Compassion means that a person's heartbreak and suffering becomes my own heartbreak and suffering. My role as a Court Appointed Special Advocate.
The spark that ignited my passion for philanthropy and serving children began during a mission trip to Mozambique over 15 years ago. I was able to spend a month immersing myself in the vulnerable communities, particularly caring for orphans, helping to rebuild huts in the village and teaching AIDS prevention and English to promote self reliance.
Sometimes when I'm feeling like I'm at a low point, my mind drifts back to this moment. These children. Their joy in the most simple of circumstances. Their resilience. It has always been true that I find my greatest strength and happiness when I am trying to relieve the suffering of someone else. It is my greatest teacher, my best medicine, the most influential factor in my life. I need to remember to seek for these moments more in my daily life. My heart nearly exploded with love the day this photo was taken. Part of my mission in Mozambique was to instill hope. Little did I know the hope, strength, joy, and passion these sweet faces would instill in me in return. "As we lose ourselves in the service of others, we discover our own lives and our own happiness."
-Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
The impact my Africa experience had on me will last a lifetime and has inspired me to keep the flame of humanitarian aid burning in my life, paving the way to my child advocacy work with CASA. After joining Junior League of Dallas, my first placement choice was with Dallas CASA. I instantly fell in love with the cause and have spent the past 8 years as an advocate, recently transferring to CASA of Collin County.
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
-Leo Buscaglia
When I began volunteering with CASA years ago, I fully expected the love, empathy and compassion that I would feel for these abused and neglected children. What I wasn’t anticipating was how that compassion would reach far beyond that and ultimately teach me how any small gesture, encouragement, or other extension of humanity can have a huge, life-changing impact on everyone involved with the case.
Compassion, to me, means more than kindness and sympathy. It means that a person’s heartbreak and suffering becomes my own heartbreak and suffering. The children I have been blessed to serve as an advocate for have such heavy burdens on their hearts. I have spent countless nights aching and yearning for their healing. I am mindful and diligent at getting to know their needs and how to best represent them personally in court.
It’s natural to want to scoop them up and rescue them from their pain. What I didn’t understand was that often their pain was caused by more than their abuse and the poor choices of others, it was caused by being separated from their loved ones and life. They yearn to be with their own blood, their people. That’s not always possible and our number one priority is the safety and well-being of these children. However, my advocacy has taught me that nothing is as black and white as it seems. The love of a family is a powerful force for change. I have been pleasantly surprised at the amount of resilience, forgiveness and healing that can occur when given the opportunity.
HEALING is available to all. It’s not easy and it certainly doesn’t come without a price. Whatever the outcome of the case, my goal has changed from not only to find a safe, loving and supportive home for these children to thrive, but that even a little bit of light can dispel a lot of darkness. Be generous with the love and light you share with others. You will never regret it and the effects can be miraculous!