giving « fandango

The power of a run. It’s illustrated by the connection I have with Sheretta.

Sheretta is a shy woman, almost 26, single mom and just moved out of a homeless shelter. Sheretta is also a Member of Back on My Feet. Yes, the kickass organization I work for.

In March 2011, I went for my first run with Sheretta. We literally got stuck running together because we’re the same height, same pace, same sense of humor. Starting out for a two mile run, I would ask Sheretta about life… no response. About her kids… one word answer. I have vivid memories of running through the streets of downtown Dallas in utter silence, not because I didn’t have anything to say (HA!), but because I knew I didn’t need to.

Today, we can’t stop talking. She knows my heart, she knows my love for laughter and she definitely knows I’m not the best babysitter.

I’m not writing all of this today to ask for money (that’s my day job). I am writing this today - and you can see what D Magazine wrote about Sheretta - because we need to turn her new house into a home.

In December 2011, Sheretta moved into a three bedroom townhome. Today, she is still sleeping on an air mattress with her angels, Taylor and Tylor. With two kids under the age of five, Sheretta’s family needs a whole lot of everything!

Two twin size beds
One full/queen size bed
Dining room table and chairs
Dressers, one for each member of the family
Two desks
Lamps
Shelves
Curtains
Rugs
Chairs

I am personally renting a truck on Saturday, January 28th to help pick up donated, low-cost items. If you have an item which you would like to donate to Sheretta, Taylor (five year-old girl) and Tylor (two year-old boy). Please email me at kristenkouk@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

Our God is generous. Tonight’s lesson from The Porch underlined what I’ve been practicing (read: attempting to practice) in my everyday life. I’ve been handing out cold water bottles when I see a need in an alley with a baby stroller full of beer, giving someone change for a pay phone (if those still exist) to call for a ride and donating cleaning products to a friend of mine for her new snazzy apartment.

This is the beginning of a series, The List. I’m hoping for it to outline the qualities I seek in a future husband. Enumerating characteristics does not mean he will materialize before my eyes, I understand. However, with my history of poor decisions, these thoughts are a crucial piece of my self-imposed relationship recovery.

Proverbs 11:25 “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

I want a husband that is generous. A man who gives his time, his wealth and his resources to others because gifting others praises God. I don’t want him to donate because it makes him feel better about himself or to impress others. I also don’t want to have to initiate this giving, it must be inherent. I want him to fully dedicate himself to a cause. A passionate man, driven to improving the welfare of others. The male version of Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act II.

Sheretta

The List: Generosity

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