December 25, 2000 ~ Do You Have Running Water?
I took the next glass as soon as Morgan handed it to me, let it fill with water, swished the water 'round, poured it out, filled it again, swished it, poured it out again, rinsed the outside, checked for bubbles, and put it in the dish rack. I reached to turn the water off, but then paused for some reason. My other hand was still under the stream of running water.
Running water. We have access to running water, I thought.
I cupped my hands as if in a trance. The water pooled and spilled over, dribbling to the drain. And most Americans would call us poor.
I don't have the first clue what poor really is. I have never, ever been truly poor.
I am embarrassed to admit that there was a time when I dared to call myself so. I would complain that I rarely wore anything but hand-me-downs from the cousins, that sometimes we didn't have enough money for sufficient food or rent, that we would have gone hungry had it not been for help, that we didn't have any of the electronic gadgets that other families had... I was so stupid. So ignorant. So spoiled.
I had a roof over my head. I had at least two meals a day. I could go to public school. We had electricity and running water. I even had some toys. We were rich.
As I stood staring at the water pooling in my hands tonight, I almost started crying.
I thought about watching Morgan's step-siblings tearing open so many gifts. I thought about the plentiful food, the warm houses, the fact that we all have coats. I thought about all the ornaments, the electric Christmas lights, the fact that our little old car is still running. I thought about the different varieties of beverages we had to choose from at lunch. I thought of all the dishes I was washing, and the water and soap I was washing them with. I thought about the flush toilet, the shower, the fact that I have a bed to look forward to tonight.
Then I thought of the millions of people who haven't eaten yet in the last week. The millions who have never had any contact with medical care. The millions who have never had a building to live in. All those who don't have any clothing. Those who have never ridden in a car. Never seen a movie. Never held a book.
I don't know what poor is.
When I have kids, I want to take them to a homeless shelter every Christmas to serve food and talk to people. I want to teach them the art of giving. I want them to understand why I sometimes cry while watching the dishwater run down the drain.
Merry Christmas, everyone. Feel thankful.
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