My Heart Aches...

There are times in life when we feel bad that all we have to do is look around to discover that others have it worse than we do.

One of my colleagues at school--7th grade English teacher, favorite of students and all-around really nice guy--has terminal cancer. He has been battling it for a couple of years now, but it seems to be winning. Rich is 34. He is married to our high school's French teacher, has three-year-old twins and an infant...and we are all very worried about the whole family. He was rushed to the emergency room this morning with severe abdominal pain...and was admitted. No one knows what the problem is, at present. The flurry of activity at school has been to donate unused sick leave days to Rich and his wife so they can at least maintain their level of income while they continue their battle. I calculated that I have enough sick days accrued that I could be absent for the rest of the year and still have some days left. I have joined the list of donors.

If you are reading this and are a praying person, please add Rich and Julie Dimmack to your prayer list.

The other sadness that I encountered today has to do with one of my students. Had her brother last year. There is another brother in the middle school...and a 3-year-old. The father has abandoned the family. Last fall, my student reported to me that their power had been turned off. What I didn't realize was that it was off for six weeks!!!! She reported to me a couple of weeks ago that they were about to lose their power again. When I asked if there was enough food at home, she said, "Sometimes." I went to the administration about it...and I am glad I did! There was a flurry of activity today. Don't know what is being done about the power situation, but the mother has been directed to a local food pantry, and one of our staff went to the house today with toiletry articles. The mother broke down when toilet paper was delivered. Can you imagine how horrible it must feel not to be able to afford TP for your family??? The 3-year-old wears a size of clothing that Robin just outgrew, so I have two bags of clothing to deliver. Help is on the way. I just don't know how much it will help. These are nice kids. They don't deserve this.

And with that, I say thanks be to God that my daughter and grandchildren are with me. I totally didn't understand that they were sometimes in the same situation as the family I just wrote about. Since they came here, we have struggled for space and time, but we have food on the table and a roof over our heads...and vehicles that still work. We have sacrificed some important things, but both Meg and I accept where we are in the scheme of things. Family is everything to me. If I were to drop dead tonight, I would not have any regrets!

Look around. As God has given you, give back to your fellow man. The returns on your efforts will bless you, doubly. (Gosh...that's deep!)

Bedtime for this old lady. Nightie!