Hanna and I have always communicated well about personal finance, and the fact that we have similar goals and methods when it comes to money certainly contributes to our successful marriage. However, the last couple of years have forced us to be even more frugal than usual as we figure out ways to pay for the expenses of raising our children and build up the savings we spent moving away from Silicon Valley and back to the mountains. As a result, we've cut back in most areas of the family budget, including charitable giving. So when we sat down at the beginning of the month and discussed upcoming purchases in our weekly house meeting, I brought up our annual Child's Play donation. Hanna wondered allowed if we could afford it this year; I told her that it was too important to skip. She left the decision in my hands, and we moved on to other things.
Thinking more on it, though, I wondered if perhaps we should skip it this year; looking at the upcoming bill for the car insurance, the needed travel to conferences in the spring, and just the day to day expenses of living certainly made an argument for not spending money where it wasn't absolutely needed. Then I started looking at the Child's Play site again, and browsing through some of the wish lists. Some of the items the hospitals are requesting make you think. For example:
Why would a hospital request a toy designed for someone "1 month - 2 years" old, unless they had patients whose age was most easily measured in months? What must that be like for the baby, the parents, the family?
Why would a hospital request a book entitled "A Terrible Thing Happened - A story for children who have witnessed violence or trauma", unless they had need to explain horrible things to kids? What must that be like?
One of the best bits of advice my parents ever gave me was the knowledge that "there will always be those greater and lesser than you." Sure, times are difficult right now for lots of people, myself included. Budgets are tight, jobs are scarce, and our political and financial systems often seem completely broken. But I'm healthy, and so are my children. I'm going to spend the holidays feasting with my family at three or four different dinners, not in the hospital connected to machines. My greatest concern with my kids will probably be making sure they don't eat too many cookies, not wondering if the next test the hospital runs will finally tell me how to treat their condition.
So, as you plunge into your holiday plans, think about how fortunate you are -- and then go to Child's Play, and help spread some fun and good cheer to kids who really need it.
Edited 12/27/2011 -- grammar fixes.
1 comment:
It always seems that we are often on the same page with these family blogs. I agree that we should always try to help out someone else who might have less, even if it is in some small way. This year, I made triple sure that every time I went out with Tam, I had small change for the bell-ringers. (He got a kick out of dropping it in the bucket). For the first time, we adopted an angel from the angel-tree and I had Tam help pick out gifts. It was a good way to remind him that the season isn't only about himself and getting presents. Good job, guys, and keep up the good work(s).
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