Lessons in Generosity

I come from a rich heritage, for the most part German Mennonites who immigrated to this country from the Ukraine in the late 1800s. These people had a strong faith, and an equally strong desire to help their fellowman. (If you look at the history of the German Mennonites, their exceptional skill at both farming and at MANAGING an agricultural business was noted by Catherine the Great of Russia. She enticed them to come to the Ukraine to farm that rich soil, and the Ukraine became the breadbasket of Russia for many years. They left when political conditions were not so favorable for them anymore.)

So much for the history lesson. Now for my recollections of childhood.

I remember vividly going to my grandparent's small farm often, but most memorable were the Sunday Afternoon drives to their house. They would keep a milk cow or two, worried over a small garden, sometimes had a horse, maybe a goat, dogs, chickens and assorted other animals from time to time. These were not well-to-do folks - just hard working, proud people. We'd play in the barn, spend hours on the seat of the tractor just dreaming we were driving who-knows where. We might have a meal, or at least a snack, around the old black, circular oak dining room table - a table that always had room for whomever came to visit. It could be just a bite of clabbered milk (like cottage cheese) with meat jell. These they kept on the back of the wood stove so they could get to them easily. I can still remember that wonderful taste and smell.

Of course, anyone who visited that small, humble farm went away with something. Maybe milk, or eggs, or a few vegetables from the garden. Maybe a roast or some of that unique German sausage that always tasted so good. She'd give each something that showed the visitors that they were appreciated and loved. Grandma would keep individual paper sacks by the door, each labeled with her children's names so that, when she thought of something they 'needed,' she'd be able to put it in their sack for them to take on their next visit. She'd clip coupons, find interesting news articles she thought they'd enjoy, and include them, also.

Oh, that I could learn to be as generous and caring as Grandma. She set a standard that's so high, it seems impossible to reach. But an admirable goal, none the less.

Thanks, Grandma.