Wednesday's Child - My Brother's Keeper

When I was a young girl, I used to think about what I wanted to do when I grew up. At first I wanted to be a teacher, and then as a child of the 1960s watching television, I discovered something called the Peace Corps.  I didn’t know it at the time, but it was an ambitious new social program started by the Kennedy administration.  I wanted to go places, see things and help people in far away lands who could not help themselves without me to teach them.  I knew right away joining that organization was exactly what I wanted to do.   

I excitedly ran to my mother and told her I wanted to join the Peace Corps!  She smiled and told me no.  The reality was I, a child, was too young.  I had to be grown and go to college before they would accept me.  I was disappointed, but not for long.  The ’60s moved right along into the 1970s and I moved too, forgetting all about my aspirations to join the Peace Corps.

It wasn’t until in the 1980s when I was grown, married, and already had three children that I realized I would liked to have been a missionary.  But, missionaries went over seas, didn’t they?  I couldn’t leave my family to help other families in need.  The reality was I had too many responsibilities; my children needed me more than the rest of the world did, so I put the thoughts of being a missionary out of my mind and went on with my life. 

By the 1990s my family was just about grown and I started searching my soul again.  Missionary work seemed to be out of the question so I looked in another direction.  By the turn of the 21^st century things seemed to be changing. Hurricanes happened on the east coast and forest fires burned in the west. Natural disasters were happening all over the United States.  I always wanted to go to those places and volunteer any services I could, but my life in the midwest kept me tied here.  I worked in mental health services and with juvenile placement; my children graduated high schools and colleges.

I knew I was never going to exotic lands, not as a missionary; not even for a vacation.  I watched as friends and relatives went to all the faraway places I had always dreamed of while making do with the postcards and pictures they sent.  I also knew I would never be a missionary in the traditional sense because my calling is to teach and work with those around me.  The people I have worked with, been friends with and those I have counseled or in some way touched my life have made all of the difference.  I don’t know if I would have been truly rewarded had things been different.  It doesn’t really matter.  I just continue to do as I am called upon.

And now, one of those ways I can help is with the World Wide Web, and to ask you to click on the link and take a look. A designer of crochet patterns is donating all the proceeds from her very popular lovey blankie to help out a family in need. Please read their story and allow your heart to speak to you.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/minion-inspired-lovey-blankie