3 ~ I Was Learning

By Kay Heitsch

I Was Learning A Lot About Service

For some reason, I had a lot to learn about life before I came to my senses about the Lord and faith.

I attended 2 "Christian" boarding high schools. I say two because I was asked to leave one. My mom thought attending these schools would help me see the Light. It didn't work out that way for me.

My dad disagreed with my mom about these boarding schools and thought I would fit in better in a public school. These boarding schools were too restrictive for me. However, off I went to boarding school. Boy, these schools were a learning experience, but not in a good way!

My mom was a good person. She came from a family with 14 children. So she thought it was vital for me to learn to share and care about people less fortunate.

In the summer, we had several hobos who would stop by our home. Mom would set up some chairs in the yard, and I would take out lemonade, etc. I have always been very friendly. Mom told me to be pleasant, but I shouldn't sit on their laps. Good advice!

Mom took me along when she did her community and church projects. I learned a lot about service and helping this way.

I remember when Mom taught vegetarian cooking classes. The boarding high schools I attended were vegetarian. I still like vegetarian food, but I do eat meat too.

On occasion, Mom would rent a room in the bank and bring in people to teach first-aid classes and CPR.

Mom and I, along with some others, traveled to other states and all over Michigan as she was the president of a Doris Society that helped people in need and disasters. Mom was also the chairman of the local Red Cross.

One year, we went into the ghettos of New York City to help, for some reason. I remember seeing some sights I had never seen before. The man we went with had been a taxi driver in NYC. It was good that he knew his way around the city.

Another thing I learned from my mom was that she saw people as people. One remarkable thing was that she was not racist. She had friends of different races, and because of that, I didn't seem to notice people were any different. I felt comfortable around most people.

I praise God, my mom taught me a lot about giving of myself to help others.

"Write down for the coming generation what the Lord has done, so that people not yet born will praise Him." Psalm 102:18