My wife and I were inspired by a Motion Picture called 'Pay it Forward' where a little boy was on a mission to pass on a kind deed to a complete stranger. Sound familiar? A few weeks ago, our family was having lunch at a local restaurtant. In walked a group of US Army soldiers. After our lunch I walked my 2 boys (5 & 7 years old)over to meet the brave soldiers. I explained to my boys that these men and women are real life heros and that they protect our country from bad guys. After we left the soldiers table I told the waitress to put their meals on our tab and not to disclose to the soldiers who paid for the food. Thanks you for this website, this gift of hope. You have inspired us even more to continue our small yet fulfilling mission.
2008-12-08 12:23:04
The Love Bus Has Been TGR'd
Steven Mullins, 39, North Myrtle Beach, US
So this morning I rolled up to Starbuck's and ordered my Grande Signature Hot Chocolate and when I pulled up to the window the barista handed me a Gift Revolution card. I said "Wow! Thanks! Where did you get that?" She said her boyfriend had been to Walmart last night and the customer ahead of him in line paid for his purchase (A can of Dip! Ha) Anyway he was so touched he called his girlfriend (the barista) and said "Now I see what you have been talking about". That's my story for today. The Love Bus rolls on! What are going to do?
2008-12-08 11:18:45
Vet's Office
Jill, 26, Sunrise/Plantation, US
Last week, I had an appointment with my dog at the vet's office for his yearly shots. A woman with her daughter and a small dog walked in as I was waiting to be called in. The woman was clearly frustrated, telling the girls in check-in that her dog had been "sick" in the house the past couple of days. She seemed irritated to have to make this emergency trip to the vet's office, so I went back the next night and left a $15 Starbucks gift card and a Gift Revolution card with a note for the woman, wishing her a better day than the one before! The vet's office had already closed, but I left it in the crack of the door with a request for the girls at the vet's office to please put the gift card in the woman's file for the next time she came in. Even if it's a while from now, I hope it will put a smile on her face.
2008-12-08 10:26:30
Julie Cnops
Patrick Gilis, 40, Oplinter, BE
Julie, a very strong bright-eyed girl fighting against Cystic Fibrosis
Julie Cnops (age 13) has Cystic Fibrosis and together with her mom, dad and brother she moved over to Florida (Pembroke Pines) about 2 years ago. They did it because the air and the weather are much better over there then in Belgium (Europe). Last june I visited a hometown friend (Patrick) and also the Cnops family in Pembroke Pines and a few months after I had returned to Belgium I heard that Julie was not doing well. Her disease became worse and now during the next 6 months she will need a very insistent medical treatment. This treatment is very crucial for her, but also very expensive. I’m generally the first to give money for charity, but in this case I wanted to do more so I contacted her mom to see how I could actively help out. Over the last few weeks I sold about 2800 x-mass cards to fund her medical expenses, I persuaded people to deposit money onto her account number, I gave a powerpoint presentation about Julie’s journey in my hometown school and during the next few months we will see what else we can do to support Julie and her family.
We do it from the bottom of our heart and the best thing we can get in return is Julie’s smile and knowing that hopefully she will be a lot better after these six hard and difficult months. No money in the world would be able to beat that feeling! I’m sure everybody with kids can imagine what Julie and her family are going through now. Let’s all support them in any way we can !!!
Here’s the link to Julie’s journey: http://web.me.com/nvandroogenbroeck/Julies_portfolio/Welcome.html and all deposits onto het account number (Bank of America 8980-2421-1809 or www.paypal.com) will be more than welcome and highly appreciated.
2008-12-08 10:21:09
Oh Christmas Tree!
Jen and Friends, 34, Pembroke Pines, US
YESTERDAY AFTER LEAVING THE 9:30 SERVICE A GROUP OF US WHO ATTEND FRC WENT TO HAVE BREAKFAST TOGETHER. AS WE WERE THERE, WE DECIDED WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING AS A GROUP. WE WALKED INTO THE HOME DEPOT AND GAVE MONEY TO PURCHASE A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR TWO DIFFERENT FAMILIES. WHAT AN AMAZING FEELING TO SEE THE LOOK ON PEOPLES FACES. THIS IS SUCH A GREAT THING. LET'S KEEP THE REVOLUTION GOING!!
