... Thanksgiving

When the children at the homeless shelter I volunteer with were asked what they wanted to cook us for dinner, they came up with a menu that included oreo salad and mac & cheese topped with chocolate syrup. I suppose that's how they would want to be thanked if they were in our shoes.

I spend a few hours a day, a few days a week, tutoring children at a homeless shelter. PG Wodehouse once said "As we grow older and realize more clearly the limitations of human happiness, we come to see that they only real and abiding pleasure in life is to give pleasure to other people." It certainly proves true in my life. I receive much pleasure from these children. In spite of the rough lives they live, they are full of kindness and joy. They are appreciative and grateful. I am blessed by the perspective they give me. Blessed to be able to spend time with them.

Yet tonight, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, instead of us providing a meal for them, they provided a meal for a number of the volunteers. During our meal, one of the 8 year-olds presented me with a special award -- a copy of a painting she did for the annual art auction. It's titled "Pom Poms Gone Wild" and when she was asked about it she responded "That's what happens when you let them loose!"

I wish I could share some of my experiences with you in more detail, maybe show you a picture or two of some of the cuties, however, because some of them are under court-ordered protection, I can't. But if you are local and at all interested in spending some time with them, let me know. There are many ways to help out at the shelter and many blessings to be had because of it.