Put A Bandaid On The World..

For the past few weeks Kyle has been reading all about Martin Luther King, JR.  We went to the library & borrowed quite a few well written books about him, all of which were easy for Kyle to understand.

It pleases me greatly to see how fascinated Kyle is by MLK, JR.  Unlike previous years, this year he's at an age where he understands what the words prejudice, segregation and assassination mean.  He finds the past intriguing and he's genuinely interested in learning about how things once were.

I enjoy talking to Kyle about MLK, JR too.  He lived such an inspirational life.  His views were full of passion and his courageousness was seemingly unlimited.  He never let his fears get in the way of his goals and he always wore his morals and good values on his sleeve for all to see.

In a world in which people often say (and think) that their voice - one voice - can not possibly make a difference I am trying to help Kyle to understand that any one voice can make a difference.  I am trying to help him to understand that leading by example is the most important thing a person can ever do.  And MLK, JR...and the life that he led...is a great way for Kyle to understand that changes - for the better - can happen.

I'd like to share a little story with you - a true story - that happened quite recently.  This is from my friend Colleen:

My project only works with women, so I don't have very much contact with homeless/in recovery/reentering men. At Christmas when we were giving out gifts, a guy came by who wasn't one of our tenants or clients, but obviously really needed the gifts for his kids. I made an exception and gave them to him, and he was so grateful and relieved. After that, almost every day he walks by and waves at me... through my window (which is literally two feet from the street!) We have a little bond. And he has never asked for anything else. Today he knocked on my window and asked if he could sweep up or repair some things around the office in exchange for some money. He had been to the food bank, but they never give out meat (this is a common complaint among our clients!) My heart was just breaking for him. I ended up breaking all of our policies and giving him a gift card to Subway, so at least he could get a big meatball sub. It felt like putting the smallest bandaid on the world on a gaping wound. He really wanted to work! I am in the middle of this nightmarish grant right now, and it was so helpful to be reminded that a) I am lucky to have a job and to feel useful and needed and b) a headache from thinking too hard is nothing compared to a stomach ache from not eating..

 

"It felt like putting the smallest bandaid on the world on a gaping wound."  The significance of that statement holds such power and truth in it, doesn't it?  Imagine if we all thought like that.  If we all believed that "every little bit" helps?  Imagine if every day - every single day - everyone did a kind, random act of good will?  Imagine how different our world would be?  Imagine if we didn't meet violence with violence? 

 

We live in a world that is surrounded by violence, hatred and racism.  But there are also plenty of good hearted, kind people in this world, too.  Every little "bandaid" DOES help.  It DOES make a difference.  A little gift card to Subway probably meant the WORLD to that man Colleen was talking about above.  People spend so much time judging others and not nearly enough time helping others.  Colleen helped this man, out of the pure goodness of her own heart.  Colleen made a difference.  One person.  One gesture.  One voice.  Imagine that.

 

I know pretty much every parent has high hopes that their kid(s) will make a difference in the world but I wonder how many of them are helping to teach their child(ren) how they can make a difference.  Are they leading by example?  Are they helping them to make good choices now, while they're young?  I see young boys trying to walk with their pants down around their knees, as their parents shake their heads and say to me "wait and see, yours will do it too..".  But you know what?  He won't do that.  Kyle is not a follower.  He fully understands that just because everyone else is doing something doesn't mean he has to do it, or that it's even right.  We're teaching him the importance of respect and of self respect; if you want people to take you seriously, you must first take yourself seriously.

 

When I look at Kyle I see a little boy who is full of potential.  He is kind hearted and intelligent.  He is outgoing and full of passion.  He has his own opinions, morals, values and goals.  He is old enough to understand the importance of change, but young enough to not quite yet know (logically) how to go about making change.  Over Christmas he told some family members that he had a great idea that he was going to write down on paper and put in his new "lock box".  He wanted to lock it up, because he didn't want anyone else to steal it.  His idea is to someday do away with paper money.  He went into great detail about why he thinks money is "dumb".  He said he thinks everyone should just work together to build things and to grow things...and if a person doesn't want to help out in some way, then that person should go without.  Later he told me that money makes some people get into trouble and brings too much stress.  Pretty observant.  Although his idea seems completely far fetched the fact that the wheels in his head are turning in the right direction makes me think that this kid will make some kind of a positive difference and I really hope he does. 

Last week Kyle did a book report on MLK, JR and it was then that I discovered that he had memorized King's famous "I Have A Dream" speech.  What a powerful, great speech to have stored in your brain.
Today I am going to have him write a letter to MLK, JR as if he were still alive.  I'm curious to see what kinds of questions he asks him & what kinds of things he has to write to him about.  Seeing things through a child's innocent eyes is one of life's most amazing sights to see...and all too often many of us have our eyes closed.  Open them up.  Take a good look around you and make a difference.  Put a bandaid on the wound on our world.  Help fix it, if not for yourself, then for our children.

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King Jr.  I wish I could personally thank him for working so hard for the freedom of so many people - so many who were strangers to him - and for his dream.