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For years, Red heard Black make that comment but never questioned it. Especially since Red knew that when she asked Black questions, she received questions in return. Or flippant comments. But when an opportunity presented itself, Red took it. And she got straight answers, and that alone got Red's attention.
I'm curious about something. As children, we were never exposed to charity, so what got you involved with Make-A-Wish? Even the girls have asked me about Make-A-Wish because they've heard you talk about it and recognize the logo from your race car.
It was decades ago. I was invited to play in a Make-A-Wish golf tournament, and at the dinner, some of the Wish kids came out and told their stories. They mentioned their illnesses, the doctors, and the hospitals in passing — as if they were just minor details in their stories. But, when they talked about their wishes, it was with such excitement and pure happiness that it was overwhelming. A few weeks earlier, I had received a huge bonus at work, so I was feeling flush with cash, and when I saw the power of a wish — the hope, the joy, the strength it could provide — it made me look at money in a totally different way. When you meet children who are seriously ill, and you realize no amount of money can "fix the problem", yet something as simple as wishing for a puppy or to meet a celebrity can make such a huge difference in their lives, then you are reminded of what is truly important in life. And, what is not.
Before this conversation, Red thought her sister's involvement with Make-A-Wish was very generous, both of her time and her money, but attributed much of it to the fact that Black had surpluses of both. But now Red began to understand Black's passion and realized that we all need something to help us remember what's genuinely important.
A slight aside, from the "you can't make this up" section of life: Black's explanation above is from our book, "What I Learned About Life When My Husband Got Fired!" It was intended as the basis of a sitcom, but life rarely goes as planned. It was approved by the (Texas) State Board of Education as a personal financial literacy textbook, and our conversations about Make-A-Wish met the requirement of "teaching" about charitable giving.
It may be an important concept to teach, but it's something we all need to learn and remember.
WANT MORE?
The posts below highlight a few of the wishes, initiatives, and moments that continue to inspire us — and remind us what’s truly important.
If you would like to connect with us about our Make-A-Wish efforts, please email: Black@RedandBlack.email