Today, I spent time with some volunteers where I lead at People Who Care, who have raised their hand to support older Australians at this time of isolation through the Touchpoint Team by just phoning them regularly to listen, acknowledge and ask how we can help.
I sat, stood, moved around the room, chatted and asked but mainly listened to these volunteer’s life stories. I can’t tell you how filling this time was for me. I heard stories of careers that have taken them around the world, stories of children near and those now far away. There were student nurse volunteers who have only six months until completion (and counting!). I also met another who, when I asked if she was born in Australia said, “My great grandmother holds the record for the Mother of Australia’s biggest family – 29 children and no multiples!!” (Her name is Annie Brown from Fremantle, Western Australia).
There was one lady volunteer, Joy, who has worked diligently for years, often in jobs she didn’t like, who said, “I have time right now. I have time to listen and talk to our older people, and that’s what I do here now and I love it. I feel like I was born for this time.”
How beautiful are people who bring goodness to another.
A little gift of time, which when gifted to another with no expectation of a gift being returned, becomes much.
I love watching little become much.
This was snippet of my day.