By Durhl Caussey

Every year our school, along with many others, collects canned goods to give to poor families for the holidays. Our school’s goal this year was 10,000 cans. We have discussed the importance of everyone contributing, and the students are excited about helping others so less fortunate.
The school day was coming to a close. Already the cold was approaching space once held by the vanishing sun. In about two hours it would be dark.
He approached my desk, slightly stooped, but face covered with a bright smile. Proudly he placed three cans of beans on the desk. “Sir, I brung some food for them hungry children.” He stood before me in stained black pants, torn and soiled white shirt with a slight smell of yesterday’s sweat clinging to it. He rocked slightly back and forth on darkened, dirty tennis shoes.
“My momma said that there are many poor people, and since we are blessed, we need to give some of what we have,” he said, as his eyes danced an elfin jig.
“This is such a kind gesture,” I said. “But maybe we should wait and see if we get all the cans we need.”
“Oh no, Sir! We have six cans of beans, and I wanted to give three, and that still leaves us three. I’m good in math.”
“Well, don’t you have some other food?”
“Oh yes, we have some syrup, and four cans of beets.” This was said with an attitude that the speaker was the heir to the kingdom of prosperity.
“Well, you take the cans of beans and give them to your home-room teacher after class, then.”
“I sure will,” he smiled. “They are good beans, we got them at Minyard’s.”
It is easy for me to sometimes forget the blessings I have, and not recognize the plight of others. I can never understand the strength of the human spirit and expansiveness of the human heart until I experience an occurrence such as this.
The young man I just discussed lives in a small, four-room house with his mother and brother and sister. His mom is disabled and cannot work. They have few relatives or friends to assist them in any way. Like many in my school, he receives a free meal twice a day. Sometimes I wonder what they have to eat for supper.
Let me encourage those of you who possibly can to help those who are less fortunate this holiday season. Fill a sack or several sacks of groceries and take them to your church pantry, local food bank or neighborhood school. Give as you have been blessed. Better yet, give abundantly, even though you feel you have no blessing. There is nothing greater to give than food to a hungry child.

I went to bed last night
it was cold, rainy, and wet.
Sleep would not come my way
Because I hadn’t eaten yet.
We had no food within
our house
And likely none will come
But I prayed to God the Father
That His will would be done.

When I grow up I want to remember
All the needy children in the land
And know that I too was once alone and hungry
But a stranger came my way and gave me bread
And lent a helping hand.
(Written by a once hungry poet)

Durhl Caussey is a syndicated columnist who may be reached at this newspaper or at Fax # 972-709-6989 or dcaussey@sbcglobal.net.