It never fails...the days leading up to every Ronald McDonald House I start to dread it. Not because of what we are doing, but for more selfish reasons...too tired after work...have to haul my food into the office then back to the car to get it there...I am exhausted afterwards...the normal silly complaints.
Then I get there.
The stress that the families staying there are going through is humbling to say the least. I cannot imagine having to stay in an unfamiliar town while my child deals with a possibly life threatening illness. Dealing with keeping things together at home, which could be on the other side of the country or even world while trying to be strong for my baby as they suffer...yeah, I can't imagine much worse than that.
By the time the dinner is over I don't want to leave. I want to hug every parent and child there and tell them that they have had a bigger impact on me than any meal could ever have on them.
I have been on a few tours after the dinners. They are fun and interesting. I never knew about the lamp though. This lamp is only lit when a child passes away. I pray that I never see that lamp lit.
Bottom line, if you haven't been to the Ronald McDonald House to volunteer yet...go. You won't regret it. You may second guess yourself in the days leading up to it, but seeing the children in wheel chairs and with metal bars through their heads laughing and playing, knowing that because of your service the family has more one on one time with their child makes the whole experience worth it.
Beautiful! :)
ReplyDelete