I’m one of those people who has a hard time saying no. Particularly when someone comes up to me asking me to support a worthy cause. Especially when that someone is a child. My pantry is full of Girl Scout cookies and Boy Scout popcorn. I’ve bought shampoo, seeds, light bulbs, ribbons, bracelets, and a chance to win a dream home, recliner, cash and jewelry. I have placed ads in annuals, school newspapers, and pageant programs knowing that no one really sees the ads, but I don’t want to disappoint the young man or lady selling to me. When I do make these purchases I have a rule. The child selling whatever it is must sell it to me. Not Mom. Not Dad.
Lately I have not been able to help like I would like to. With the economy slowing down as it has, it just isn’t in the budget. So, rather than giving like I normally would to each person, I have had to be a little more selective in what I support and how much I support it with. I’ll still buy the Girl Scout cookies and Boy Scout popcorn, but I can no longer supply the whole neighborhood with these treats. You can still find my ads in the various publications but the size of the ads will be smaller. Hopefully, one day, I’ll be able to increase the amount of my gifts to the levels they once were. But until then, I have to say no.
Does this mean that I think less of the needs of these individuals or groups? Absolutely not. Does this mean they are less worthy? Again, no. It simply means that I don’t have the money for it. Is this a hard pill for me to swallow? Wouldn’t I like to be in the position to help everyone who asks? Certainly. But I can’t.
So, who makes the cut? How do I decide who gets money this time and who doesn’t? For me, the number one deciding factor is the gratitude of the person to whom the gift is given. I recently supported a local school who was selling raffle tickets to raise money. The raffle was for $5,000. I knew I had little chance of winning (based on my track record), but I purchased 1 ticket. Normally I would have easily laid down the funds for 5 or more. After the raffle ticket I found out I won! No, I did not get the $5,000. Instead I won a thank you note from an appreciative 11 year-old young man. That was worth more than $5,000 to me. His parents have raised him right.
The point in this article is not to impress you with my charity or to have you feel sorry about my economic struggles (like we don’t all have them). No, my point is, if you don’t have it to give, you can’t give it. Sure would be nice if our government knew this – on both sides of the aisle.
Showing posts with label appreciation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label appreciation. Show all posts
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Recognizing those in our past
Have you ever given thought to the people in your past that helped shape you into the person you are today? Not just your immediate family, but others who crossed your life’s path, even if only for a brief moment. Oddly enough, that person is probably totally unaware of the impact that he or she had on you.
Using one of the many social networking sites, I managed to come across a former high-school classmate. This particular classmate was oddly peculiar, which appealed to me. She bucked the trend when bucking the trend wasn’t cool. The way she lived her life made a simple change in mine. When she took notes in class, she wrote from edge to edge on the paper and, using neat lettering, in all caps, fit two lines in the space of one. It was unique and went against the norm of writing. I took what she did and used it to refine my own style of handwriting. I still only fit a single row on each line and I stay well within the margins, however, I now write solely in capital letters.
When I contacted this person who changed my writing habits some 25 plus years later, she responded with an endearing, “I’m sorry, but how do I know you?”
Each of us probably has people in our lives that altered our normal way of doing things the way TJ did for me. Many of those people are clueless to the change they affected. And several of those may not even remember who we are. But the simple change in my handwriting style proves that, even when you are not aware of it, people watch you, and your actions have an effect that you may not even be cognizant of.
I think this holds especially true when dealing with children. We all shape our own children into who they one day become. Our actions alone may cause unnoticed children to change – but what is the total effect of our actions? Are the changes positive? What legacy are we leaving?
I challenge you today to do two things. First, reach out to someone who has had a positive influence in your life and tell them thank you. Secondly, live your life so that one day you too will be getting a call thanking you for how you changed someone’s life. Even if it is just changing someone’s handwriting style.
Using one of the many social networking sites, I managed to come across a former high-school classmate. This particular classmate was oddly peculiar, which appealed to me. She bucked the trend when bucking the trend wasn’t cool. The way she lived her life made a simple change in mine. When she took notes in class, she wrote from edge to edge on the paper and, using neat lettering, in all caps, fit two lines in the space of one. It was unique and went against the norm of writing. I took what she did and used it to refine my own style of handwriting. I still only fit a single row on each line and I stay well within the margins, however, I now write solely in capital letters.
