We Are Rich Because We Are Poor
Volunteers at Sts. Peter and Paul School define the word service! During a career spanning
55 years, this writer has not seen the quality nor quantity of effort parents contribute to their school as they do here.
This is dedication!
To add to this phenomenon, there are people who volunteer at Bingo, on committees
or for events, who no longer have children in our school. This is unbelievable!
Recently, the PTU
painted the lunchroom. Volunteers came from all walks of life -- during the day, during the evening hours, during
Spring break, and some, during work.
Why? Because it had to be done and there was no else
to do it.
What makes us rich is that we are poor. If we were rich, we would pay someone to do our work for
us. We would then simply enjoy the fruits of the paid labor. But, with all the people working together -- because
we don't have the money to hire anybody -- we are richer in that we spent these quality hours together with
one another, and, therein, gave each other the precious gift no one else can give: ourselves. In this
exchange, we doubled our wealth, since love is the only thing we can give away and still retain.
Grandparents
and older people remember well the darkness and devastation of the Great Depression, when food was scarce, jobs were not to
be had and starvation was at the doorstep of so many homes. Living through that was like living through eleven
years in darkness, never seeing the light of day for all that time. Yet, in retrospect, it contributed a lifetime
of wealth that came from that poverty: Love and compassion for one another as we huddled together for
survival. The outcome generated a reservoir of closeness that sustains us to this day.
So it is with our volunteers.
There might be rumbling because of all the work that needs to be done and so few laborers to do it, but, in years to come,
those days of sacrifice will accrue to a cherished sustenance that will never be forgotten. Indeed, it will always
be nourishment, supplying unforgettable memories when memories are all we have left.
We are grateful
for all the help; we are grateful for all the Charity that accompanied it; we are grateful for
the community it created; we are grateful for the outcome.
In all, we are truly grateful
for the wonderful people who provided the help, Charity, community and outcome.
Thank you and God Bless!
President's Page
