I had an eye opening experience at work. I was assisting with a case involving a single mother with her three daughters (ages 12, 11, and 10). Due to the fact the family did not have a car I went with my partner assigned to the case to give them a ride so we could speak with them. At their residence I was advised by my partner that they had some essentials in their home but no furniture.
The family was then brought back to our office and interviewed for several hours reference some pretty serious issues that have been occurring within their home over the last few years. For those of you who know what area I work in you can assume the disclosures made by the young girls were not happy ones. I am sure you can imagine how miserable and sad they must have been.
The reality is I never saw a smile leave their faces. The girls were so excited to have their mother home from work spending the afternoon with them. They continually asked me and my partner questions about us and how we enjoyed what we did. When it was time to take them home each of the young girls were given a stuffed animal and a small quilt (donated by volunteers). The excitement and appreciation they should for receiving such an astounding (just a bit of sarcasm) gift floored me. They talked about their quilts and small stuffed bears the entire drive home.
Once at home they again sincerely thanked us and went into their couchless residence which if my partner had not been in their home we would have never known. Never once did any of the girls complain about what they did not have or how miserable and hard their lives are.
Why are we instructed to be as a child? I will go home tonight looked at my old couches (yes honey I know we need new ones), watch and complain about the picture on my 52” television which is out of date, listen to the children fight over the Xbox while I decide if Shelley and I are going out to eat while the kids have pizza at home. Wow, what a tough and miserable life I have.
My son Joshua made a poster and described me as his hero (obviously I keep him isolated). One of the areas he said I helped him with was providing for his needs and occasionally getting him his wants. Does he even know what he truly needs as opposed to what he wants? Do I remember the difference between a need and a want?
In today’s world I have, we have become conditioned with new technology and gadgets. How can items that 5 to 10 years ago did not exist all of a sudden become needed to function and survive? Do your children know life without an IPod or cell phone? And we wonder what has happened to the world. We have.
I greatly appreciate three young girls for teaching me a valuable life lesson through what I can only assume is a nightmare of a life, since they would never tell you it was. Thank you. I can only hope and pray this is not another lesson learned today and forgotten tomorrow. How much better would I be if I would allow some of this stuff to just stick?
Again it has been confirmed to me that My Cup is Always Full. Thank You.
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