The Things We Take For Granted

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Tonight after I dropped my daughter and her friend off at their religious education class, I was driving home listening to the radio. I happened to be listening to 97.1 and the host Delilah because she was playing Christmas music and taking requests. The female caller with whom Delilah was speaking was telling the story of visiting a senior home, something she volunteered to do during the holidays. She was there just trying to brighten their spirits, as she recounted stories of folks who resided there who had no family members or friends who would come and visit them during the holidays. This is why she would go–to be there for those who had no family. She was sitting next to an older gentleman who had a present next to him. She asked him if he was going to open the present. He said, no, that he already knew what was in the package. She asked him what was in there, and he said, “A handkerchief.” When she asked him how he knew a handkerchief was in the box, he said, “Because it’s the same present I’ve gotten for the last 10 years.”

After this conversation, the woman went home and told a co-worker the story. The two of them planned a new tactic for the center and created an “adopt a family/person for the holidays” program, whereby the seniors actually made a list of items they may want or need for Christmas. She said she was humbled by what they would ask for—things as minor as a large can of shaving cream were the types of things they requested.

Which brings me to the title of this blog post: the things we take for granted. It made me feel badly that I have the means to buy a big can of shaving cream—several, in fact—and it won’t hurt my wallet. How much I take for granted sometimes. And how much more I can give.

This caller’s discussion with Delilah prompted me to come home and tell my own family about it. My son is working on a project, and even prior to this caller’s story, he and I were thinking that seniors are neglected in our society. As Delilah said, we come from them, and they are to be cherished. My son’s project will potentially revolve around doing something for the seniors.

I am hopeful that he will do it—that not only he will embark on this idea of creating a program for seniors in our area, but that he will possibly make it come to fruition.

I know that if he does, I will be first in line as a volunteer.