When I contacted this person who changed my writing habits some 25 plus years later, she responded with an endearing, “I’m sorry, but how do I know you?”
Each of us probably has people in our lives that altered our normal way of doing things the way TJ did for me. Many of those people are clueless to the change they affected. And several of those may not even remember who we are. But the simple change in my handwriting style proves that, even when you are not aware of it, people watch you, and your actions have an effect that you may not even be cognizant of.
I think this holds especially true when dealing with children. We all shape our own children into who they one day become. Our actions alone may cause unnoticed children to change – but what is the total effect of our actions? Are the changes positive? What legacy are we leaving?
I challenge you today to do two things. First, reach out to someone who has had a positive influence in your life and tell them thank you. Secondly, live your life so that one day you too will be getting a call thanking you for how you changed someone’s life. Even if it is just changing someone’s handwriting style.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Appreciation
Is it really that difficult to show appreciation? A little thank you goes a long way. Instead of giving thanks we, too often, tend to look for more. Real appreciation is difficult to find and, when it is found, it should be praised. Weekly, on this very page, we read letters from readers who want to thank others for a kindness shown. When is the last time you actually wrote a thank you note to someone? Or had one of your kids write one?
Let me tell you what brought this to mind.
I recently saw a video of a small child who received one of these new game systems from his parents for his birthday. He was totally shocked. He knew that these systems go for $300 or more. Most kids would tear through the box to get at the games and not consider what the parents had to go through to provide them. Not this kid though. He asked his parents if it was his or if he was going to have to take it back – like a rental system. When the boy was told that it was his he cried and went immediately to his parents arms to say thank you. That in itself was cause enough for me to swallow a newly formed knot in my throat. What he did next caused me, a man who recently celebrated the 4th anniversary of his 39th birthday, to actually sob out loud. The boy went to his room, got money from his savings, and tried to give it to his parents to offset the cost of his presents. What an incredible child. And what incredible parents to bring a young man up like that.
One of the things I told my daughter as she was growing up was to be appreciative of all she got and all she had. I cannot tell you the number of times she made me beam with pride as she made sure all of her friends got gifts at her birthday parties. During Christmas she would wait until last to open her presents so she could watch her cousins open theirs and see the joy on their faces. When it came time to open hers she would look to see who it was from and thank them individually, without prompting, before opening her next gift.
The most amazing thing I ever saw her do in regards to thankfulness was to ask about her tithe on the way to church. She had earned $3.00 that week, at the age of 5, and wanted to know how much she was supposed to give. We told her that tithing meant she had to give 10%, or 30 cents. We told her she could give more but she had to give at least three dimes. She looked at the nearly $4 she had in her purse and said, “Since Jesus died for me I think I will give it all to Him.”
That is appreciation.
Let me tell you what brought this to mind.
I recently saw a video of a small child who received one of these new game systems from his parents for his birthday. He was totally shocked. He knew that these systems go for $300 or more. Most kids would tear through the box to get at the games and not consider what the parents had to go through to provide them. Not this kid though. He asked his parents if it was his or if he was going to have to take it back – like a rental system. When the boy was told that it was his he cried and went immediately to his parents arms to say thank you. That in itself was cause enough for me to swallow a newly formed knot in my throat. What he did next caused me, a man who recently celebrated the 4th anniversary of his 39th birthday, to actually sob out loud. The boy went to his room, got money from his savings, and tried to give it to his parents to offset the cost of his presents. What an incredible child. And what incredible parents to bring a young man up like that.
One of the things I told my daughter as she was growing up was to be appreciative of all she got and all she had. I cannot tell you the number of times she made me beam with pride as she made sure all of her friends got gifts at her birthday parties. During Christmas she would wait until last to open her presents so she could watch her cousins open theirs and see the joy on their faces. When it came time to open hers she would look to see who it was from and thank them individually, without prompting, before opening her next gift.
The most amazing thing I ever saw her do in regards to thankfulness was to ask about her tithe on the way to church. She had earned $3.00 that week, at the age of 5, and wanted to know how much she was supposed to give. We told her that tithing meant she had to give 10%, or 30 cents. We told her she could give more but she had to give at least three dimes. She looked at the nearly $4 she had in her purse and said, “Since Jesus died for me I think I will give it all to Him.”
That is appreciation.
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