Word of the Day, Empathy

In just the last couple of days, I have heard two stories that epitomize  the meaning of empathy.  Both centered on Our Dear Brother [Sister Betty's words].

I had never heard either story, although the story tellers both thought otherwise.

Sister Helen told of a time when a fellow worker was in need.  Usually at our workplace, that individual's supervisor would step in with an effort to raise money.  In this instance, the designated person lacked empathy and declined the obligation.  Brother stepped forward.  He and his troop of followers held a bake sale and raised a large sum of money.  The norm was for the money to be made into a neat bundle and given to HR or the designated supervisor to be delivered to the individual in need.  In this case, instead of a neat bundle, the cash was tossed into a very large clear plastic trash bag and plunked down in front of the apathetic supervisor who was instructed to deliver it to the recipient. I looked it up. Apathetic is the opposite of Empathy.

The other story came from my friend Sherrie.  She told of a co-worker named Cindy that had a motorcycle accident with her husband.  Cindy was fine but her husband suffered a head injury.  He lived but is to this day disabled by the head injury.  About six months later Cindy was diagnosed with cancer. The couple had 3 or 4 children and  little income.  Brother decided to  have a bake sale to raise money.  Sherrie, he always said, "We are not running a food charity, we are trying to raise money".

He got Tony to donate  6 live turkeys.  Brother and Sherrie butchered and dressed the turkeys, hanging they by their feet on the iron gate frame at the back of his house.  That same gate frame that still has turkey feet dangling from wire hangers.  They distributed the turkeys out among their cooks, made lots of dressing and sold turkey and dressing dinners.  They raised over $3000.  Sherrie remembered at all the bake sales, after about noon, they went into fire sale mode.  Everything a dollar, or give us what you have and take what you want.  But still, on this day, there was lots left over.  Sherrie gathered up the remains and took it all to Cindy's house.  She says she will never get over just how grateful Cindy was for that left over food.  She was so thankful to have something in the house to feed her children.

It has occurred to me that these two stories may actually be one story.

Empathy