The church gives us opportunities to do fundraising for the kids youth camps. I've been feeling so pleased with my micro-managing abilities. I calculated who worked how much and gave each child points that multiplied their slice of funds. Then someone I really respect talked to me about how anyone who needs help going to camp can get help going to camp. The bishop doesn't advertise this but help is available to those who need it.
I was so pleased with myself for being such a bean counter... The scriptures say that we will be judged as we judge. Ouch.
The presidency wanted to give the girls different credit based on what amount of work they did. We accomplished that. But I don't know if it's even fair. If the amount had been divided evenly each girl would have gotten $80 regardless of if they came for 4 hours of work, or 2. We combined with the other ward so the amount had to be divided between 16 girls rather than 8. Last year they probably got closer to $125 each. Combining with the other ward resulted in $100 more funds, but twice the girls getting a share.
It's a real dilemma. One thing I know for this year is that the girls did do more of the work because it was my job to create a schedule and keep on them to make sure they were in their places. Apparently last year moms were helping more and didn't like that. So this year the girls had a place to be and had to be there. I took that into the accounting. Nobody got as much as they "should have gotten" simply because we were covering 16 girls. The girls that worked every slot still didn't get as much as they would have if it weren't so many people.
The Grace of the Lord is sufficient and infinite. I'm teaching the girls a lesson on Grace and good works next week. It's rough in worldly dealings. But the in the eternal equations there is not point in looking in someone elses bowl. You just have to look in your own bowl and be grateful.
1 comment:
Raising funds can be a problem for any kind of organization, but particularly when dealing with children. On one hand it is useful for children to learn to work for things such as camping trips and special events. On the other hand because children are dependent on parents and parents are not equal in their participation in encouraging and enabling their child, many children are handicapped compared to their peers through no fault of their own. As you know I long-ago resolved to resist appeals for me to be the relative who would buy various items such as gift wrap. I would rather give the funds straight up instead of whatever portion resulted from the purchase of something I might not use. In addition I have a very low income compared to my progeny which now exceed 30. I have chosen to continue to give gifts even though it sometimes becomes a burden because I want to have them think of me, but I can't afford to purchase those items that are sold to raise funds. Compare this to kids who have uncles and aunts and grandparents who are happy to purchase items that promote their cause. In some ways this reflects the burden of those who love the Lord and want to be actively engaged in a good cause and support themselves but at the same time need to pay attention to those who cannot support themselves.
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