Two-Dollar Bills

Details: 11 May 2012

Recently, a woman we’ve helped in the past called and asked, "Father, can you meet with me? May I have an appointment?"

Whenever people want an appointment, I always wonder what it’s about. She asked me if I remembered her, which I did. Her story is hard to forget. She is a mother of several beautiful children. At some point in her marriage, like so many unfortunate marriages, her husband decided to abandon her and their children for another woman. This caused, as one might imagine, considerable psychological grief and suffering for her and her sons, as well as an economic hardship. It was then she came to us for help. We were able to assist her in a number of ways, including the gift of a vehicle.

I will also not forget the day she returned for another appointment. It must have been one to two years later. She came in with her two sons. They seemed bright, intelligent, well-mannered, friendly and respectful. It was obvious they cared and loved their mother. After exchanging pleasantries, she said, "Father, I have a present for you!"

Her tremendous gratitude led to an intense feeling to thank us in person. It was then that she gave me a beautiful carved image of the Last Supper. She happily informed me she had found a job and is now saving money for a small house.

Right before leaving, she handed me a small baggie full of two-dollar bills and said, "Father, I have been saving them for you. I am so appreciative of the help of CSS that I want to ‘give back.’" I tried to convince her to keep the money until she was more firmly on her feet but to no avail. She was determined to donate the funds to help someone else who might be in a similar situation she used to be in.

Her decision was firm and there was no changing it. There was almost one hundred dollars in the plastic bag. This was not the first time this has happened, and it will not be the last. We have had people who are recipients of vehicles later give the car back to us when they no longer need it, and others like her who come in and become donors after having been helped.

When past clients thank us in this manner by ‘giving back,’ they do so knowing it was the generosity of our benefactors that made it possible. Knowing this, they wish to become a fellow donor themselves.

That said, we need to remind ourselves that it all starts from Almighty God. In the first letter of St. John in the New Testament, the evangelist tells that God is love and the proof of our love of God is our love of neighbor, and the proof of our love of neighbor is if we sacrifice ourselves for them. When I sign thank-you letters to our donors, I know it was their love of God that led to a material or financial donation. Not only are we and our clients grateful, please know that helping others is pleasing to God and will not go unrewarded.

Please allow me to relay the ‘thank you’ from this woman to you. Please know that we at Catholic Social Services will keep you, your family and intentions in our prayers.