Approximately 4 years ago, I mentioned to someone that the only birthday present that I really wanted, was to see Earth Wind & Fire at the Borgata Hotel, which was sold out. Within 48 hours, someone whom until the day of the concert was a stranger to me, gifted me a suite at the Borgata, along with two premium concert seats. I had an AMAZING time that weekend! To this day, I wondered what it was about me that led this stranger to want to make my birthday celebration complete.

Fast forward to May 2015, when I learned that EWF would be in concert in August, three weeks after my birthday. Well, of course, I jumped on the tickets and planned to consider it a birthday present to myself. A few weeks ago, I learned that someone very special to me would need my help and that help would be needed on the same day as the concert. As much as I love EWF, people who mean the world to me come first and I knew that I would need to part with my tickets. I had a few offers to purchase the tickets, but I decided that I wanted to pay it forward in the name of EWF, as someone had done for me four years prior.

I promoted the tickets in social media, with the stipulation, that anyone who was interested in receiving the free tickets needed to tell me why they deserved them. While many approached me and were interested, only one took the challenge and explained why she wanted/deserved them. She explained to me that she was a caregiver to her Mom, who lost her battle to cancer in 2014. Her dad also continues to fight a battle with cancer today. Suddenly, she lost a great family patriarch, her father-in- law this past February. “I was not paying attention to my health and developed a plum- size tumor outside of the esophagus encompassing my vocal cords. After two months of surgery & treatments, I am cancer free. I am a great EWF fan and listening to my husband’s CDs & Pandora helped keep my spirits rising. My husband took me to all of my appointments and never left my side. I have tried to take him to see EWF on several occasions, but family obligations would cause me to cancel. That is my story of why I would love the tickets to the concert to show my utmost appreciation to my husband of 28 yrs,” she wrote.

Left speechless by this naked revelation, I knew without a doubt that my new friend Cecile Ellis-Clark would be the recipient of the tickets. If anyone deserved a night out it was she. What was just as shocking was to discover that we attended the same church, but had never made a personal connection. When I asked her if it was OK to share this story, she told me to do so freely. She expressed how she is an “open book” and how her fight has been one that she is proud to have won and hopefully would inspire others. I am certain that it will, because she has definitely inspired me.

To say that things happen for a reason is an understatement. To say that God brings people into our lives for a reason is an even bigger one. Cecile shared this picture of her and husband at the concert last night, so that I could experience some of the EWF vibes vicariously. As I continue to provide assistance to my special loved one the morning after the concert, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to connect with an amazing, true warrior.

Paying it forward is about caring and sharing. It’s about compassion and kindness. It’s about generosity and sacrifice. You get what you give, so give good. ‪