Making An Impact on Our Community
Recently I was stopped while shopping and asked how to eat healthy. The lady looked desperately at me, a total stranger and told me of her doctor’s prognosis… diabetes. She had a 9 month old with her and she was completely confused as to what and how to eat. I stopped what I was doing and showed her how to read labels and look for sugar.
The act of this on the surface is quite simple. Giving of time and knowledge for free to a complete stranger. This incident reminded me of how we all can help each other in the smallest of ways and make a great impact on our community.
Growing up in a small town in North Carolina, I remember each Christmas season brought opportunities that were a part of the community’s natural fabric. As we all prepared the “annual” holiday fare there were smaller groups preparing for a larger community fare of sorts. There was the church choir, which all of my siblings and parents were involved with that rehearsed a series of holiday songs to entertain the “shut-ins” of our community.
I can remember how hard we worked to get each and every song just right hoping no one would get sick and not be able to do their parts! More importantly I still remember the shiny eyes and the sweet gazes of those elderly folks seeing children at their door singing with sweet, vibrant and eager voices.
What a sweet sweet gift to give and receive during the season and not spend one dime! I also think back to other groups that would check on people who we all knew might not have enough to eat, or perhaps not have enough firewood for their hearths, “make the rounds” and help those in need. And then there was the doll tea parties at Ms. Ellen’s house. She had fixed up an old old home in a not-so-safe part of town. She was my mother ‘s best friend and every year each girl received an invitation to her house. You brought your doll and you brought you’re allowance. We all would have her special spiced cider and cinnamon cookies and Santa would arrive to take our money to make dolls for little girls who would otherwise maybe not get a doll.
I cleaned my room and did my best work in school, I even lost a tooth or two (back then tooth-fairies were cheap, like maybe only 25 cents!) earning those dollars for the annual tea. I learned something valuable there in a simpler small town in a different time with no internet and cell phones and worries (as much anyway).
I still keep the tradition with my own daughter and soon it will be a Teddy too, since I have a son as well and the lesson is so important for all children. As we begin the giving and receiving season I reflect on how the little things like helping a neighbor, or visiting an elderly per- son with a batch of cookies makes a large impact on our community and our children. I smile thinking both my parents, now deceased must feel at “how we turned out”. I still feel responsible to my fellow stewards and compelled to offer with an open heart time, and talent to our community. The children see what the parents do and will become what they see. My parents instilled a sense of community and responsibility through singing, feeding and giving of one’s allowance (hard to get scraping up all those pennies and nickels just to give it all away -especially at 6 years old!!!). I am proud to be a part of a similar community in Sugar Land. Although it is a different time and place some things never go out of style. Creating a community full of caring people and a sense of greater purpose is what all of us really want for Christmas!
Happy Holidays!
Take care of you!
