When my daughter Jennifer was three years old, money and especially saving and giving some of it away, were pretty much the furthest things from her mind. Dressing up like Cinderella, singing and dancing to Disney VHS videos, and creating elaborate tea parties for her stuffed animals were much higher on her list of priorities. But when my wife and I presented her with three glass jars – one labeled “Jennifer”, one labeled “College”, and perhaps the most intriguing of all labeled “Other People” – she was curious. We explained that, beginning that week, Jen would be receiving something called an allowance for doing chores around the house – and that a portion of each allowance was to be placed into each glass jar. That was the day Jennifer was introduced to the truth that investing in the lives of others – specifically people in need – was not only the right thing to do, but it was a key to a more fulfilling life for her.
As Jennifer grew into adulthood the lesson of the Other People Jar was not lost on her. An accomplished artist, she used her talents to help other people less fortunate than her. After visiting Uganda, she began purchasing beautiful hand-made beads from women in that country caught in the grip of poverty. By crafting beads from tiny strips of colorful pages torn from magazines, these women, most of them widowed or single, were able to provide a sustainable income for themselves and their children. Jennifer then applied her artistic talents to the beads by metal-weaving them into stunning, decorative four-inch crosses, donating proceeds from their sale back to the same women who made the beads to help them feed their children.
As Jennifer recently reflected on that project, she shared, “My heart was really gripped when I heard the story of these women and even more captivated when I saw the incredible works of art they created with their recycled magazine beads. I wanted to help them and to share their story with others. When I considered my own resources, talents, and sphere of influence, the beaded cross project was birthed. The Other People Jar opened my eyes to the needs of others at a very early age. I was also shown that even someone like me, with such a small amount to give, could still make a difference in the life of someone in need. Now, giving is such a huge joy to me – contagious even.”
Each of our other four children were given an Other People Jar at a young age and all learned the importance of generously sharing with others in need. Now, as adults, three of whom are married with children of their own, they all give to help other people.
Last year my wife and I travelled to Kenya with Unite 4 Africa, an organization that helps impoverished villages and people in need. We visited several of the villages and met hundreds of people whose lives have been tremendously improved through the work of this organization. One of those villages had no church building, yet believers would faithfully gather for services under a spreading acacia tree. Typically, church buildings in these remote areas will double as schools for their children. But in this village children had to walk miles a day back and forth to and from school.
My wife and I wondered what a relatively simple but functional church and school building might cost. We learned that, surprisingly, it’s not as expensive as you might think. A relatively little amount of money by U.S. standards goes a very long way in remote communities in Kenya. So, when we returned to the States, we asked our children, their spouses, and our grandchildren if they would like to join us in providing a building for this particular village. They responded with an enthusiastic “yes.” And a few months later the young children had a school and the village had a church building.
Just a few months ago, one year after my wife and I visited the village, our youngest daughter, Julia, travelled to Kenya with Unite 4 Africa. As a surprise to her, the villagers of that same remote village honored her as a representative of our family, thanking her by presenting her with a beautiful, brightly colored handmade traditional dress.
Decades after we introduced glass jars labeled “Other People” to our young children, the lessons of generous giving those jars held helped inspire them as adults and their own children to make a significant difference in the lives of children and their parents and grandparents a half a world away.
Adapted from Rod Robison’s book The Magic of Cultivating Positive Emotions: Four Powerful Secrets Mentalists Use to Influence Thoughts & How You Can Use Them to Improve Your Emotional Health.
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Rod Robison is a Tucson, Arizona based mentalist, magician, author, and speaker. More about Rod Robison’s magic and mentalism shows, inspirational seminars, and sales training at www.TucsonMentalist.com
