Helping Others

My son participated in a charity event with one of his clubs this past weekend. They helped some families provide Christmas gifts for their children. It was really great to see him helping these families--I hope he got the fact that he is NOT as "poor" as he thinks he is. We are squarely middle class, and there are families around us who have less than we do, and families who have more than we do. When he hangs around friends who live in nicer houses, drive nicer cars, have nicer things than we do, he thinks that we are poor--as compared to his friends, anyway. We may tell him, "Sorry, we cannot afford that" and his friends may get that same thing, and then some--to him, that equals "poor." When he is around someone who has less than he does, he finally seems to "get it." He has often said that he is "starving" and that we "have NO food in the house"...when the truth is that he is not TRULY starving and that there is PLENTY of food, just not what he wanted to eat. I want him to see how blessed he really is. I want him to truly understand. Events like this seem to help--and helping others less fortunate than yourself sure can put a new perspective on things. I think he feels good that he helped some sweet children who have been through some tough times have a nice Christmas. I'm proud of him!