Big Hearted Friday #6 -- LIttle Feet, Big Steps

When we joined the Big Hearted Family Project, I had one hope. I hoped that we would find ways to open my children's eyes to the world around them and the need that existed in that world. I have often wondered if we were making any progress in that area -- the trip to Disney would be a BIG, PAINFUL example. Hearing some of the things my children expected almost made me throw up my hands in defeat.But this week, my daughter surprised me. Just before I headed out on my trip to New York for Dr. Smiths, Little Diva started asking all sorts of questions about the poor. Now as is the way with children, this great revelation did not come on my time schedule but hers. All of sudden, she wants to start cleaning out her closet, collecting money, and selling things. All on the day I am packing for a trip and expecting company. In other words -  sentiment good, timing bad!So in my best "I'm supporting you but now is not a great time" voice, I asked her to think through what she wants to do and when I got home I would help her help others. Even as I did this, huge guilt washed over me. Yet guilt or no, the clock was ticking and the plane was not going to wait for me.I returned home last night and truthfully, this enlightenment on her part had fallen off my radar.  Yes, I know -- #MommyFail! But then today, while cleaning I found this bag:Filled with these:And I realized that she had spent the three days preparing bags for the poor. Now her idea of needed ideas may not be the same as mine (or the poor, for that matter) but I felt like the Grinch for having forgotten and then felt my heart grow three sizes bigger because of the simple beauty in this act.Especially when I saw the hand-drawn hearts she included:I am happy that she is learning that others do not have everything that she has. In fact, as far as the world is concerned, most have very little that she has. So thanks to Big Hearted Families for encouraging me to encourage them.And thanks to Little Diva for showing me that sometimes it is she that is the bigger person and that I still have much to learn -- I could use to follow in her little footsteps.