It's the Small Things

We all know that since the economy took a turn south, it's made things harder for a lot of people.  So many of my friends have had to go back to work.  Many worry about financial stability.  People who should be retiring can't.  Some are downsizing out of necessity not choice.  People's outlook on life just doesn't seem as sunny anymore.

Or maybe it's just me.  Maybe I'm projecting.  Maybe I'm jaded, but I've noticed this distinct "out for my self attitude" in people that really frustrates me.  I grew up in a family that was like the three musketeers.  (Or 150 musketeers)  If someone needed something, everyone helped.  No man, woman or child was left behind!  And here's when it becomes a problem for me.  When I see people that could care less, (especially people that have a reason to be invested) I get so upset about it, that I actually start to become angry.  Then because I'm a worrier, and a Type A,  I literally start losing sleep.  Then, what is supposed to be joyful, serving someone, providing help, ends up becoming a miserable experience.

If you are still reading, here is the GOOD NEWS.  In the last few weeks, I have witnessed so many little acts of kindness that remind me, that even though there are a lot of people that are out there for number one, there are just as many that want to do good for others.  And sometimes is something really little that can make a big difference!

I just got back from running some errands.  I work with the Activity Girls at my Church.  We are collecting items for two kids organizations.  Ronald McDonald House and St Vincents Home for Children.  St Vincents needs School Supplies.  Someone at church donated $20 in cash.  Officemax had a few items on special this week that were a penny, 25cents etc. and I wanted to buy some of this stuff for St Vincents.  You know how this stuff works, Limit 3 per household etc, so my plan was, I would buy a set, Riley would buy a set.  The ad started on Sunday, it's now Monday afternoon and when we got to the store, literally the only thing they have left is filler paper.  So I give Riley and Ciara each a $1 and hand them each 3 packs of filler paper and I tell them to go pay for it.  Bless their hearts though.  They don't understand this concept and are of course yelling over to me and asking me if they can have this, that and the other.  The cashier explains to me that it's limit of 3 per household.  I promise her that it's not for us, we are donating it to a children's home and I am simply trying to get them the best bang for their buck by driving around to different Office Supply Stores buying their specials.  The manager of the store was standing right there.  She put her hands over her ears.  The cashier rang all nine packs of paper up in one transaction and charged me 9 cents.

This may not seem like a big deal, but I've been at stores before, where they have enforced their policies tooth and nail.  I understand why they have them.  I didn't buy anything else.  They didn't make any money off of me.  But they will in the future because I will remember their  goodwill.  I will remember that they chose to put needy children before corporate policy.

It also put me in a good mood and reminded me that there are plenty of people that are still willing to do what they can.  Even if it's something small.  So if you only have a dollar to donate, that's fine.  If you can can sacrifice an hour of your time once in a while to help someone, all these little things can add up to something a lot bigger!

I'm going to list a few other things below.  Add your comments.  Share how something even small or that might seem inconsequential helped you or someone else out.

:) Clair  

• 9 Amazing Youth from our church gave up their saturday morning to cook breakfast for the patrons of the Ronald McDonald House.  They worked hard, they were respectful and made the adults with them proud to claim them.

• A wonderful woman that we met at the Ronald McDonald House, Mary, works three jobs.  Even so, she  volunteers one entire weekend (nights too) a month there.
• Ella's five year old friend Madison had a lemonade stand at her mom's yard sale.  She used all the money she made to buy school supplies for the kids that were victims of the Good Friday tornado.
• My friend Scotty rides in multiple legs of the LiveStrong Challenges and raises money to fight cancer.  His 10 year old son Jared joined him this year.  He wore a plaque on his jersey with 5 year old Abby Jensen's name on it.  She lost her battle with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a rare brain cancer a few weeks later.
• My friend Brandon, started an annual bike ride called the Tutu Riders.  He has been a long time supporter and fundraiser for Special Olympics.  Last year he issued a challenge that if he could raise a specific amount of money, he would ride his Harley up the Pacific Coast Highway in a pink Tutu.  He did and the Tutu Riders were born!
• The kids in Primary at church are collecting their spare change to sponsor a family at the Ronald McDonald house.
• Brittany, a young woman at church is having a yard sale.  She is donating the proceeds to the Jensen Family.
• My mother, who did not know the Jensen family at all, and is on a fixed and tight budget made a small monetary donation to the Jensens.  She just knew that a family had suffered the loss of their child and wanted to help in the small way that she could.
• I made a few cookies for the volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House.  I hand drew their logo on them.  An event coordinator saw them and asked if I would be willing to make and donate 150 of them for a fundraiser they are having.  I agreed not quite sure how long it was going to take me to handpaint 150 cookies.  I contacted the company I usually buy the edible markers from to see if I could buy the three specific colors I needed instead of 10 packs.  They offered to print the logo onto edible sheets of icing for me for free!  And asked for nothing in return - not even their company name to be aknowledged.