Screed #7
10/09/00

It is early morning now and I have to get ready to join our volunteers in manning the ranch booth at the gun show. Big Frank is probably doing the same as he gathers his people to work the Seabrook Music Festival. All of us probably have other things we need to be doing or want to be doing. Some- times even the most dedicated of volunteers have to be asking themselves that age old question; "Why am I doing this?". Well, maybe this will help. It helped me.

"Jim, you have a new child, he is 11 years old, his name is (withheld), he is in the 6th grade. He came to us because mom is in a wheel chair and cannot care for the child. He got stitches August 5th in his knee and we just got them taken out yesterday. He has nothing. His lips are so badly chapped they are open and bleeding. He cut his own hair four weeks ago be- cause school said he had to get a haircut.

He's been responsible for getting mom in out of bed, to the bathroom and in and out of the bath tub. He tells us he wants to try to be a kid. CPS (Children's Protective Services) said he has been the care giver in the home for probably three years and no one knew. CPS said that they are working now with Adult Protective Services to get mom help as well.

He was up and dressed for school and at the bus stop 30 minutes early. I met him at the gate and talked with him before he got on the bus. He told our house mother this morning that he just wanted to get out there and get to school and come back here to where people and kids laugh.

We have a call on a 14 year old from Fort Bend CPS about a child who is at their temporary shelter. I called the caseworker this morning after getting his info and said we would take him but he is AWOL right now. Our door is open for him too." Terry Blair, Ranch Administrator.

The world does not play fair but you and I know that with a little effort we can make things more equal. God bless you for stepping up to the plate...for crossing the line. God bless our little ranch. God give me the strength and ability to do more. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I have to go now because I have many important things to do...no, I have only one important thing to do and I think you know what it is. Every- thing else can wait...

pruett/out

Jim's Corner Archives:

• Screed #6 - 06/19/00
• Screed #5 - 05/04/00
• Screed #4 - 03/06/00
• Screed #3 - 01/05/00
• Screed #2 - 12/02/99
• Screed #1 - 11/10/99