Today is my 25th birthday, and I just got off the phone with my dad who called to wish me a happy day. Being the wonderful, sentimental dad that he is, he had some really nice birthday thoughts to share. He reflected on my first 25 years as an amazing foundation for the life I am now creating for myself. Looking back on those first 25 years, I know that I am a lucky girl, and I am thankful every day for the incredible people and many blessings that fill my life. Sometimes I am overwhelmed with gratitude, actually.
After hanging up with my dad this morning, my wheels turned (as they so often do) to think of TFFT, our kids, and the many kids in Tanzania. As a 25-year-old, I live a relatively independent life, but I would be the first to admit that I STILL rely on my parents a fair amount… probably more than I should. Heck, my dad still orders my contacts for me; my mom just booked my tickets home for Thanksgiving; and when things don’t go as planned, I still look to them to help me pick up the pieces. I will never outgrow the need for my parents’ guidance, love, and support.
And l am lucky to have parents who have always been there to cheer for me, comfort me, and make me feel like I am someone special who can take on the world.
Well… you may know where this is going. In Tanzania, children as young as 5 years old age out of orphanages and are left homeless without the means to attend school. This is a reality that haunts me every. single. day. After 25 years I still am not ready to be completely on my own, and there are children one fifth of my age who have no one.
This is what my world looked like at age five:
When considering EVERYTHING that my parents have given me, I don’t think I—or any one person—should be on the receiving end of so much. I don’t need everything they give me, and there are children who do not have even their most basic necessities.
This is why I work for The Foundation For Tomorrow. I believe in TFFT because of the family TFFT creates. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:
TFFT is proud to have 82 kids on scholarship. Most importantly, we personally know the children we support, and we aim to provide much more than education, a backpack, food, etc. A person survives with food, water, and education. A person thrives with love, support, and guidance. We want our TFFT kids to thrive.
So on this 12th day in October, when 25 years ago the world greeted me sunny side up, I ask you to count your blessings and think about the sunshine you could bring to someone else’s life. We are not meant to keep our blessings to ourselves. In fact, our blessings only multiply when they are shared.
Thanks for everything you do for TFFT!
xo,
Kaitlin