When I was a teenager I spent most of my days involved in a church activity of sorts. Youth group, bible study meetings, worship practice, work parties etc. With the exception of the Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by our church for the neighborhood, my youth group did not do much charity work.

I remember when I was about 13 or 14 talking with one of the youth leaders who worked for my Dad about doing some volunteering at the local cancer ward in the children’s hospital . After making the arrangements we loaded my parents van with 6 or 7 kids & made our way to Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughter . I remember being really nervous to go because I felt so sad for these kids who were so very sick. I wasn’t sure how to talk to them or what we were going to do when we got there. I also expected CHKD to be a sad & cold place with crying families all around me.

I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in to find two huge column type fish tanks & the entire hospital to be decorated in fun bright colors. We made our way to the area where the kids were & the person in-charge explained that despite their sickness the kids were just like us & all they wanted to do was just hang out & have fun with other kids their age.

It took a bit of warming up for me but after a few minutes I was making craft with some of the girls & talking about NSync & BSB. After about an hour or two we ended or day & promised to come back soon. Unfortunately we never did make it back, but I think about those kids often & hope that they have been able to celebrate just as many birthdays I have been able to.

This post is sponsored by American Cancer Society