December 4th

Today is Thursday and I'm really feeling the day. Snow is on the ground and the air temperature has dropped. As I drove home from swim team practice the neighborhood Christmas lights shimmered in the snow.

Our school is in the midst of a school wide fundraiser to build a climbing wall. This project has been a struggle. A small school trying to raise $10,000 dollars is not an easy feat. In the midst of afternoon activity a young gentleman approached me and asked if I would be interested in buying one of the "Manitou" cards to support this fundraiser. I immediately told him "No thanks."

"No Thanks!" Of course a teacher should respond this way. If every child asked the teachers we'd feel overwhelmed. We can't possibly buy one from everyone. Of course I would say, "No Thanks." Hmmm... this was not sitting well with me. Yes, if everyone had asked me I might feel overwhelmed. But the truth of the matter is that no one had asked me at all and I had not supported this fundraiser other than by word of mouth and encouragement. Surely I could afford to purchase one of these cards.

So, a few seconds later I chased that young gentleman down and told him I would be happy to purchase one. That is my small good deed for the day. I think, in addition to the purchase I will donate the card to the family the middle school is sponsoring for the holidays. They are approaching.