Several years ago, I was listening to the radio station as I was driving around for some last minute Christmas shopping. The radio host was asking for listeners to sponsor a child through Compassion International. I remember the host saying that if people weren’t sponsoring a child they really needed to do so and that if they were sponsoring a child that they should sponsor a second child. I was thinking how bold that was to ask people who were already giving to give more. I then realized that I was judging someone for asking “too much” when I wasn’t giving anything at all. I thought about the presents that I was buying and also that the night before I had taken my daughters out for dinner for the same price that it cost to sponsor a child for a month. I was embarrassed of myself.
That evening I went on the computer and signed up to sponsor a child. I purposely chose an older child, because I knew they were less likely to be sponsored. After watching a video about the sponsorship program, I was a little teary-eyed and feeling more guilty than ever for not doing this sooner. I sponsored a child named Kimanzi from a rural village in Kenya. The next month, we received a hand written letter from him and it made a big impact on my daughters to receive a message from him. It prompted them to write one back and ask a lot of questions. We receive two or three letters from Kimanzi each year and it’s been moving to watch him as he grows.
The letters from Kimanzi have been a powerful learning tool for our family. They have helped us keep our “problems” in perspective. They have helped us count our blessings. They have shown us that everyone can help in some small way. I often wonder if Kimanzi has any idea how much he has taught his American family. As we enter a busy and sometimes stressful time of the year, I will keep in mind the lessons I have learned from Kimanzi’s letters and remember to count my many blessings!
“The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.” – Eric Hoffer
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” – Willie Nelson
“Good health and good sense are two of life’s greatest blessings.” – Publilius Syrus
- Monday, March 25: Students of the Month Assembly! 9:05 AM
- Tuesday, March 26: ALT (all principals) to Central Office 8:00-11:30 AM, Achievement Team (Adams) 8:15 AM, Parent Meeting (Kaufman) 10:35 AM, Robotics Assembly in afternoon
- Thursday, March 28: Staff Meeting 8:05 AM (Led by Kurtjian & Duff)
- Friday, March 29: Author Assembly 9:30-10:30 AM
SPRING BREAK
- Monday, April 8: Celebrate Monday Assembly 9:05 AM
- Tuesday, April 9: REED (Kaufman) 8:15 AM, ESY Meeting (Kurtjian) 9:50 AM
- Wednesday, April 10: Spring Pictures in the East Commons
- Thursday, April 11: Staff Meeting 8:05 AM
- Friday, April 12: Science Fair in the afternoon (for participating students)
The Spark of Learning 