dear boys.

dear boys,

for as long as i can remember, pop pop has given me advice.  it's never been forceful.  or over the top.  it's never been pushed on me, thrown in my face.  i've always tried to take it all in.  remember it.  write it down.

because i can't remember him ever telling me something that didn't make sense.

now, at the time of the advice, i might have fought it.  i might have thought, "this man is crazy.  he's totally off.  that can't be right."

but looking back...years later, i see that he was pretty much always right.  i can say, with complete confidence that his intentions were always good.  and pure.  and came from a loving place.  i pray that you will be able to say the same thing about me one day.

one thing he has always taught me is the importance of giving to those in need.  i remember graduating from college and not knowing what i really wanted to do.

his only advice was,


find a job where you can help other people.  because it is in helping those in need that you will find your true happiness.

that's probably the smartest thing he has ever told me.

you will find that there is a great divide in what "helping" means.

some people feel that because so many take advantage of the help that is given to them, we should stop helping.  or maybe limit our helping.  or even maybe...make sure those getting the help really need it.  really deserve it.  and are really appreciative of it.

i don't feel that way.

i say, give and give and give.  and when you think you've given enough, give some more.

there are many programs through our government that help those in need with medicine.  and food.  and education.  i could go on and on.  some of the people accepting this help unfortunately take advantage of it.

recently a man named stephen colbert made the following comment in regards to our nation as christian nation.  as a loving, helping, giving nation....

if this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it.


i think it might be the best quote regarding giving.  when i forwarded it to pop pop, he wrote back, "colbert for president!"

i think the key phrase is "without condition".  some would argue this.  some would argue (and quote scripture) about how we need to help those that help themselves.  and we don't need to let people take advantage of programs.

i'm not for people taking advantage of something.  but as my preschool teacher said, just because some take advantage of certain programs/situations does not mean that we throw the baby out with the bath water.  we can't stop giving to the masses simply because of a few "bad apples".

i'm not smart enough to figure out a way to make those programs better.  that's not my job.  i am, however, smart enough to know that Jesus taught to give.  and that is what i will try to do. (note: i'm faaaaaaaaaar from perfect in this area)

i could write more.  i could say more.  i could really get on my soapbox about this.

but i won't.  i'll save it for another day.  another post.

i'll just wrap this up with this small thought....

when i get to heaven, and i'm standing at the pearly gates....i want to be able to say that i gave.  and that i gave and gave and gave.  i don't think anyone will say, you realize you gave to those who took advantage of you.  so no heaven for you.

at least i hope that's not what they say.  i hope they say, good job, my child.  thank you for giving without condition.  you did just as Jesus taught.  


i love you both.

my prayer for you today is that you learn to give.  and that in giving, you find true happiness just as pop pop promised.

xoxo,
mommy.