As the final follow-up story regarding my daughter, Kelsey, and her chartiable experiences, when she was 14 (she is now 16), she received money from family members for Christmas. It was for her to go shopping and spend on what she wanted for Christmas. However, she knew of a family that was struggling and their son went to school with her. He need clothes and shoes desperately. My daughter went to her Dad and asked him to help her buy nice, new tennis shoes for the son with her Christmas money. Then following her lead, her Dad and family also helped the family with the needed clothing.

My daughter is very kind, caring, giving and compassionate. I truly believe the experience she had when she was four helped develop her character. I thank God each and every day for such a wonderful daughter who thinks of others before herself. I am very proud of her. She recently visited Texas while on a break from school and spent a day, by her own choice, volunteering for GRACE Community Services.

May God Bless those less fortunate and all the children in this world. I pray daily that God grants them hope and a smile each and every day. Children are our future, so anytime you can take a moment to give them your undivided attention, please know it makes a difference!!!

As a follow-up to the story about my 4 year old's first charitable experience, know that a couple of years later, another incident evidenced what she had learned. One year on December 23, my office was open and my sister was off. She was to watch my daughter for the day, but had a hair appointment. Another lady in my office did not have child care for the day either as they were all closed for the holidays. My sister offered to watch her daughter as well as long as my co-worker was ok with her going to the hair appointment.

The appointment was at a strip mall and the girls were allowed to be just outside the business window on the sidewalk. After a little while, my sister realized folks were stopping and talking to these 6 year old girls. When she went to check what was going on, she realized they were asking passer-bys for money. My sister's initial shocked reaction was they were "panhandling". However, we learned their intent (through tears) was to collect money for the poor.

My daughter and I had been donating to the "red buckets" outside of Wal-Mart that holiday season so we couldn't really be too upset with them no matter which of them had the idea (we were never sure). They had managed to collect about $9 and my sister let them split it. Then later that evening, my daughter and I went to the "red bucket" and deposited what she had collected with her warm, loving heart. She also learned when and where it is appropriate to solicit charitable donations. :-)

I have 5 children and my oldest who is 10, has a natural knowing of God and what it means to accept God and incorporate him into your daily life. I wasn't much for getting up on Sunday and going to church and I never made it a priority for my children and then one day that all changed for the best. Two men from a local baptist church came and visited our home and asked my kids would they like to attend their church. They brought information for them to read and candy so of course they were very excited.Two of my children took the candy and reading material and went on about their business, but my 10 yr old had those gentlemen in a conversation that lasted 45 minutes. They were there so long that my 7 yr old went in and got them a glass of water.So the next day they all woke up very excited and ready to go. The church bus picked them up and brought them home and my two younger ones were so happy about the candy and cupcakes they brought home but my oldest was wanting to share what she learned. They continued to go Sunday after Sunday and then one day my daughter said to me "Mom, why don't you come to church with us?" When she asked me that I knew that it was God's way of reaching out to me through my daughter. We began attending church together and it amazes me how strong our bond has become and how much she really enjoys the time we get to spend together those few hours on Sunday. So now each night we sit in my room and we have our own personal bible study and I couldn't be more thankful for that time and I am so very proud of my daughter for sticking to what she finds true in her heart.

When my daughter was 4 years old, her room was overflowing with stuffed animal toys. Needless to say, something needed to be done with the excess. I chose to donate the toys to the Ronald McDonald house in Galveston and then I explained to my 4 year old what was going to happen to her beloved toys. I explained about children in the hospital and how the families of those children can stay at the Ronald McDonald house. We actually went to the house together with the toys and rang the bell outside. When asked what we needed we explained we had a donation for the children. They did let us in and were amazed that she was giving her toys to a charitable cause. I commend the staff there because they helped my daughter understand and feel how important her gift was and how loving and caring she was being. Needless to say, I have learned through other experiences later in life that it had a profound influence on her developing character. I'll post a follow up story to this one later:)