11/01/07 

 So, what do you look forward to when it comes to Thanksgiving?  Is it the long weekend?  Or the turkey dinner?  Or the huge sales on Black Friday?  I think that we forget what this holiday is all about, which brings me to a really cool front page story that hit the Grand Rapids Press.  The title of the article was "Boy's selfless spirit is cause to give thanks".

The story is about a 7 year old boy, Charlie, who hears about a pastor that was paralyzed this year due to a horrible accident in the ocean.  Soon after that, the family lost one of their 4 children, Eva who was 3 years old.  Many churches have come together to help out this pastor and his family and their mission is to build a home for this family.  When Charlie heard the details of the pastor's situation at Calvary Church, he felt compelled to raise money.

1. The first request to raise money was for Charlie to sell his bed, after all he could sleep on the floor.
2. Request #2 - Charlie's family could sell their home and live with their grandparents.  (Parents weren't sure on this one!)
3. Later, Charlie holds an impromptu garage sale and only raised $2.00, which he was very disappointed.
4. Charlie decided to print a flyer regarding the pastor and their situation and collected 550 cans and bottles around the neighborhood that he hauled around and cashed in.
5. Here's the kicker - Charlie is death in one ear and has been saving his money for a hearing aid that insurance wouldn't cover.  He had several hundred dollars saved to the purchase of this hearing aid.  Charlie said his hearing aid can wait.  His mother tried to talk him out of it.

Here's the response: Mom, if you give with a loving heart and help others, God will bless you."

This story was so moving to me and I believe that that one line says it all. 

References: The Grand Rapids Press. November 22, 2007.