I AM That Crazy Lady

Mornings are a bit of a mad dash.  All 5 of us need to be in the cars backing out at 7:30am.  I guess I could help out in this regard if I woke up earlier on non-workout days, but if you tell Steven that I will HURT you.  Like really hurt you.  Like track you down and pull each finger nail out one by one.  I say that in the most loving way possible.

Anyway, getting out the door...it's an Olympic decathlon in which I am nowhere near the front, but once we're in the car I try to make the best use of our time before the kids are off at school.  We sing and joke and practice for tests and some days just chat. 

Yesterday, we were singing and the song Do Something by Matthew West was on.  Insert the crazy lady crying in her car.  The basis of this song is how angry we get when we see or hear of injustices and then we shake our fists at God asking why He doesn't do something about it.

Except He did. 

He made me and you.

We are the 'Do Somethings'.

The great part of us being the 'Do Somethings' is we aren't all the same doers.  We think and do differently, and I have the most perfect example of doing the do differently.

 My friend has the most beautiful heart.  She asked if she and her kids could join us in serving with the Tulsa Homeless Outreach last March.  I was thrilled.  She asked what to bring and I suggested drinks.  She loaded up her coolers with over 100 pops.  She filled a need of thirst and spoiled the homeless with something other than water. 

Don't get me wrong, water is GREAT!  We take water every month, but something new is always nice.  That pop was wiped out in about 5 minutes, and the men and women who were receiving smiled ear to ear.  I loved seeing their faces.  I loved that Sarah, my friend, said yes to serving that day. 

But, that's not what I wanted to share.  She brought what I suggested and something else. Something I would have never thought of.  Something so precious it still gets me a little weepy and emotional.  She brought 100 long stem roses for her boys to give to the women there.

 

Is that not the most thoughtful, sweet, precious thing you ever heard of???  In NO way would I have ever thought of that.  What was even more beautiful was it wasn't just the women looking for flowers, the men loved them as well.  Just like James and his newest puppy Little Man (I found that completely hilarious since our oldest in Little Man too).

 (If someone could shed a little light on what the heck MY kid is doing, it would be greatly appreciated.   I think he's trying to shoot a basket, but WHY is beyond me....)

The point to all of this is you can do something.  Maybe money and resources is what you are lacking.  Give time.  Maybe time is what you are lacking.  Give money and resources.  However, I've noticed in our lives giving what we have the least of is exactly what we needed to give in the first place.  Being apart of the Tulsa Homeless Outreach has enriched our lives in indescribable ways.  Our family loves meeting new people, listening to their needs and fulfilling those needs.  It is our greatest love language.

So here I am today challenging to Do Something and I'm going to list a few ways to get involved.  Sometimes it's lack of knowledge that keeps us from getting our hands and feet moving.  Here are a few ways to make a difference...

• Volunteer to spend time with children at hospitals whose family members cannot be with them during the week.  My sweet friend, Lisa, noticed one day how many young children were all alone at the hospital because parents HAD to work to pay the bills.  She is now doing something about that.
• Volunteer to form relationships with the elderly at nursing homes.  My mom is so wonderful about this.  She takes such great care of my grandma in Springfield, MO.  She's there a couple of times a month.  What I love about her is she doesn't just meet my grandma's needs, she offers her services to the other ladies and gentlemen at the retirement center.  When she is home, she helps care for a woman in a local nursing home.  She called the director and asked who had relatives living out of state.  She wanted help relieve the stress off those caregivers while forming a relationship with a new person.
• Have a Beautification Day.  Pick up the trash at a local park.  Plant some flowers for a neighbor.  Mow someone's yard.  Buy some landscaping for an organization who is struggling.
• Find out what needs local food banks have and start collecting.  
• Adopt children through programs like Compassion International or Mission of Hope.  We sponsor Luis and Lesly.  Luis is Little Man's age, both born on November 6th, and Lesly is Little Miss's age, both born on October 15th.  In a year or so, Chubby Cheekers will get to form a special relationship with a child that was born on February 16th just like him.  This has been such a blessing to our family.  The kids have someone specific to pray for and love on despite having never met them.  We have dreams of going to Luis' home village in Peru and Lesly's hometown in Mexico and physically hugging their necks.  I can't even contain the emotions just thinking about it.  

These are just a few ways out of MILLIONS for you to get involved.  I can only promise you one thing.  You will turn into that crazy lady who is driving her kids to school bawling over a song about doing something.  Yeah, I said it.  I'm crazy.  Like you didn't know...

And if you are curious about the song I referenced, here ya' go...

Giving It All

Last night I was wrapping up my kids' gifts to their teachers.  We are so blessed by all of them.  There is no gift we could possibly give that could express our gratitude for the role they play in our children's lives.  They love, pray, console, laugh, and teach them daily.  My heart is full when thinking of each teacher.

One thing that especially has my heart is both homeroom teachers began their careers in public schools.  They have seen some of the little guys defeated, not loved, unwanted, not cared for, and beaten.  They spent time loving on those kids.  I'm sure in the same manner in which they love on mine. 

It really makes me think of my short seven years of teaching.  All the little gratitude gifts I received from parents.  I remember almost all of them.  I have some of the best coffee mugs that make me think of individual kids.  I have lots of ornaments reminding me of the little hands that spent time creating priceless treasures just for me.  And then I have junk.

Let me rephrase that.  Junk to some.  Heartfelt sacrifice to me.

