Being useful

Okay, after the last post, it's time for something a bit more uplifting. Like, say, getting my yearly progress report from my World Vision child.

When I first started sponsoring S. in 1998, she was just this cute little six-year old girl with a nervous smile. Now she's fifteen years old and in high school. Her newest picture is one of a confident, beautiful young woman.

What was really exciting for me was the list of things that my sponsorship provided for her over this last year: medical care, school outings, a Christmas gift. My measly $30 a month does all that, as well as help pay for her school.

Three and a half years ago a Social Security judge ruled that I was entitled to disability benefits based in large part on the testimony of a vocational expert who stated that because of my illness there was no job in the national economy I could do. On a practical level I was so relieved as I would finally be able to have a steady income and housing and medical benefits after being essentially homeless for a year. Yet on a spiritual level it was terribly disheartening as basically the state had deemed me useless.

But for my dear S. I'm useful. And in a very important way.

And I'm so very grateful.