 'live in' the positive, the true, the 'good'. It is only when we choose to 'dwell in blessing' that we have something to 'pay forward'.

We can choose to dwell on the good things, or we can choose to dwell on the bad. I hope and pray that I will choose the good, putting away grumbling and whining, and the wrongs I have suffered, and remember and dwell on the blessings.

...Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Phil. 4:8)...and then... 'pay it forward'!