Being a Giver V

My older sister reminded me recently on the necessity of being a giver. She mentioned the Goodfellows. The Old Newsboys Goodfellow Organization was a group of charitable men and women in the newspaper business that give to children who might not otherwise have a Christmas. Ah, what memories. But the Goodfellows do more than provide gifts for children at Christmastime; they are a powerful example of love through giving.

When I was a kid I remember getting a brown box each year from the Goodfellows along with a few other gifts from my mother and relatives, which always included two or three books and a few toys. We always had a great Christmas with aunts and uncles and caroling at hosptials and senior homes. It wasn't about gifts alone. But we did love opening up those brown boxes that included candy, socks, underwear, and toys. Each of my mother's 12 children were given a box:

Dellanne
Robin
Haywood
Christopher
Peter
Ellington
Jill
Timothy
Robert
Reuben
Bernadette
Judith

You would have never thought that my mother struggled financially, as we lived in a 7-bedroom house with an upper and lower sundeck, dressed well with a few clothes items for school and Sunday morning from the sales rack of Hudson's. But mostly we wore second-hand clothes, though never second-hand shoes, that looked new from the lawn sales in the richest suburban neighborhoods. Many times the kids from these families never even wore the clothes. They were pretty picky.

My mother was very proud, but her pride did not handicap. She smiled graciously, moved easily among others, and walked with a sense of purpose, always. Possessions were important, as she liked good things, but she was never moved by things. At the lawn sales we were always amazed that people lived in such mansions more than the clothes that looked brand new. My mother, however, was never particularly impressed or at least she didn't let on; she was on a mission.

Mothers looked for mine, retaining things expressly for us. We often accompanied her in twos and threes and we were always well-behaved and well-spoken. Once when we all traveled from Salt Lake City to Detroit there was an article written in the local Utah newspaper which included a picture of the mom and her well-behaved "dozen" ranging from 6 months to 14 years of age. Today, we are professionals and entrepreneurs; some have advanced degrees and most travel internationally. We are also all trained in ministry and known for our erudition. But we are all thorougly and profoundly earthy. My mother saw to both of these.

My sister's reminder was sweet indeed. I had forgotten all about the Goodfellows until she mentioned them the other day. She is 12 years my senior and would have remembered the process attained in receiving such gifts. What I remembered most were the volunteers who came to the door with boxes which had each of our names on them. This morning I looked up the Old Newsboys Goodfellow Organization and became a monthly donor.

Be a giver throughout the year. Do not wait for the joy of Christmas only. A great many children are in need of you.