Time to give

[hollyhill]

I feel the need to help wherever and whenever I can......and one of the greatest difficulties I have had in the last few years is the inability to give monetarily like I used to. I had always tended twords frugality and never frittered away my money on unecssary things.....this enabled me to give to charities on a reg. basis. I had never developed the habit of eating out several times a week (it was an occaisional event) or having coffee from the espresso shop (again it was an occaisional thing with friends)......Our grocery budget was kept trimmed and I bought used ......so that I could tithe etc.
But since Dh lost his job, I have done all these things and more just to survive and I have found other ways to give.....mostly with my time....
But lately I have been esp. busy and I have been unable to help as much as I would like.....and I have been feeling terrible about it.
One specific example: An aquaintance I know,a young divorced mother of 4young children, has developed Breast cancer. I heard through the grapevine that she could use help with her yard because she has had surgery and she will be beginning treatment. So I thought YES I can do that. One of my ideas was to organize the teens at our church to have a "work" day with the church providing pizza......I thought what a wonderful ministry that would be. Well I approached the Youth Worker and she said she would bring it up at the next meeting. Well it apparently wasn't met with a great show of support because everyone is too busy! I was sooooo upset. I feel so badly for this mother. So I am now left with the feeling that I should go and spend the day with my 14 and 11 yr, old and we can do it for her....which I prob will. But I will have to drop their lessons and/or activities for the day inorder to do it.......rather than have a bunch of youth do it in 2 hours.

But that is only one example there are many situations which could use the gift of time......but my time is almost as scarce as our money right now.

This is just adding more stress!!!!!!

I just can't wait for Dh to have graduated! Then I can help charities monetarily again. And then I can buy organic foods, support local farmers, buy shade grown coffee, buy cookies from guides, donate to other children raising money......etc. etc......and I will have more TIME because I will have Dh who is able to share in driving in the evenings and weekends like he used to. I can barely remember what it was like. What is normal? It has been so long.
Just so long.

[homesteadmamma]