Humanitarian
Some of you have heard me speak about my daughter, Ruby. We have very interesting conversations about choices, life, and money in particular. She loves having her stash of cash, and she loves being able to say I want that! I’ll pay for it. More than most she gets a lot being the only child of two households and she has a better sense of money and responsibility with it than many adults I know. For instance, we were talking about her savings account on Monday and she volunteered that most of her friends do not believe she has $1500 in the bank. I said, “Well, you’re lucky, maybe you shouldn’t talk about it to them.” She said, “Why not? I tell them I can’t spend it until I am eighteen. They don’t believe me” I told her it doesn’t matter what others think, it matters what you think. She agreed and said I am going to use some of it for my college and I am going to buy a car with the rest. I smiled.
We went on to discuss making another deposit. You see she has a sweet deal, I match every dollar she saves, so she gets an immediate 100% interest rate. She likes that, who wouldn’t? Since Christmas and her birthday her cash has grown and I’ve suggested putting some in the bank. She said, “Dad, I have a feeling I am going to need a little more coming up. I don’t want to put it in the bank just yet.” I said, “OK, it’s your money.” I mean these are good choices for an eight year-old. Cut to Thursday night just before bedtime, she went to her change jar and got out $4-5, two handfuls of change. She put it in a zip lock bag and said, “This is for the people in Haiti. We are having a penny drive tomorrow at school.” My heart warmed. I asked, “But those are not pennies?” She said, “I know. They need more than pennies. I am going to send quarters.”
This causes me to think about the degree of compassion I have for the people in Haiti. What can I do? I don’t watch a lot of TV, so I haven’t followed the story too closely, but I have seen enough. If my daughter can give her change I can give mine. I have this container that I store all my loose change until it fills up, and it’s full. On a deeper level I think about the choices I make in my life to lead and help others. It’s not always about the big gestures that are outward for others to see. It’s about the small choices inside. Where is my compassion for these people? I definitely have some, however I am not consumed by what’s happening there, probably because it is not so close to home. I look deeper into my compassion and the action I can take. There is more for me to do. I write here not to make you take action, rather I write her to explore my humanitarian side. What more can I do? Have I prayed for these people? Have I opened a place in my heart for them? Adults, children, sick, poor, injured, homeless and suffering? I am asking myself right now, what more can I do?
I light a candle and I pray…
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suwon Says:
January 16th, 2010 at 10:00 am
That’s so beautiful because it is easy to feel overwhelmed or desperate about “doing” something. Sending $$ for relief is an amazing thing to do, and reaching out by opening hearts and praying is something we can do often and with others. I’m praying right now. Thanks David.
dolphin11 Says:
January 16th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
I asked myself the same question today. What more can I do? Sending some money is good, and also connecting through my heart sending love, light and relief. I’m with them. Thank you, love, Rita
David Elliott Says:
January 17th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Update:
- Change total $98.33 - deciding on the agency to send the money to
- 2 mornings of candle light, prayers, sage and tobacco offerings
- Following the story more closely on some news sources
Monica McDowell Says:
January 17th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Heifer project is always a good gift for long-term help, and you can select the animals to be given.
katwoman Says:
January 17th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
you just read this piece on the writer’s call…. and now I am looking in to see where I have been with this… and where I want to go…. instead of being caught up in everything else that is closer to home… so - thank you for the expansion and invitation to step forth in consciousness
love, katrina