Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Yesterday I donated some unwanted items to Habitat for Humanity where the items will be restored and sold. As I was carrying the items downstairs I thought about when I was a child. Roll back 50 years..

I grew up in a very poor area. We lived in a terraced house, two bedrooms and 8 children, yes no typos, 2 bedrooms and 8 children, 9 years between the youngest and the eldest. The dining room was converted into a bedroom. Still they were cramped conditions but we knew no different. Money was scarce and my mum never was in a position to donate to charity, we lived in survival mode. One pair of shoes each and in fact I vividly remember going to Mass and not wanting to kneel down for Communion because there were holes in my shoes. I was no different from the rest of my family in that regard though. My father was a painter and decorator and worked really hard so he was doing the best for his family. We were never without food and we were never cold.

Despite our poverty and yes I would actually say poverty, I recall looking out of my bedroom window into the entry. An elderly lady was walking up the entry to go to the shops. As she passed our house, she stopped. An old kitchen mat which we had discarded caught her eye. She started rummaging through our bin. The bin of poor people. She was pleased with her find, removed the kitchen mat from the bin and made her way back home with it.

As a child this totally astounded me. I knew we were a working class family living in a very working class area but I never believed someone else would want what we discarded.

So, why am I telling your this my dear friends? Is it to evoke sympathy? No. Is it to tell you that I am very materially secure now? No.

The reason I am sharing this with you my friends is that it is a huge reminder that  no matter how  poor we appear to be, there will be many who are worse off. These people don't have to live in Third World countries. They don't have to be homeless. Something to always remember. Something that should be and always will be high on my Gratitude List.

Gratitude, I love you.