A Privilege

Yesterday a grey haired man approached me as I arrived to my place of business. He asked if I could give him seventy eight cents, he opened his hand to show me his money. " I am short because I forgot that the price went up recently." I reached into my purse. A friend of mine arrived as I handed the man a dollar bill. I smiled as the man's wrinkled face lit up. It was just a small gesture yet it meant so much. The man left and my friend turned to me and said, "I know, you just can't help yourself." I asked, "is that so bad?". I added, "my father always said that when someone needs your help and you give it to them, you should do it with a warm hand and a warm heart." my father planted the seed by example. He was generous when he had little to give and generous when he had abundance. I planted the seed with my sons. Josh, began volunteering in a hospital when he was sixteen. He always extended a helping hand to anyone in need. Now at the age of twenty four he is a co-director of a mobile unit that serves the underprivileged. The mobile clinic is a bus funded by the college of medicine and staffed by volunteers. It contains two exam rooms and about eight patients can be seen in one evening. Daniel is nine years old and he earns money for charity by reading. Every book he reads we give him money toward his charity of choice . He donated money to the Clinton foundation to aid Haiti after the earthquake. He also donated to American Idol to help buy mosquito nets in Africa. Helping others gives him a sense of pride and happiness. This past month as a member of the student council he was overseeing the fourth grade food drive. It's a privilege to be able to help people in need . As my dad would say with a warm hand and a warm heart.