How many people say no to that question? Not many, I would think. But how many of you are putting your money where your mouth is? When was the last time you did something for a kid, maybe one you don't even know, just because you can?
I know lots of folks who can answer the last two questions with "this past weekend". The back2School event at TCF was a HUGE success, as stories were told (go read it!), feet were washed and new shoes fitted, hair was cut, school supplies handed out. We served 457 children with nearly three hundred parents/guardians/family. That is a bunch of people, anyway you look at it.
I was privileged to be "Event Staff" (got the tshirt to prove it!) and for most of the day, I was essentially a door keeper. In a practical sense, that means I kept folks from flooding the room where the feet washing was going on. But what it really meant is that I was able to have conversations with a great many of those 700-plus people and hear a little bit of their stories.
It was crowded and noisy and lots of traffic back and forth. But time after time, someone would touch my heart. The shy preschooler and the too-cool-for-this teenager. Tired adults and kids so hyper they seemed to crackle the very air. A big group of brothers/sisters/cousins/friends who laughed and joked amongst themselves the whole wait in line and didn't seem to have time for my questions. But I'm persistent and the line was a little slow.
What grade are you in? What school do you go to? What is your favorite subject? So many different answers! I'm pretty sure we had every school in this area represented with ages from preschool to high school seniors. I asked every upperclassman the same standard question….what do you want to do when you graduate? My heart ached for those…too many…who had no answer except a quiet "I don't know"and a faraway look.
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