Soul Magic

Soul Magic

WHEN I NEED IT THE MOST
By Carole Devecka

This year I have been fortunate enough to win many awards, titles, plaques, and a crystal clock for my volunteer work. But, I gain (not in the awards received) more than I could ever give. Volunteering uplifts the soul and spirit and it helps many.

While the Museum Honoring All Heroes has been on hold, with banks going through their own crisis, I found other groups that were going to disband because no one wanted to take the lead or get involved… It was too much work, gas prices were too high, mail-outs and stamps cost too much, or whatever other reasons they had. So I kind of stepped in and raised everyone's spirit. Like in the old Mickey Rooney movies, I’d say, "Come on gang, we can do it!"

The older people get tired of keeping the organizations going and doing all the work. It's now our turn. I sometimes feel bad I can not do more because my body slows me down. When that happens I make bows for the gift wrap department, send cards to the military, and write grants.

Soon I will begin re-clamming the Bay... Afterall, the clams and oysters help clean our waters. Re-clamming the Bay will teach the younger generation how to help keep our waters clean and not to pollute our oceans.

With everything that’s been going on, one day last year I was having a pity party for myself... I felt unappreciated while writing grants and other things because when you are out of sight people forget to give you the information you need to apply for the grants to help them. And working from home 85% of the time, people also forget I'm here!

Well, I sat there arguing with myself as to why I continue to work for people who sometimes seem so unappreciative. Just then the door bell rang and because the main part of my house is upstairs (so we can enjoy the view of the water more) my grandkids ran to get the door for me. They brought a package…

It was an award! A beautiful plaque in deep mahogany... A Global Who's Who Award for my outstanding work in helping organizations in many communities!

I tried finding out who sent this to me but they could only tell me the organizations they had me listed with...There were four.

My grandkids kept asking me who sent it and I kept saying "I don't know."

Then I told them God and His Universe know everything we do so this must be a gift from God's Universe just to keep me going! God knew I was just about to give up on one of the groups I do work for. He knows our thoughts and feelings, and He knows the words we want to say before we say them. And God wanted me to know He knows and appreciates what I do... Amen!

I usually don’t mention the awards I receive because to me they represent God telling me to keep on going. They are my message from above when I need it the most!