I DON’T LIVE IN CALCUTTA. But there are helpless people within my reach.
Some of them are kids.
Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream. When, in honor of Dr. King’s birthday, a Kansas City school asked its first-graders what their dream was, here is what some of them wrote.
Their dreams were posted on the walls of Kansas University Medical Center, for all to see.
- “I have a dream of no more taking drugs or robbing banks or kicking kids.” —Daniel
- “I have a dream that one day people would all get together and be friends and not judge people by the way their skin is. But people still do.” (unsigned)
- “I have a dream that everyone has a place to live.” —Nadreka
- “I have a dream that nobody would have a gun and that nobody would kill each other and that nobody would kill my uncle.” (unsigned)
- “I have a dream that all children are loved.” —Cheryl
It was about eight o’clock on an August evening when an 11-year-old neighbor girl called my daughter and asked if she could come over to our house to play. I told Rebecca no, reminding her that we had been gone all day and were trying to get the house ready for my parents, who were arriving the next day.
Rebecca talked with her friend awhile longer, and then paused to ask me again. But this time Rebecca said that her friend was scared because her parents were fighting.
The little girl’s mother had locked herself in the bedroom and the stepfather had punched a hole in the wall, and another through the bedroom door.
For that moment in time, Rebecca’s friend was an orphan—emotionally abandoned, terrified, and possibly in danger.
Just as our instincts tell us when to run for safety, our spirits tell us when to help another.
A few minutes later, Rebecca’s friend arrived. And for an hour, my son Bradley and I played kick ball against Rebecca and her friend. When darkness arrived, I stood in the front yard and watched as Rebecca, carrying a flashlight, walked her friend the three blocks home.
By then, the rage of the girl’s parents had abated. Rebecca said the dad was sitting quietly on the couch while the mom frantically cleaned house.
Excerpt from How to Live in the Moment
We should always be aware of the needs of those around us…especially the children! I ask God to show me the ones in need every day. If we keep our hearts and eyes open we can see them and then help them. Thank you for sharing this story.
This brought back some unfortunate memories for me, but I won’t go there now. But, I just wanted to share something else that happened this week that showed how much people care. My son works at a place that has living quarters for adults with different types of disabilities. The home he works in has, at this time, 3 men. One is severely mentally handicapped, one is mildly mentally handicapped, but violent at times, & one is a schizophrenic but handled with medication. The first two have family in the area & are able to go home on holidays & have their needs met by them. They both have their own TV’s & many other amenities. The 3rd one, has no family in the area and pretty much never leaves the house except for a day program they have for them to go to. He doesn’t have his own TV. He doesn’t get a Thanksgiving like we see. Someone gave him a bag of candy for Thanksgiving, which one of his housemates stole from him. In the past, the staff has purchased him a gift, like tennis shoes or underwear when he needed it, for Christmas. Anyway, my son was telling me all of this & I just felt so much compassion for this guy & felt so sorry for him & even a little anger at his housemate for stealing the only thing that he had received for the holiday. I vented a little on fb. Well, immediately there was an outpouring of desire to help this man. One of my friends bought him a new TV. Others have wanted to give food & asked me to get his sizes. So, Steve, your act of kindness (or your daughters) made me think of this & I thought I would share how compassionate people can be to someone in need. Little off subject, but I think people should hear about the good things that people do. Thanks for helping that little girl.
Thanks Debbie. Very cool.
People are very compassionate. They just need to hear the stories. When they do, they respond.
So when you see needs like this that move you, go ahead and let folks know.