Getting an early start

Details: 18 October 2013

Recently, I played checkers with a 5-year-old grand-niece of mine named Megan. During our match I did my best to try to let her win, moving my black checkers in the way of her red ones so they could be jumped and taken. After pointing out time and time again her opportunities to take my checkers, she said quietly, gently and lovingly, "No, I do not want to take your checkers!" Her objective was not to hurt me….

Yes, love of neighbor starts early and, aided by the grace of God and the good example of parents, blossoms. Recently, I was visited by a fifth-grader from St. Teresa Parish and School, named Henry Gengler, accompanied by his mother Melissa. He had been saving his nickels, dimes and quarters from his daily chores and allowance money and decided to donate half of his earnings to Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska to help someone less fortunate than himself. I was quite edified, because although the Bible talks about tithing at the level of 10%, he was generous enough to bring in half of what he had been saving. I fully realize that his love of God and neighbor does not come out of a vacuum but as mentioned above, is the result of the grace of God and the good example of parents.

I asked Melissa what some of his chores were and she mentioned one of them was doing his own laundry. "After all," she said, "I don’t want to send an 18-year-old into the world not knowing how to do his laundry!" I was impressed, for I was much older before I learned the art of laundry. I told them about one of my first loads which contained a fully-loaded pen left in my shirt pocket.

I then gave Henry and his mother a tour of our office by starting in the chapel where we had Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. After our prayer, he reminded me that they had Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Teresa, too! Oh, the benefits of Catholic schools….

After showing him our facilities (including our food pantry), I gave him some cookies and cupcakes. Have you ever met a fifth- grader who did not like them? Finally, I informed him about a young man who had been living in a tent. With the help of CSS he now has a roof over his head. I related how we would be using these funds to directly help this individual. Doesn’t it help sometimes to know the fruits of your gifts and sacrifices?

I would like to thank Henry, his mother Melissa and his father Michael for their loving example for helping Henry get an early start in the love of neighbor, which is the proof of their love of God.