It's something about the holiday season that always brings out the best in folks.......OK, I'll speak for myself.......something about the holiday season always brings out the generosity in me. Having spent many years in non-profit management in Washington, DC I know there are many in the area who are in need. Unfortunately the media and our own personal perceptions lead us to believe that only the poorest of the poor need assistance. But what about the family who is living from pay check to pay check, the family who is financially strapped because of medical bills or prescription costs, the elderly couple who lives in your neighborhood who has a limited income, or the family whose head of the household was recently impacted by a lay-off? They may need help too!
Some of my fondest childhood memories were during the holiday when my Mother would bake holiday goodies, crochet an extra scarf, pick up an extra set of gloves while shopping for gifts, or just practice a random act of kindness for someone else. One year when I was about 12 we were headed from the mall and it was extremely cold! I grew up in Newark, NJ and we'd often travel via car to the mall in Livingston, NJ. The mall was not that far from our home but I remember there was only 1 bus line that went from Newark to the mall and it did not run very often. On our way out the mall this particular year there was a woman with her child (about 4 years old) standing on the bus stop and it had started to snow. The woman had on a coat and hat and the child had a snow suit on but they looked very cold, she had a lot of bulky bags, and the bus was nowhere in sight. We were waiting at the traffic light and I saw my mother's gaze fixated on the child. I knew she was going to do something but I had no idea what. You see my mother was a teacher, a Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout leader, a friend, and a confidant to many. So I knew she could not just drive by. As the light turned green she pulled up to the bus stop and asked the woman where she was going. Of course the woman was hesitant but clearly something about my Mother's genuine care and concern lead her to let her guard down and talk to my Mother. My Mom offered the woman and her child a ride (the woman was 2 buses away from home and it was getting dark!). She told the woman that it was too cold for the child to be out without any gloves on (I remember thinking that it was more than just not having on gloves!). Still sensing some hesitancy my Mother said to the woman "I know what its like to stand on a bus stop with my child in the cold. Please let me at least take you half way home so you have time to warm up before waiting for the next bus". The woman smiled and got in the car with us and allowed my mother to take her all the way home. When we got to her house my mother got out the car, helped her with her daughter and her bags, and she went in the trunk of the car and gave the woman another bag with items she'd initially purchased for herself: a set of long johns, a hat and scarf set, a pack of tube socks, and a pair of mittens. The woman gave my Mother a hug and kept thanking her. When my Mom got back in the car I asked her why she gave the stuff that she bought for herself to the woman and she simply said: "Because she needs to be warm the next time she takes the bus and all of the stuff she purchased was for her daughter, she needed a gift too!"
Now I am not suggesting that you give a stranger a ride but I am suggesting that you consider others this holiday season. Invite a neighbor who can't be with family next week over for Thanksgiving dinner, pick up an extra pair of gloves and give them to the gentleman who always offers to pump your gas in exchange for money, buy a $5 gift card to Dunkin Donuts and give it to a homeless person, buy an extra turkey and give it to someone - just because! The best lessons parents teach in life are taught when you aren't really trying to teach. A simple act of kindness can leave a lasting impression on your child - as in my story above. In this season of thanksgiving lets be thankful for all that we have, no matter how small. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
This Journey Is All Mine!
Rhonda
great blog, thanks for sharing that!
ReplyDeleteShirley was the epitome of a lady, educator, parent, concerned citizen and just one hell of a damn person. When I fired my Asst Coach I already knew who I wanted to hire. I wanted a woman that would teach just more then basketball to 'my' ladies of IHS. I knew a woman that would make them competitive as players along with all the extra things a coach should also teach outside of the game. I knew a woman I could trust, have 100% confidence in and even learned from her. That lady was your Mom. What you just typed doesn't surprise me but rather just knew she did that and many other things we may not even know of that transpired, I give thanks that I was able to share some of her life and become a friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you Coach Smith! She touched so many people and I thank you for giving her the opportunity to touch the lives of the young ladies of the IHS basketball team. She had a way of pulling the best out of everyone she touched and the success achieved by the team on and off the court is a memory she held dear along with your friendship! Thank YOU!
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