Thank You Donors

I like to read blogs. Mostly because I am nosy. (If I were a stay at home mom, I would know every danged thing that goes on in my neighborhood within a ten mile radius. The CIA should recruit me.) However, I also enjoy reading about people in blogs. Not idiot celebrity blogs, but genuine people. It is entirely likely that some of the blogs I read are written by fake people who are really trying to sell things, but that's the risk I am willing to take.

In my reading, I came across this blog post last week, on I've Become My Mother! There is a girl named Haley who has a disease that requires bone marrow. The blogger, Kelly, is asking people to find out if they are a match with Haley(the test involves a cheek swab), and for those people to consider donating bone marrow.

Charity is defined by Merriam-Webster as benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity. It is also defined as generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering. We are taught from an early age to practice charity towards others. One of the ways we do this is through donations.

We donate food.

We donate time.

We donate money.

Whenever there is a catastrophe, such as Katrina, the earthquake in Japan, or the tornado that hit Joplin, people all over the world open their hearts and give. Whenever there is someone in our own community who is suffering, who is in pain, or who feels alone, there are many people who want to reach out to them. It's this sort of ideal that defines us as human. For in that moment, I believe, we are all one family, no matter where we live or what our circumstances. Giving isn't about the self, it's about that connection we all have with each other.

This girl Haley is a person in need. You can help her.

If you are squeamish about donating blood or bone marrow, that is okay. I certainly won't judge--donating bone marrow can be a painful process, even under the best of circumstances. And some of us are not physically able to donate blood or tissue. However, you can donate in other ways that don't involve needles and hospital stays, and I am not necessarily talking about money, but encouragement and prayer. Go over to the website and give what you can, even if it is a few words of prayer.