People are Good

People are good--despite what 90% of the news would lead us to believe. (Totally made that percentage up, but it has to be at least that.)

If you follow the news, you quickly know more than you wish you did. I often struggle with whether or not I really want to be informed, or if much of what I read weighs too heavily on my heart and mind to make it worth being "in the know" about the things I think I should know. (you probably had to read that one a couple of times.) My sweet husband has developed quite the talent for censorship. He will turn the channel, close the computer screen, or take the paper out of my hands, if it's a story he knows will leave me with overwhelming empathy.

I've cried my way through so many blogs, internet stories, articles--truly heartbroken for complete strangers. Wishing there was some way I could help! And I KNOW I'm not alone in this. How do I know this?  Because I believe, people are good!

Today, I read an article about a young man, that found $40,000 in an envelope ($2,000 cash and a $38,000 cashiers check) intended for a down-payment on a house. What did he do with it? He gave it back! While I'm thrilled to read about some HAPPINESS in place of all the NASTINESS.... I think this is what the majority of humans would do. Some may argue with me.... call me naïve or foolishly optimistic.... but I'm going to guess every person that reads this blog, would have done EXACTLY what that man did... because people are good!

So the happy news didn't stop there for me today.

Backstory: Since we got Kenton's Autism diagnosis, I've joined various different on-line support groups. I've been overwhelmed (as mentioned above) about the stresses this can put on families, not the least of which is the financial stress. Just the testing alone can be quite pricey. (We have decent insurance and they asked us for $1000 on the spot--OUCH!) Then you move on to all the therapies, possible prescriptions, etc. Depending on the severity of the situation, many need various communication and safety equipment as well.

Every time we have paid a large bill, I thank the Lord for his provision... pray for his continued provision AND I ask myself (and usually my husband too) what the heck people do that can't afford all of these therapies. I'm talking about hard working parents, who have insurance that just doesn't go far enough.  I don't mean to sound as though it's been pocket change for us...far from it, but we're managing---and He is providing in many remarkable ways. (dropping an in-home business in my lap, that at the time, I didn't even know I wanted or would come to NEED roughly six months later.... and he preformed an "insurance miracle" (that I look forward to blogging about at some point)! I do truly believe both to be God's direct intervention in our lives.

All of that said, it's on both Jason's and my heart, to look for opportunities to lighten people's load when possible. We vow to be good stewards with the income that God blesses us with, and as we are able we look forward to opportunities in our future to eliminate some of the financial stress that accompanies a diagnosis like this for other families who walk down this same path. To help eliminate the heavy burden of "how are we going to afford to help our child" and allow them to focus their thoughts on "what can we do to help our child". It's a big dream of mine. A GOD-sized dream.

So knowing that back story, you'll see why this specific bit of news that I stumbled upon today in one of my support boards, led me to yet another blog... about how good I believe people to be--and has led me to happy tears!

There is a single mother on this board, who has been trying desperately to receive a grant or some funding to afford an iPad for her Autistic son, who is about Kenton's age, and is non-verbal. There are many helpful apps that actually help them communicate--and it's a great learning resource! When she came up empty with all the avenues she knew to go to, she decided to post on a buy/sell board to see if anyone happened to have a used iPad that she could possibly buy at an extreme discount and explained her situation---- and today, within 2 hours, a gentleman contacted her and met her with a BRAND NEW iPAD air for her sweetie pie---free of charge! He could of assumed the worst, that it was a lazy parent, trying to scheme a free iPad.... but instead he took her at her word...and I'm so glad he did!

I read her post over and over again, and could just hear her squealing with happiness. Her son's birthday is next week... and he will be receiving quite a lovely surprise---if she can hold off that long!

I don't know if that warms your heart, but it kind of set mine on fire---and left me reflecting on the fact that PEOPLE ARE GOOD!!! And good breeds good.... and amazing gestures and acts of kindness breed just that---and it made me happy---and ready to do and be GOOD!