Charitable Thoughts

Today after I picked up Olivia from school, she told me that she wanted to have a serious talk with me. 

She pulled out a little envelope from her pocket and told me that her friend Julia's phone number was inside and she needed to call her tonight. 

"Why?" I asked. 

"Because we need to decide when she is coming to our house this weekend and talk about the thing we need to do." She answered. 

"What thing?"  

"Well, you know Christmas is coming. Julia and I had an idea, we want to collect the toys that we don't play anymore and sell them for money and give the money to the poor people who don't have food or money to buy Christmas gifts." 

"Wow, that's a great idea, Olivia!"  

To be honest, I was a little surprised but moved at the same time knowing that my little girl is thinking about those who are less fortunate during this holiday season.  

"Yes, everyone says it is a good idea including Ms. Lundy. But whether we can do it or not is up to you and Daddy as it will cause you trouble," she continued. 

"Why?" I was little confused thinking maybe she wants us to actually sell the toys. 

"Because after we make the money, we need you and Daddy to drive us into the city and give the money to the poor people there. Actually it is not just me and Julia, there are two gangs including…(she gave a slew of girls' names). We are going to break up into two groups. One group will go with Grace's mom and give the money to the people in a poor neighborhood and the other group will go with you and Daddy to the city. So we have to trouble you and Daddy and Grace's mom to take us to where we want to be." She explained in detail. 

"Well, that's no trouble at all. We would love to help. But how do you plan to sell the toys? Are you going to have a yard sale?" 

"Yeah, a yard sale or you can help us sell the toys when you don't have to work." She proposed. Haha… I knew there is something in it for me :). 

"Honey, mommy has to work as I just spent all my vacation days in China. You guys have to figure out a way to do this. Plus, let me ask you, once we have the money and get into the city, how are you going to give out the money? How do you know who is poor and who is not?" 

"Well, those people who don't have money or food baskets are poor; we will just give the money to them."  

"But still, you don't know whether someone has money or not just by looking at them." 

"Oh, you can tell. When Daddy, Granna and I went into the city when you and Evan were in China, we saw millions of poor people there. They just lie on the street and some of them only had a shoe box for their pillow. Think about it, they don't even have a real pillow, they must be poor." 

"Okay, that makes sense."  Apparently those homeless people in the city were the poor people she was referring to.

"Mommy, can you give me your cell phone? I need to talk to Daddy about this plan to see whether he wants to help." She requested. 

Well, let's see how this big project is going to pan out but I am happy to know that she has such a sweet and caring heart.