A Mothers View
Riding in the car about a year ago, a young man said, “Shelby knows everybody!” And she does. She knows everyone because she is a friend to everyone. Even from a young age Shelby was always kind to everyone. I know that is a common statement, but it is true. The real proof about someone though, is how they treat others when they get older. During preschool or elementary school you can be a friend to almost anyone without people thinking you are strange. But as Shelby got older she was still a friend to everyone, even at the time when it was no longer socially acceptable to be a friend to those who weren’t considered “cool”. She was nice to those that are a bit different or a bit shy, or maybe just lack the confidence that comes with age or achievement.
In High School Shelby signed up for the “Best Buddies” program, where you are a friend or mentor to a student who is mentally handicapped. She was assigned to a girl named Katy who was suffering from Cerebral Palsy. Those in the program went out on various group activities and were asked to spend time with their buddies. But Shelby didn’t just do the required or expected amount of time, but she spent her own precious weekends and her own money to go do things with Katy. She would take her to go get ice cream, go to Sea World Amusement park, or many times just take her for rides in her car. Shelby does feel something for others, and not something that is just to get attention or praise. She has always cared for others, and I knew she would go on to do even more if she was given the opportunity.
Shelby has had the opportunity to travel and see how others outside of the United States live. She has been all through Central America, Costa Rica, Israel, Jordan, Baja California, and South America. She has always been drawn to the children. When she was four years old we went on a trip to Cabo San Lucas. As we ate dinner Shelby sat down and told us she wasn’t hungry and then asked us if we could take her food home. As we walked out of the restaurant she stopped and handed her dinner to a young girl, who was maybe just a bit older than she was. So for the rest of our vacation we ordered two dinners, one for Shelby, and one for the other little girl. She just couldn’t eat knowing that the little girl was begging outside.
While attending BYU Shelby had a roommate who told her about a program where you could volunteer at an orphanage in Guatemala. That was all she needed to hear and she was determined to go. That trip was life changing for her. She came back a different person with a lack of a need for “things” and had a driving desire to return to those children. She began asking everyone that she came in contact with if they could help. After working and raising $2,000 as well as boxes of school supplies, clothes and dental supplies, she was ready to head back. Asking for nothing for Christmas but an airline ticket she returned to Guatemala during her Christmas vacation to those children in the orphanage.
I think that Shelby has changed because she has seen what little others have, and that their needs are basic while we sit in abundance and always seem to need just “one more thing”. Not only did she realize just how much she has, but the opportunities she has to have luxuries that others go there whole life, and never come close to having themselves.
Through her experiences she has also found the best thing of all, the seemingly basic statement, to belong to a family. A shocking realization came to her when playing a simple get to know you game. They were spinning a bottle and then would ask whatever child it landed on a question. One was asked, “What is your birthday?” but they didn’t know what their birthday was. They didn’t know because they had been abandoned and have no actual knowledge of their birthday, family background, or even their age. It was painful and shocking to her.
A bright moment for her was to work with the hopeful teenagers at the orphanage. The teenagers were learning English because it puts them ahead of others when competing for jobs. That was a light at the end of a dark tunnel.
Now Shelby has caught the bug of wanting to help all she comes in contact with. She is so interested in seeing all types of cultures and traveling to see the beauties of different countries. But instead of looking for the best shopping or best beaches she goes with the idea of always serving and helping the children in those places, hoping to always leave it better because she was there, and because she cared.
In High School Shelby signed up for the “Best Buddies” program, where you are a friend or mentor to a student who is mentally handicapped. She was assigned to a girl named Katy who was suffering from Cerebral Palsy. Those in the program went out on various group activities and were asked to spend time with their buddies. But Shelby didn’t just do the required or expected amount of time, but she spent her own precious weekends and her own money to go do things with Katy. She would take her to go get ice cream, go to Sea World Amusement park, or many times just take her for rides in her car. Shelby does feel something for others, and not something that is just to get attention or praise. She has always cared for others, and I knew she would go on to do even more if she was given the opportunity.
Shelby has had the opportunity to travel and see how others outside of the United States live. She has been all through Central America, Costa Rica, Israel, Jordan, Baja California, and South America. She has always been drawn to the children. When she was four years old we went on a trip to Cabo San Lucas. As we ate dinner Shelby sat down and told us she wasn’t hungry and then asked us if we could take her food home. As we walked out of the restaurant she stopped and handed her dinner to a young girl, who was maybe just a bit older than she was. So for the rest of our vacation we ordered two dinners, one for Shelby, and one for the other little girl. She just couldn’t eat knowing that the little girl was begging outside.
While attending BYU Shelby had a roommate who told her about a program where you could volunteer at an orphanage in Guatemala. That was all she needed to hear and she was determined to go. That trip was life changing for her. She came back a different person with a lack of a need for “things” and had a driving desire to return to those children. She began asking everyone that she came in contact with if they could help. After working and raising $2,000 as well as boxes of school supplies, clothes and dental supplies, she was ready to head back. Asking for nothing for Christmas but an airline ticket she returned to Guatemala during her Christmas vacation to those children in the orphanage.
I think that Shelby has changed because she has seen what little others have, and that their needs are basic while we sit in abundance and always seem to need just “one more thing”. Not only did she realize just how much she has, but the opportunities she has to have luxuries that others go there whole life, and never come close to having themselves.
Through her experiences she has also found the best thing of all, the seemingly basic statement, to belong to a family. A shocking realization came to her when playing a simple get to know you game. They were spinning a bottle and then would ask whatever child it landed on a question. One was asked, “What is your birthday?” but they didn’t know what their birthday was. They didn’t know because they had been abandoned and have no actual knowledge of their birthday, family background, or even their age. It was painful and shocking to her.
A bright moment for her was to work with the hopeful teenagers at the orphanage. The teenagers were learning English because it puts them ahead of others when competing for jobs. That was a light at the end of a dark tunnel.
Now Shelby has caught the bug of wanting to help all she comes in contact with. She is so interested in seeing all types of cultures and traveling to see the beauties of different countries. But instead of looking for the best shopping or best beaches she goes with the idea of always serving and helping the children in those places, hoping to always leave it better because she was there, and because she cared.
posted by ShelbyMargaret at
4:07 PM
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