A Worthy Cause

Let me tell you what I do and what you do when the phone rings.

I reach for the phone – usually. I look at the number and then scan my memory if I know to whom the number belongs. If I come to the conclusion that I do not know to whom the number belongs, I let the machine take that one. The answering machine is very popular in my house. It gets lots of calls.

Anyway, the onslaught of charity calls is much. There are so many worthy causes. This is especially true these days when many people are out of work and therefore struggling financially. I do indeed tithe and do my best to give to worthy charities but am unable to give to all who are in need. Ultimately, I have to decide to whom to give and whom to leave out. I am sure everyone knows my dilemma.

This coming week my family and I are participating in a walk to raise money for the Lustgarten Foundation. The Lustgarten Founation is a large financial supported of Pancreatic Cancer research. We do this as a way to honor my mother-in-law who succumbed to pancreatic cancer a few years ago. My own grandmother also had pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, many of you may also know someone who has or is suffering from this terrible disease.

I have included a link here (http://2012ParamusWalk.kintera.org/grandmasylviesteam) to our team which again is walking in honor of my mother in law. If you have the inclination and the financial wherewithal to make a donation, I would appreciate it. It is a worthy organization.

Thanks for your consideration and be healthy.

Striving to See the Good

I don’t believe in bad luck. I am a strong believer in fate. I believe everything from the big things – births, jobs, marriages — to the little things – the wind blowing, the amount of the electric bill, hair color — is meant to be. This belief stems from my belief in an all-encompassing G-d who is involved and does things for a reason that is ultimately good.  Despite that, there are times and events that can’t help but leave me wondering why, what is going on, where is the good? 

A week and a half ago a good friend of mine told me that his 11-year-old daughter has a brain tumor.  This girl has an amazing spirit.  She is a positive, sensitive, caring, and spiritual child who has not let any of the challenges she faced slow her down. Now, she and her family are faced with this incredible mountain.
A little boy who resides in my community recently underwent an umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant. His parents have been trying to find a stell cell match for some time. Unfortunately, a direct match was never found. So, now they find themselves trying this risky surgery and facing a long recovery (we can only hope and pray) process.
This afternoon, a friend of mine emailed and told me she is losing her job as of August 31st. The funding was cut and her position is being terminated. She is both scared and worried. With the economy as it is, this is certainly understandable.
Lastly, a friend of mine emailed me to let me know her oldest sister, just 49, passed away last week. She was suffering greatly from cirrhosis. The pain from the disease and other difficulties she was facing in her life became too much for her to bear. She chose her own way out.
The 11 year old has come through the first phase of her recovery well and the doctors are optimistic. The three year old continues to battle, and he has had some good days. My friend who was laid off is giving herself a day to mope and then vows to network like crazy (she is definitely the type).  My other friend and her family take some comfort that their sister/daughter is no longer suffering. 
As for me, I still believe in G-d. In fact, I am using these events and others to  inspire me to pray more. I pray for recovery, comfort, understanding, and for that which only G-d knows my friends and others need.  I pray to see the good and appreciate that in reality everything is just that.