Jan. 14: Taught to be Generous

When Janice Sparhawk, 72, fell behind on the mortgage payments of her Wisconsin home, her 12-year-old grandson, Noah Lamaide, raised $10,500 in one month to save it from foreclosure.  He accomplished that goal through his website, Noah’s Dream Catcher Network, by telling potential donors of all the wonderful things his grandmother had done for others.  He had started the website at age nine when his mother challenged him to complete one community service project a year.

Noah’s passion for helping others started with his grandma, who was a foster parent to hundreds of children in Wisconsin. When he turned eight, Noah invited all of his friends to his birthday party.  In lieu of gifts, he asked his guests to bring a donation for the local food pantry.

Noah says, “I want to help others and make a difference in the world by asking people to reach out and help each other.”

The world needs more people with such generous hearts and inspirational initiative.

Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray. (Proverbs 22:6)

Lord, grant me the desire to serve Your people.