I taught at a fairly low-income school.  A good mixture of income levels, but a large population of kiddos on free or reduced lunches.  In my sixth year, I had a wonderful class.  Amazing kids with hearts of gold.  It was this year one of my poorest students walked in with two little balls of aluminum foil.  It was easy to tell something was inside, but I couldn't see what.  I instantly thought it was her lunch, but found it odd because she had told me earlier in the year she would never bring her lunch because she ate for free everyday at school.  Sometimes her only meals were breakfast and lunch provided by the school.  Even if we sent home food in her backpack, she didn't eat it.  She gave it to her younger brothers. 

I was so excited that she brought her lunch.  She had always wanted to do that, and that day was her day...or so I thought.  As I watched her unload her things, she left the two little crumbled aluminum foil balls on her desk.  Then she proceeded to bring them to me.  She laid them on my desk, and just smiled at me.

I still remember her little face as I asked her, "Whatcha got in those cute little balls?"

No sooner did the question leave my lips did I realize...they were two gifts.  Gifts for me.  She wrapped her arms around me so tightly.  When she finally let go, I opened her gifts.  Inside were two individually wrapped trinkets probably purchased from a little quarter machine years ago.  They were worn and weathered, but I could tell they meant so much to her.  I was fighting back the tears. 

Then she pushed back a bit, motioned for me to come closer and whispered, "Mrs. Torres,  these are my most favorite toys I play with and I want you to have them.  Thank you for loving me like my Mommy did."

That. Was. It.  Full on bawling.  All the other kids crowded around to see what was going on.  They really couldn't understand why I was so happy to receive gifts such as those.  I hope years down the road they think back on that moment of what giving really means.  Giving with sacrifice. 

I don't ever think I could possibly give a more meaningful gift in my life to someone else than what I received that day.  A time when a little nine year old girl gave it all.  Gave what was most important to her to see me happy.  That's a lot to swallow.

I'm not quite sure what triggered this memory, but I am so thankful it did. What a example of sacrificial giving!  Tis the season! 

It's About Giving

Recently I signed up with Compassion International as an Assignment Blogger.  It's their way of getting the message out of what they do and getting others active in assisting people all over the world.

Giving has always been on my priority list.  Even in times where our cash flow is limited, we give.  This isn't for a 'well done' or a nice pat on the back.  In fact, it embarrasses me a bit when giving outside of our usual tithe.  I don't know why.  It just does.

Look, already I'm getting off topic here!

One of the blogging topics was to answer the following question:

Why do you give?

I kind of thought, "Well, duh!" to this question, but then I really started thinking about why do I give to the organizations I give to.  A few days ago, I entered a photo contest through a local business, Elliott Roofing.  If my photo gets the most likes, they will donate $500 to the charity of my choice.  

I was right on this contest.  All I had to do was enter a funny Christmas photo to get $500 donated to a charity.  How simple is that?  The hard part was choosing a charity.  

My eyes see so many needs daily.  If I had unlimited cash flow, I could work all day blessing people and still not make a dent in meeting all the needs out there. This breaks me heart.  However, two needs areas that weigh on my heart are those who cannot provide the basic needs for their children and child trafficking.  Often times, my extra money goes to three organizations who work diligently and responsibly to alleviate people suffering from the above mentioned travesties.

Love 146

Samaritan's Purse

Compassion International

In the end, I chose Samaritan's Purse to receive the $500 if I win.  Specifically to build a freshwater well for a community and an in home water filtration system for one family. I have to say even though this was my final choice, I still feel a tug on my heart for the other organizations.  Again, so many people with so many needs.

This is where I'm asking for your help.  In this season of giving, it is so easy to get tunnel vision while checking off people on our gift lists. Although it is wonderful to give to those we love, it is also wonderful to give to those we don't even know.  

That same question I was asked on my blogging assignment, "Why do you give?", is the same question I am going to ask you...

Why do you give?

I'm also going to challenge you to add another person(s) to your list.  Someone you don't even know.  You can even do this from the comfort of your own home.  All you have to do is click on the link below, and chose a gift that will alter the life of one stranger.  Not just bring temporary happiness, but a true life change.  I can't think of anything better this holiday season.

Here's the link:

Compassion International's Gift Catalog

And since you are already on the World Wide Web, you should go like this photo on Elliott Roofing's page...

After all, special ingredients in cookies is always funny...as long as you aren't eating them ;)

$9.00

Nine dollars.  $9.00.  One dollar shy of ten dollars.  When you think about it, how easy is it for you to spend $9.00 in one day.  Does Sonic Happy Hour get a little?  A drive-thru another part?  Those two items alone will easily take your hard earn nine dollars.

What if I told you that you could feed a child for a full week on $9.00?  How would that make you feel?  

On occasion, Samaritan's Purse mails me updates on various programs they have serving children and adults all over the world.  In one particular mailer it said I could provide hot meals for an entire week for one child.  The cost, you guessed it, $9.00.  Hard to believe such a little amount of money can go such a long way.  

So knowing what you know now, would you be willing to part with $9.00? If so, please visit the gift catalog and GIVE.  Nine dollars really isn't much when you think about the kids whom you will help.  Maybe pack your lunch for one day.  That's really not much of a sacrifice now is it?

There are also lots of options in the gift catalog.  If you are interested in feeding one child for a week, you'll see it as Option 2.  According to the stats of who stops by this blog daily, there are over 300 people a day.  It would be amazing if at least half of us gave to change the lives of these precious kids.  If you do decide to give, please leave a comment to encourage others to give as well.