Every month my children get an allowance. They keep some to spend, put some in the piggy bank and give some of it away to a person of their choosing. For a while it was Auntie to help her buy a house. Some went to Eric, our neighbor, to help him buy a house, and some went to the children in Rwanda after Andrew saw a piece of a documentary about the pain still occurring there. At the dinner table, at our monthly family meeting, Andrew says, "I want to send my money to our president." As I picked my jaw up from the table, I looked at Andy and then to Andrew. I asked with phony nicety, "Why?", in a really high voice. And Andrew responded, "To help him and his family." Then Andy and I looked at each other, while I am thinking,
Can we really give our money to this man? I know it is only two dollars but really? There was a brief silence as we stared at Andrew, and his big open compassionate heart. Andy said, "That is very kind of you, son. We can send that money to the White House, where President Bush and his family lives." With my mouth still in position, I was speechless and confused inside. Then I piped up, "Good idea. We'll get an envelope and stamp,
later." Later being the operative word, here. And Andy said, "No, I think we need to do it now. Or we might forget." Precisely, I thought. Just add a little fear with my self righteousness, and goodness, my integrity can fly right out the window sometimes. Thank God for Andy, holding a wide open space for truth to remain. So, I got up, got the letter fixings, including looking up the White House address on the Web. I do have George's email address
in my address book, for all of the occasions I needed to send a "Stop this War!" greeting. So, I filled out the envelope and Andrew's little hands put in the two dollars, a letter. We stamped it and Andrew placed it lovingly in the mailbox. It took me a while to catch up with the lovingly part.
How could I send a warm, caring greeting to someone whose actions I cannot stand for? From within I can hear that still, small voice,
That is what is called Love, Jenny. It's easy to love someone when you like them. No risk involved there. But can you see God in someone you don't like? Who scares you? My son taught me a lesson that day. A lesson in compassion. He sees George W. as a human being worthy of love,
first. Clear eyes, that son of mine has. He can see the truth of the matter.
Yesterday a package arrived for Master Andrew Finn. In it was Andrew's two dollars. They can't accept money at the White House. The envelope was filled with stickers with pictures of the White House dogs on them, information about our government and five or six head shots of the Bush family in all of it's forms. One of George alone. One of George and Laura. One of the dogs on the White House lawn. Andrew was beside himself with excitement and pride. He spread them all out over the kitchen table and looked at them one by one. He ran to the phone to call his buddy to share the good news! Then, with pure joy and excitement on his little round face, he looked at me and asked, "Mom, can we get picture frames so I can hang all of these on my bedroom wall?" George W. Bush hanging, framed, on a wall in my home. That my friends, is letting the light in dark places. I looked at him and responded, "Honey, that is a good idea. Can we do that later?"
