Even though the news is constantly flooded with man's inhumanity to man, woman, and child - rapes, robberies, shootings, murders, kidnappings, genocide, war - I have brought my daughters up to believe that, although it may not often seem like it, the good people of this world DO still outnumber the bad.
The bad just get all the attention.
It's sometimes hard for them to buy in to, but then, I read way more news than they do, and I often find myself wondering if I'm full of poo for still believing it.
But then someone comes along and does something magical. With a single action, a small gesture, a story, they restore my faith in mankind, and our ability - as good people - to make a difference.
It happened to me Sunday night. And in sharing it with you, I am also challenging each member of the DGMS blogmunity to join me in a truly magical undertaking - the power to change one person's life...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I receive hundreds of emails a day. It's time consuming, but I read them all, try to answer in a timely fashion, make use of the links, photos, etc which get directed my way. Sunday evening found me stopping by the computer briefly - just to check my email - before getting back to hanging out with Kendall, Carson, and Kittypimp's daughters, Grace and Kat - they were spending the weekend with us while she was away.
In my inbox, wedged between an ad for "All natural Viagra!" and "Free Shipping at World Soccer.com!", I found this: "Regular DGMS reader- wondering if you can help".
I opened it and began reading.
It was from Shannon - a regular reader, sometimes poster - and as she told her story, I felt my heart both constrict in sadness, and grow in hope. (I will share it here, but have changed some of the names* as the person involved is still a minor.)
You see, Shannon's parents are those rare kind who jump in with both feet, both their hearts, when they see someone in need. Their sacrifices for others over the years has left them financially challenged, yet they soldier on, firm in the belief that as long as they have anything, they can help.
This has involved helping women who are in abusive relationships, families in need, the handicapped. They open their home, their hearts, their wallets.
Their most recent gesture began last fall when they were contacted by the pastor of their church...
A new member of the church had been arrested (they later discovered it was for fraud, theft, & battery), and his 2 teenage daughters needed a place to stay until he was able to get out of jail (according to Shannon, it was supposed to be for 3 days and it turned into 5+ months).
The daughters, Mae*, 17, and Jane*, 14, who is emotionally handicapped moved in.
Shannon's parents welcomed them and immediately set to caring for the girls. As time wore on, the extent of the father's emotional and mental abuse towards the girls began to reveal itself. Jane was a challenge, at best, but Mae set to finishing school despite a hell which dates back to her mother leaving when she was a small child.
Through the months, more and more details came to light. The father had a history of criminal behavior, including "marrying" multiple women in order to control and abuse them and open up bank accounts and credit cards in their names. He even used his daughters' social security numbers and has essentially ruin their credit before they have even set foot out in the world.
(I am condensing, but the point is, these girls have been through hell with this man.)
Back in March, he was released from jail, and Jane went back to live with him. Mae asked to PLEASE stay with Shannon's parents. She was able to convince the father to allow this by saying it would be till graduation in May.
Even still, he would often force her to miss school to drive him around town, etc.
Through it all, Mae kept up with her AP classes and graduated at the top of her class.
Since graduation, she has refused to go back to living with him, and Shannon's parents continue to care for her, even though they have discovered this man had fraudulently charged over $700 on their account, and had stolen upwards of $7,000 from the pastor who initially reached out to help.
Yes, authorities have been involved, including the Department of Children and Families - but the man is still out.
There are so many more details to which I have been made privvy, all of which break my heart.
I have vetted all of this, spoken with Shannon's Mom at length, and feel very confident in taking this next step with the blogmunity.
Here's the deal...
Mae, as Shannon so perfectly put it, is a "wonderful girl, born into the wrong family, and is having her goals and dreams stolen from her by her own dad."
As I said, through this entire emotional quagmire, she has managed to stay focused on her grades and building some sort of future for herself. I am humbled by that kind of fortitude.
She has been accepted at Paul Smith's College in New York and wants to study biology. But even with several small scholarships, and a work/study program once she arrives, she is still short roughly $1500 for tuition. And they have yet to figure out how in the world they can get her to orientation.
Shannon's parents simply do not have the reserves to cover more than they already have, and they are appealing for help through the church, etc.
But Shannon came to me, and I believe we at DGMS are capable of doing something amazing.
I watched in awe many months back when a group of virtual strangers rallied around Boo Radley, a CAT, and helped cover nearly half the surgery needed to help him survive a vicious dog attack.
Surely, we can come together again and make this child's dream a reality.
You know, it's one thing to donate to the United Way, Red Cross, etc - and those are all worthwhile charities - but we never actually see where OUR money goes, WHO it is specifically helping.
We have a chance, right now, to see our efforts transform a girl's life, to help her on the path to freedom from her horrendous past, to watch her soar into a brighter future.
We have the chance to prove to a child who has suffered at the hands of a bad person, that the good people truly do outnumber the bad.
You know, it was just after I hung up with Shannon's mother yesterday, that I received an email from DGMS regular Louis in Florida. It was simply a favorite quote from Albert Einstein which he wished to share with me.
The timing could not have been more perfect...
"A human being is part of the whole, called by us "universe," limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.
This delusion is a prison, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons close to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from our prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all humanity and the whole of nature in its beauty."
We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive."
I ask that you trust me, and now widen your circle of compassion to include young Mae.
I am starting the DGMS fund to help her get her tuition covered by kicking in the first $100. If you are able to help, even a dollar or two, you can send money directly to my Paypal account (I will collect it, keep everyone updated, and send it on to Shannon's mom.), or if you would like to send me a check, please contact me directly for mailing instructions.
To contribute via Paypal, simply click on the link, and send a donation to lsharp03@aol.com .
Look, everytime I see Boo the cat, I am reminded of what an extraordinary group of people make up our blogmunity. The good people of the world DO outnumber the bad - I know, because so many of those good people hang out at DGMS.
Please help me now prove my point not only to my own children, but to a young girl named Mae.
We CAN do this. We can MAEke the difference.
~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE 6/27, 1000am CST~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are all amazing. We are currently just under $1700! (Well, on our way to helping cover expenses like books, etc). I thank you for your trust in me, and for opening your hearts and resources to help reach the goal of getting Mae's tuition covered. I won't list amounts, because every donation is important - but want to acknowledge everyone who has helped out so far... Paula, Karen K, Debbie C, Karen S, Ame, Terrie B, Susanna, Theresa, Claude, Elizabeth B, Eileen M, Chicky Chick, Nesee, Vanessa V, Tina in WI, Debra T, Jana M, Tabitha, Debbie T, Susan A, KittyPimp, Michele R, Julia E, Kelli M, Rita, Cheryl S, Betty S, Valerie S, Deanna M, Mary Kay, Bobbie, Robin W, Jeanie P, Leah, Christy M, Deena M, AzDave, Robert R, Susie, Kristin, Linda B, Holly, Caroline, Shawn, Louis in Fl, Hannah & Sonia, and many more who have emailed asking where they can send a check.
How this silly little blog has managed to attract so many of the world's good people, well, I have said it before, but it bears repeating - I am truly humbled. THANK YOU. ~ Linda
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