Recently, my girls and I watched this video.  I’ve posted it here before.  It is so touching.  We just spent a Sunday afternoon watching Mormon Messages.  This one is my fave.  I’m sure that comes as no big surprise.  Anyway, after watching the wheelchair video, the girls and I decided to start a fund.  We found a jar and they made little signs and we scoured the house looking for loose change.  It’s amazing how much money is just lying around the house in little cups, etc.  We decided as a family that we would give up QT for a month and give the money we save to buy wheelchairs.  Then, the girls got some of their own money and put it in.  Jane put in $1.50, Grace $0.25.  This is just Grace and I know that giving the quarter was a huge sacrifice for her.  She kept telling me, “Mom, giving and sharing is really hard.”  Yes, it is.

But see, Grace has been saving her money for months to buy Jane a birthday present.  She has done extra jobs like cleaning my baseboards and raking leaves.  I’ve been very proud of her.  This is SO not Grace.  The other day, Jane earned a dollar and promptly marched over and dropped it in the jar.  Grace watched, but didn’t follow and that’s TOTALLY ok.  She has been working on generosity in her own way and I am not going to impede that little process.

Saturday, Grace wanted to go buy Jane’s present.  She had saved $35, which is just AMAZING!  We went to Target and she dropped $25 for a giant horse that will take up half Jane’s room (oh, yippee!).  I praised her and told her how proud I was of her.  That was a huge sacrifice.  She wanted to spend the rest of her money at the pet store on a fish.  We had to get to the school carnival, so I told her Daddy could take her later (as it was his stupid idea in the first place!).

We got home and Grace just marched right up to that wheelchair jar and dumped in all the rest of her money.  $10!!!  She said, “I can just save up my money and buy a fish later.”  We were all stunned.  I totally melted right there on the spot.  It was one of those never-to-be forgotten moments. 

There is something magical and glorious about seeing a light bulb go off in the mind of your child without any help from you.   She’s growing up.   I almost think our reward was greater than that of the wheelchair recipients.