2008-12-08 09:55:52
Priceless Wings
Brittany Sickmiller, 19, Weston, US
I was in a restaurant called "Stevie B's" picking up some food to-go with my friend when I saw a couple sitting in the corner peacfully eating their chicken wings...perfect oppurtunity to start the Revolution I thought to myself. As my friend signed the credit card slip to receive our juicy chicken wings I quietly gave a $10 bill to the couples waitress which was attached to the "Gift Revolution" card. Chicken wings from "Stevie B's" = $7.95, a fountain drink = $1.75, giving the gift that GOD sent me to give to start this revolution = priceless!
2008-12-08 09:24:31
Amazed
Randi Wood, 19, Ava, US
I was on here a few days ago, speaking how I given, and how I was low on the money that I needed a particular item because of giving. That item was a car. I am here to share with you how God is so amazing! Earlier this week I had amount of 1,200.00 dollars given to me out of no where. I believed that is what God gave me to get a car, but today know otherwise, today someone gave me a car! I was in need of car so bad, with the winter coming up and me having to walk in the cold to school. I am so amazed that God took care of me! I have always heard that God provides, but today I have never more believe it. Yay!!!! I am so excited to be able to take the money that I have recieved earlier this week and give it to people in need. This just proves to me even more that the gift revolution is completely a God thing!!! Thank you, Jesus, sooooo much for meeting my needs and enabling me to help meet others!!!!
2008-12-08 08:12:32
waiting
Andrea, 23, gallatin, US
I wait tables at a chain restaurant here in Gallatin and I had a guest come in with their spouse and only had a $24 tab. they paid with a credit card and wrapped a $20 around this card as my tip. This was the second one of these cards that I have come by at my work so I decided to check it out to see what it was about. I think that this is an amazing concept and I cannot wait until I have the opprotunity to paas this wonderful gift along. Kudos to whomever started this!
2008-12-08 04:11:38
Day 3 & Day 12: I Prayed For
Jessica, 24, Ava, US
This is to Shawnda Price.
A lady who posted 11-25 and 12-5
You did not have to do anything to recieve the gift, it was a random act of kindness and on day 3 I prayed for God to put somebody in my path to bless, it was you. Day 12 I prayed once again for somebody to bless and it was you. This time God knew you needed a little more and for whatever reason that I didn't know at the time I just knew to give. Because you posted again I then knew exaclty why I gave 100 and not another 20 and why you are more a blessing to me than me to you, and so I truly Thank You. Your awesome.
2008-12-08 04:03:41
my church family who made my c
Nancie, 48, ava mo, US
today after church i handed 2 cards to susan and daile and i told them that both of my boys were getting baptized they both showed up well when they showed up they said that they needed me to go to there car with them so i did and susan and her daughter daile gave me some beautiful gifts and a ham for my christmas dinner they both told me that they wanted to do this for me for christmas i want to thank them both and say thank you i did not know what i was going to do for christmas i love you both with all my heart GOD BLESS YOU BOTH
2008-12-08 02:20:51
Starbucks on a college campus
Mandy, 19, Pembroke Pines, FL, US
If you've ever been to a Starbucks on a college campus on a chilly, Monday morning one can expect to find massive lines of students trying to get a cup of coffee in before class. Such was the situation I found walking on my way to class, I decided to leave $10 to buy coffee for the next couple of people at the register. At first the employee was really confused and thought I was a little crazy, but she eventually got the idea. After that I left and went to class, hoping someone had a warmer morning and a better day with something nice to drink.
2008-12-07 23:57:18
BK ~ Gave & RCVD So MUCH more
GR, 38, Miami, US
Here I was at Burger King when God nudged my heart to pay for the person behind me. I began to get excited.....especially since BK can't be too expensive...Like most families, finances are extremely tight. Then I hear the total, $13.67....I was like, "God, are you sure?" God was like, "drrr...of course I'm sure....I'm God and you better listen. Well, how silly (could think of another word) of me. God rocked my socks off - never mind the look on the actual receivers face (which I couldn't even see), but the look on the cashier's face was ABSOLUTELY priceless. Thank you Lord for smackin me upside the head with your Holy hand, thank you SO much for blessing ME.
2008-12-07 23:38:12
Giving in Kingston Ja
Patrick Pottinger, 52, Kingston, JM
Sunday, December 7, 2008, I contributed J$1,000 for anyone wishing to purchase a Christmas gift at the Universal Centre of Truth's bookstore, Unit 18 Seymour Park, Kingston, Jamaica.
2008-12-07 22:31:36
To the Joyner
The Pitts Family, 36, Little River, SC, US
We are so happy you were touched and paid it forward. Merry Christmas and God bless!
Nikki, Felix, Little Felix, Cameron and Jordan :)
What a feeling ya'll!
