Humanity House
This past week Humanity House has received two different kinds of investments in humanity.
Using her allowance and other money earned from odd jobs, Jayden Lampe, a 12-year-old, brought us gift cards from Walmart. Her wish is for the gift cards be used for the purchase of food or toiletries for people in need.
Then on Friday afternoon we got a call that a woman was at our office needing Pull Ups for her toddler. The Pregnancy Resource Center and Hope Unlimited were out of stock of such items and referred the woman to us.
Because our office is all packed up for our move across town, we couldnt get our hands on the diapers.
But we knew where the gift cards were so we were able to purchase the Pull Ups for this mom. Such a small thing, and yet so important. Jaydens desire to help others, to give up things that she wanted to make sure someone else has things that they need, is quite admirable for a person her age.
We also learned this week that an anonymous donor had contacted G&W Foods and donated $6,000 to help keep our food pantry stocked. I never realize how much I worry about this until something like this happens. We have several investors in humanity that drive up to our building with their cars loaded with food. We have a grandmother who takes her grandchildren on outings once a week, and they brought by food for our pantry. When each of these acts of kindness occur, they bring me to tears. The thoughtfulness, the kindness, and the trust that is put in us can be overwhelming.
ON THE INSIDE of my left forearm I have a tattoo. This tattoo says Nothing is Permanent. When people read it they laugh at the irony of it. Then I explain the importance of the tattoo. Everything is fleeting. Our goodness is but a brief moment in time, but the ripples created from that moment continue long after we are gone. The same with our counter behavior. The effects from our bad behavior create their own ripple through time.
All of us, every tree, bird, flower, animal, house, road, all will be gone someday. Each moment that is before us is the only moment that we really have. My tattoo reminds me that this moment is wonderful and I should really enjoy it and take it in because it will pass. It also reminds me that an awful moment wont last forever, either.
When Jayden came into our new building and shyly handed me the envelope with the gift cards, I was standing in the middle of chaos, a building that needed to be put together on a deadline, and I was frazzled. But that moment brought me squarely to the present, not the deadline looming ahead or the mountains of work that lay in front of me. Just Jayden and her envelope, and her kindness.
When Daniel Gile of G&W called with the news of the investment in our food pantry, I was wading through piles of work material looking for an elusive hammer. I leaned my head against the wall and let everything else happening around me and the mess I was standing in disappear.
These moments are amazing and wonderful to Humanity House and we are so grateful for them. Big or small, your kindness always matters!
On the inside of my left forearm I have a tattoo that says, Nothing is permanent. People laugh at the irony of it.
