by Jude Coyle

Created on: November 19, 2009

My life, so far, has followed much the same path as most people. I worked hard, I raised three children, I supported my community, and I took care of my family.

I spent several years in the insurance industry, thinking I'd make a career there and climb the ladder to corporate success. A surprise pregnancy found me reevaluating my career choices. I hoped then I could stay home and spend the greater portion of my time with my children. It didn't work out that way though, so I worked when I had to, and stayed home when I could. In the mean time, I managed to put food on the table, keep a roof over our heads and keep clothing on our backs. I even managed to participate with my children in sports and Scouts, and I helped take care of my husband when he fell ill. Then we turned his illness into something special. In all of that, the things that matter to me most cost nothing.

One of the worst part of my husband's illness was that he felt as if he lost his purpose in life. He wasn't the bread winner anymore. What else did he have? During the worst of his illness, he told me how useless he felt. He was a drag on the family. We were broke and his hospital bills were killing us. He'd never be able to work again. Maybe it would be easier if he just gave up. Somehow we managed to make it through that period.

We also began to become aware of other families, like us, who needed a little financial push to keep on going. We, with friends, set out to help as many as we could. My husband could do little at first. As time passed, though, he contributed more and more. He discovered a new purpose to his life, and even if it isn't as much as others, he knows he can contribute.

Over the years our little organization has helped a lot of people. Several have written thank you letters, and others have returned to offer their help. There is nothing like knowing that something you chose to do helped someone. And there is nothing like a well placed thank you.

Better than that is a hug from a child and that special sentence, Mom, I love you.

With that comes all the memories. I'll never forget my boys winning first place at Cub Scouts in the annual cake competition, or the fun we had making a dinosaur nest complete with eggs when Ed competed in the third grade science fair. I worked the day my second son picked a fly ball out of the sky. It was the championship game, and if the ball had flown by his mitt, his team would have lost by slaughter rule. Instead, they fought back and won.

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>