When I was a child, I thought my mother was an angel. She loved people more than anyone else I knew. Some of my earliest memories are of helping her serve other people. I stuffed candy in goodie bags to give out at monthly events for abused children. I picked out presents to put in a Christmas basket that we would secretly deliver to a needy family. I listened as my mom, with tears in her eyes, told me that she wanted to provide “a safe place to stay, food to eat, and someone to love them” for orphans all around the world.
Soon I made that goal my own. Because my mom taught me by example, I learned to have compassion on those in need and to do something about it. I started seeing the beauty in every person, regardless of his or her circumstances. I became involved in helping my community and those around the world, beyond just volunteering with my mother.
I now know that there is no higher calling in life than to use all my talents, abilities, resources, and heart to help people around me. With each life I touch, if only for one warm moment, I am changing the world. And that is all I want- to make a difference in people’s lives by showing them love, compassion, and hope. That is what I want to be remembered for when I die. If I succeed, I can thank my mother. Now knowing what it takes to continuously pour into others, she is even more of an angel to me.
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