Holy cow!! In the day since Nick Kristof wrote his column about our family, more than 200 people have commented on his blog. Some are harsh (hey, it's the Internet, right?) but so, so many of them are inspiring and incredible. Here's a link to the comment page.

How on Earth can you be cynical when you read things like this:

Donna in Connecticut wrote:

Thank you so much for sharing this inspiring story- it was exactly what I needed to read. After losing my miserable job that was killing me- and where I had put in 25 all-consuming years- I've thought constantly about how I wished I could just do the volunteer work I've always wanted to do but couldn't manage while putting in 70 hour work weeks. Nevertheless, I've spent the last year driving all over the state, desperately trying to find another job doing the same work- which I came to loathe- so I can make the same nice salary again. It's dawned on me lately that my husband and I are doing fine living on his salary and my little pension from my old job. When I got laid off, I took our budget and cut out pretty much everything but food, mortgage expenses and various debts, most of which we've now paid off. We share one car- a less expensive model than what we had before- and my husband takes the commuter bus some days. It's amazing how much you come to think you can't live without, even though you lived without those things for years- nice cars, expensive vacations and dinners out.

Afi in Cleveland wrote:

I'm giving because I'm broke. I'm a freelance journalist, a teaching artist, a dance teacher, a church musician...and every one of my income streams has evaporated. I worry about making my mortgage.

I've found that generosity takes off the pressure.

I'm inviting friends to dinner, I'm donating clothes and other items. When my mother mentioned giving away clothes (she's dropped from a size 22 to a size 8) I gathered them for a friend.
I'm donating time and effort as well as money.

I want to get to the point where I understand I always have enough to share.