December 17, 2004
-
The Daily News
1 I just got home. It's 10:30 at night as I write this. I spent all afternoon and evening delivering Christmas trees to people who couldn't afford them, a rather amazing experience. We got lost, drove hither and yon, and walked into all sorts of different places. Everywhere we went, we were rewarded with huge smiles and appreciation, especially from community members. It really felt nice.
2 Funny, but even when you are GIVING, there are still people who will complain! This one lady was absolutely livid that her neighbors got a bigger tree than she. She insisted that our students go BACK into her house, remove the tree we gave her, and get her a bigger one, because she was the one who walked around the neighborhood asking who wanted a tree.
3 She almost wound up being the angel on top of that tree, lemme tell you.
4 It's ALWAYS fun to give and give, and then have people STILL treat you like crap. It's something that I have noticed over the years. Teachers, in general, and MOST people in education, are pretty good givers. They give a lot of their time and worry giving to others, and quite often, are met with amazing acts of rudeness, almost sputteringly incomprehensible.
5 That's the nature of the beast. More often than not, they are going to be rewarded with truly appreciative people, and people who respect and understand the dedication and sacrifice it takes to be a giver. In fact, most people who give really don't want much in return; the satisfaction of doing the world a little better is generally reward enough.
6 So that lady was just one of many like that, who just come down the pike, and you just smile and tell them that they are right. In the long run, you can't change people; if they don't get it, they don't get it.
7 It's never stopped me from continuing, nor will it. I think of the grandmother who was sitting outside on her lovely porch, telling us about how she needed all her Christmas money to fix the heater in her old house, which had a whole bunch of grandchildren, and no tree, nor money for Christmas. She sat on the porch and charmed us, and was so appreciative, that nothing else mattered.
8 It's moments like that which put the little annoying things in perspective. Sometimes you just have to look at the larger picture, of the people whose families were truly touched by the heart of one student who wanted to make it all happen for everybody, and wound up doing just that. Thanks, Sunshine, for all the spirit and love.
9 May all of you have a wonderful Christmas and a cheery New Year!
10 Peace.
Recent Comments