It is Friday and I have missed seeing my favorite niece and
neighbor – six year old Sam – this week. I had suggested she not visit because
I did not want to share my cold. Her parents
had very sweetly sent over some homemade soup which was much appreciated. I had missed Sam and called last night to let
her know I am better and she can visit when ready. Since it is a school day I
did not expect to see her this morning.
However, I look up from reading the newspaper and here she comes. It is
at least ½ hour prior to the time she has to leave for school. I know that she has gotten up early to come
visit. This makes me smile.
Me: Good morning
Sam. I have missed you
Sam: Uncle Jim, are
you better?
Me: Yes, thanks for
asking Sam. I am much better.
Sam: I am so glad. I could not finish my homework. I told
the teacher it would have to wait until Uncle Jim was better.
Me: Really. What did your teacher say, Sam?
Sam: Well. She knows
about you because I tell her all the time that you help me with my homework.
She says that she can always tell when you have helped.
Me: Oh
Sam: Yes, she says
that I am more thoughtful after doing my homework with you.
Me: That is great. I
am glad.
Sam: Me too, but we
need to talk about my homework. I have to give a report today. An roral report?
Me: You mean oral
which means that instead of just writing it down you speak it in front of the class.
Sam: Yes, that is it,
but we are wasting time Uncle Jim. Mrs.
Williams our teacher wrote down the assignment. I will read it to you Uncle
Jim.
What does it mean when someone says, “To whom much is given
much is expected.”
Me: Oh my. That is a
very common and complicated saying. What
do you think it means?
Sam: Well, Uncle Jim do not tell me to get the
dictionary. I know all the words but
sometimes adult mix up the words and they do not make sense.
Me: Oh! Sorta of like
when you and I experiment with using ingredients which I have in the
refrigerator. Sometimes we make something good and sometimes it turns out so
bad we have to order pizza.
Sam: Yes. These words
are like that.
Me: Well, let’s take
them very slowly. The first part we could reword to say, “Those who have a lot
….”. We have talked about the fact
that you, I, your parents, and brother have been given a lot which not all
people have.
Sam: Oh yeah! Like we looked at pictures of some of the
kids on boats who have no home and had to leave their families. You said that could be any of us.
Me: Yes. You and I have a nice home which has heat and
air conditioning, food to eat, clothes to wear, and people who love us. You know all those people with whom we visit
at the homeless shelter on Saturdays do not have any of that.
Sam: Are you saying
that I have to give away my family, my food, and my clothes? Would the teacher by happy if I gave my
noral –oops I mean oral – report naked?
(She smiles. She loves to
verbally play with me.)
Me: Cute Sam! If I dared you to give your report while
naked what would you do?
Sam: UNCLE JIM!
Me: Okay. What other gifts have we been given? For example, you do really
well in school while some of your classmates struggle.
Sam: That is true. You tell me all the time I need to
be grateful for my brain – that we just
have the brain God gave us.
Me: That is true. You
are also a person who seems to be curious.
Perhaps that is a gift also. You know those kids at the homeless shelter
seem to be mainly concerned with being able to eat and have someplace to sleep.
Sam: I know. When we
visited the kids at the hospital some did not have legs or were really sick.
Me: We are very
lucky to have good health much of the time.
My cold only lasted a few days. Perhaps it takes energy to be able to be
curious.
Sam: So you are saying - again – that we have been given
many gifts - that we are those to whom
much is given??
Me: Yes. That is
exactly what I am saying. For today, at
least we have many gifts. What do you
think the second part – much is expected – means?
Sam: Does it mean
that we should build a big house to show
others what they could have if they were more like us?
Me: I think you are teasing me again Sam. No, that would be very mean. The only purpose
would make others feel bad. What do
you really think it means?
Sam: Is that like going to the hospital to see kids and take
them gifts or to help at the homeless place?
Me: Yes, I think that is exactly what it means. We have also talked about Uncle Jim’s friends
such as Bernie, Jeanne, Scott, Maura, and Uncle Jon who go places to help take
care of sick people or to teach.
Some call this mission work.
Sam: What was that other place we visited where they make
houses?
Me: You mean Habitat for Humanity.
Sam: So, uncle Jim,
what we have to give are what?
Me: Well. We give our time, our energy, our love, and our
skills. Perhaps the ability to ask questions and find new ways of solving
problems is a gift we need to use more often. We do not have these things because we are better than
or more important than anyone else. We just
have them. Tomorrow we may not have them. Some of the folks in South Carolina had
homes and toys and refrigerators the other day and now they do not have any of those
things. Some do not have help like insurance or extra money to replace them. It
was not their fault that they got flooded was it Sam?
Sam: Oh, I had not thought about them. Should we be doing something for them?
Me: Well, why don’t
we spend some time tomorrow on the computer exploring what we can do to
help. Right now, you need to run to
catch the bus.
Sam: Okay. Thanks Uncle Jim.
Written October 9, 2015
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