How do I repay the village?

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My wife is a few days away from giving birth, and for there has been an enormous outpouring of support, from my neighbors, coworkers, family and the people on this forum. This support includes gifts, assistance with the house, and advice. So how do I repay this support?

Sure the people helping me insists that I owe them nothing, but I don't really believe that. At the same time there's alot, aaaalllot of people I need to repay, and I'm not rich.

So how do I repay them all?

My brother lives in Alaska. They use a term called "paying it forwards". The phrase is used as the opposite of payback or repaying someone: when someone does a good deed for you, instead of paying them back, pay it forward by doing a good deed for someone else. In Alaska conditions can be very severe at times. People can land in very dire straits. Blow a tire when it is -50 degrees F and stranded in the middle of nowhere, so you never know when a helping hand is needed.

I agree with the "pay it forward" answer. As a parent in a community with children and parents, there will be MANY opportunities to "pay it forward." A child will get sick and someone will need help with their other children. A family at your child's school will experience tragedy and a drive will be taken up. Volunteer opportunities will abound as well. Make the decision today that you will respond "yes" as often as possible to these community efforts, just as the community has done for you. Express your sincere gratitude to everyone who has helped, remind them that they can come to you if they need something, and then engage in the practice of "yes." It is how communities thrive, and it is lovely to know you are a member of a good one.

Pay it forward, and (if you can) pay it back, too.