Less is more

Less is more

A couple of weeks ago I was talking with the Vice Principle of the school about a presentation that we had in March. “Invisible Children” came and discussed the situation in Uganda…talking about child soldiers and how these people have nothing and see education as a way out. Then we started talking about the lower level kids in the school…and the kids who have nothing. And how they were the ones that were most impacted…We made this observation and then parted ways to complete all of the tasks that come with final exams.

It was an interesting conversation…but not one that I was able to give much thought to…until another situation occurred.

I was sitting in another teacher’s intensive reading class…and a student came up to me with an envelope. She said that she collected it for “Invisible Children.” She wrote “$20” on the front. I added it to the money that my students collected earlier in the year and made the donation. $156.13 overall.

I didn’t notice the note. A few days later, Bubbles looked in the envelope ( I don’t know why I didn’t throw it away…it was “empty”) and pulled out a note.

It read:
“This money goes to the invisible children I wish I could do more but I can’t I hope this helps. Since they came to talk to us I was so inspired. I want to do so much more. If I can help please let me know.”

In addition to the conversation that I had with the VP earlier…that note really hit home. To many, it would look like only $20…but this student handed me that envelope with pride…because she did all that she could do. Her heart was in it. I loved that.

Then there was a newspaper article that came out about another student of mine.

“Last year, Tim Sharp finished his shift as a dishwasher at KFC and went over in his head how much money he had left after paying his bills. It wasn't much.
Stepping outside, he saw a homeless man sleeping on the sidewalk. Sharp reached into his pocket, pulled out a few dollars and dropped them by the man, who woke up.
Most would think that Sharp has had a hard life, yet he just shakes it off. To him, giving to other people is a big part of what his life is.
He plans to major in sociology to continue the legacy that his mother, LouAnn Usina, created in Hastings before she died last year from cancer.
"I am who I am today because of her," Sharp said. "She made me see who I should be."
In high school, Sharp watched his mother head the OUR community program, where she gave food, clothes and support to as many as 5,000 people, mostly at her own expense.
Sharp already has picked up where Usina left off last year. Sharp's Take Stock in Children mentor, Tommy Lescroart, said Sharp's gas tank runs dry from giving rides to friends of friends.
Sharp was the kid who spent the few dollars in his pocket to buy cheese sticks for the student bullied in the lunchroom.
Since his mother's death, Sharp has worked three different jobs to support himself and prepare for college on his own.
Most recently he has worked at the St. Johns Housing Partnership, where he refurbishes houses for the under-privileged.
"I want to prove to people instead of show them," Sharp said. "You can do a lot with your life instead of complain about what you don't have."

For the full article go to:
http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2010-06-01/graduate-menendez-succeeds-against-adversity

These accounts personify a story that I had heard many times before in church:

Mark 12 “41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,[j]worth only a fraction of a penny.[k]
43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

This story finally makes so much sense! It’s actually mind-blowing.

People who have nothing-what can they give? Surprisingly, everything. They give all that they can…their whole heart goes into their contribution, and at the end of the day…they know that they gave it their all.

I look up to these people who have nothing. I know that when I am beaten down…and when I feel like I have nothing to offer…I can change my perspective, because when I give my all, then I have everything to offer.