Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Confession Wednesday: Doing Good
From the comfy retreat of my bed, I have spent a lot of this week watching the news and surfing the internet.
(It's because I'm sick, not lazy!)
(Well, maybe a little bit because I'm lazy, but I really am sick.)
(Yes, yes, okay, I just found out that it's probably asthma, but I only found out because my symptoms are pretty much exactly like bronchitis.)
Anyways.
(It's because I'm sick, not lazy!)
(Well, maybe a little bit because I'm lazy, but I really am sick.)
(Yes, yes, okay, I just found out that it's probably asthma, but I only found out because my symptoms are pretty much exactly like bronchitis.)
Anyways.
The news about Haiti is waning some as Americans return to focusing on their own lives and the important events that are unfolding right here within our own borders, but the situation is still dire. There are still thousands with limited, if any, access to food and water and shelter; others still have no way of contacting and reuniting with loved ones. And nearly everyone is asking themselves, "What now?"
Even though it's not getting as much coverage on our televisions this week as it was last week, aid is still pouring in as volunteers from around the world send donations, supplies and themselves in to help. It always amazes me--
(and I really wish it didn't)
--just how generous people can be in times of crisis. Whether the crisis is big and impacts a nation or a region, or small and impacts only one person, there are so many opportunities to serve and so many people willing to pitch in and do it.
And so, dear friends, I decided that today's Confession topic is serving others. Yes, it's great to hear how others have helped you when you needed it. But you are kind and generous and giving, and I want to hear about what you've done to help others. It could be something big or something small, but no matter what it was, it helped someone when they couldn't help themselves. Let's 'fess up. Don't worry about tooting your own horn today. Let us know how kind and giving you are!
As for me, well, I really didn't pick this topic to give myself the opportunity to brag. Honestly. I tried to figure out if I could pose this question and get responses from you without actually answering it myself. But, you are all so astute that I knew I couldn't get away with that.
So I decided to talk about Jill. This is Jill:
Jill was this awesome lady I met in Ottawa, Ontario. She was part of a group called the West End Achievers. It was a service organization through the Anglican Church that gave disabled adults the chance to get out of the house/nursing home/hospital for a day every week. It's a great organization that serves people with strokes, Down's Syndrome, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis. Jill had MS.As LDS missionaries, we spent 4 hours per week helping West End Achievers. We mostly played games, did arts and crafts, and once helped them perform Pinocchio. It was the best community service I was ever a part of.
I met Jill on my first week, and we became fast friends. We played Scrabble every single time. At first, we played against each other. And, even though she couldn't manipulate the pieces herself and often couldn't tell where they should go, she somehow beat me every time. She had a gift, I'm telling you.
After a few weeks, others started joining in the fun. One was another volunteer. An older man that, I think, had a bit of a crush on dear, sweet Jill. When we started getting company, Jill and I were a team. We never lost. We were unbeatable. I loved every minute of it. But, most of all, I loved seeing Jill smile.
She had lost everything after her diagnosis. Her husband, unable or unwilling to face the burden of caring for a wife who would soon be unable to care for herself, placed her in a nursing home and filed for divorce. Her son and daughter, of whom she always spoke so fondly, never visited. She was completely on her own. The only friends she had were those she met weekly at West End Achievers.
I don't know what ever happened to Jill. After I transferred back to Montreal, I was unable to keep in contact with her. But I still think of her often and the fun we used to have. That chance to serve helped me more than it ever helped her. I think that happens a lot with service. We do things for others, but are blessed and often changed in the process.
Now it's your turn! Tell us something you've done to help someone in need. Whether it was tying quilts or donating canned food and lending a listening ear. You've done something for someone when they couldn't do it for themselves. Let us hear about it!
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That story about Jill is sad. It's hard to believe that her family would ditch her like that. I'm glad she had you for that short time. Thanks for sharing that:-)
ReplyDeleteThe fact that I'm having trouble coming up with a service story to share just reminds me that I need to do more service.
I loved hearing your story. I wish I had something to share but so much of what I've done has been part of a group and not individualized so I don't have a particularly compelling story to share.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that comes to mind is feeding the missionaries. I had them over for dinner on Sunday. I fed them spaghetti, veggies and leftover cupcakes. They freakin' ate A TON. It was insane how much these guys (there were 3 of them, btw) ate. They left very full and I was left with a great spirit in my home. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you're sick. Bleah. I hope you feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteOne "helping others" thing that I have done and am quite proud of is that I fostered dogs for a rescue organization for a while. I welcomed one doggie at a time into my little family and cared for him or her until a permanent home was found. I did this for three dogs over the course of a few months.
I finally felt that I (and my own dogs) needed a break, and I haven't done it now for several months. And I actually feel quite guilty about it! But, I felt that my own dogs didn't get my attention like I wanted them to.
Someday I might go back to fostering dogs again. I need a bigger yard, with actual grass first!
Wow, that story is so happy and so sad. It breaks my heart.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had something to confess. I try to be as helpful as possible to everyone around me, but I haven't been able to volunteer since TBS started. I cling to a strenuous desire to go back to it some day, though.
I'm going to buy some stuff to send to someone making hygiene kits. I feel like I'm helping if even just a little.
ReplyDeleteJill's story is so sad. I cannot imagine anyone abandoning me in such a dire situation (although if you read my post today, you'll see that it should be easy for me to imagine it).
ReplyDeleteBesides donating $10 to Red Cross, the only nice thing I've done this week is let a lady who had only 3 items in her grocery cart cut in line ahead of me since I had way more stuff than her.
Your story is amazing. I've been doing very little things through church. Julia and I made a hygiene kit for our sister church in Nicaragua. We did the operation christmas child. We donate to the food bank.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story. I used to volunteer all the time, at soup kitchens, with sick kids, with people with diabilities, you name it. It makes me sad that I don't have the time anymore. I am glad I get lots of that same feeling out of my work though. Good topic today.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that Jill kept up her positive attitude!
ReplyDeleteKaren, please post your confession Wednesday topic a day or two in advance so I can write something for you!
I am going to be doing a drive in March. I don't have all the details worked out, but stay tuned. It will involve Snuggies.
ReplyDeleteI donated to Haiti and got stuff for hygiene kits. But, on Saturday, I drove past our local homeless shelter, and saw all the people outside in the cold, and realized how donations have been down in our own backyard.
I am super excited about my plan, so stay tuned!