2008-12-07 22:27:24
Lesson Learned
The Joyners, 43, Longs, SC, US
We were beautifully reminded today that this is the season of giving. When shopping for our Christmas tree in N.Myrtle Beach, we went to pay and found that the people before us had already paid for it! We were given the Gift Revolution card and were in shock, nearly in tears. We later decided that we would return the favor at the same Christmas tree lot, and returned with the card and money for next person's tree. May God's blessings be amplified for all in need this Christmas!
2008-12-07 21:34:01
Walmart
Sam, 18, Fort Myers, US
Tonight I was walking through Walmart looking for some Christmas gifts. Although I didn't find anything I still wanted to gift someone. I bought a $5 gift card to give to the person behind me along with TGR card. After I paid for it, the cashier gave me my receipt and I turned to the person behind me and handed her the gift card. She said thank you but looked shocked and I told her to have a "Merry Christmas."
Live the Revolution!
2008-12-07 21:30:48
Homeless, Hungry and Cold
Karen Spence , 42, Sewell, NJ, US
Times are tough, it seems, for everyone around us. My husband has been out of work since June and my business has dropped off slightly. However, we've been blessed enough to be able to keep the bills somewhat paid, a roof over our heads and food on the table.
This morning I printed ONE gift revolution card knowing that God knew who it had to go to.
My daughter recently joined the Sea Cadets program about an hour and a half north of home. So, every other Friday we drop her off and every other Sunday we pick her up. On the way home tonight, we stopped for dinner at a local buffet. I had been telling my husband about The Gift Revolution for some time now. About 20 minutes into our meal, a disheveled man walked in, head down, a huge backpack weighing him down. He never made eye contact with anyone and right then God spoke to me and said "that's him".
I watched him for some time, pacing...looking out the window...and still never made eye contact with anyone. I noticed that the kid that was working the cash register would go and sit and chat with him for a bit and run back to the register, then back to the man.....A little while later, I watched three waitresses looking at him, pointing, talking. I asked my waitress what his story was. She told me that he is a local homeless man and he comes there often, usually at lunchtime because it's cheaper...only tonight, he got there too late (they had already switched to dinner pricing) and he couldn't afford a meal. Chris (the kid at the register) talks to him all the time and bought him his dinner... A woman across the restaurant bought him a gift certficate...and we gave him $20 wrapped around a TGR card not knowing until the end....that it was his birthday.
My daughter watched him as Chris gave him the card, he bowed his head, pointed up and cried...
Thank You Barefoot Church, thank you Clay, thank you Nick and Whitney and my beautiful grandbabies 500 miles from me! You inspired me to spread the love.......
2008-12-07 21:29:32
Out of Town
Francis Lynch, 17, Tallahassee, US
My friend Nic and i went to the mall last night planning to see a movie. we went to cinnabon and bought a box and thought lets have a picnic in a mall parking lot, which we did.during the picnic Nic told me about the gift revolution and i thought that was a great idea, so i said, why don't we give away our cinnabon? when we did people weren't really into it because we, to be honest, look pretty weird. but one guy working in JC Penny's looked like he was having a really bad day, so i thought, he needs cinnabon. he was thrilled and it seemed we had made his day. we didn't think it was enough though because some people looked like they were downright depressed. thats when nic thought that we could go to the cookie stand, buy cookies and ask them to hand them out to the next few people that come by. and as it turned out the next three people in line after us had little kids (winwinwin).at first the woman behind the counter was a little apprehensive, only because there was a security camera and she didnt want to get fired for giving away free cookies, but after she had asked her manager, it turned out that it was perfectly okay. so we bought five cookies and they were handed out to the next five people who went to the stand. after that we saw the punisher 2 and it was win.
2008-12-07 21:27:39
Medicine Help
MV, 36, Davie, US
Today, I continued our 25 day challenge by going to the pharmacy and leaving a 10 dollar gift card with the pharmacist to help pay for someone's prescription. Looking forward to seeing what else we can do to spread the revolution!
2008-12-07 21:23:06
Alligator Alley Toll
Samantha and Shannon, 18, Fort Myers, US
My sister and I were on our way home from Thanksgiving break heading back towards college. Although not a very big expense, we paid for our toll and the car's toll behind us. We explained to the nice lady to tell the car behind us their toll was paid for and to hand them TGR card. She didn't understand at first, and we explained to her that we were just trying to "inspire the world" and encouraged her to check out the website. We gave her a card as well and went on our way.
Live the Revolution!
