The focus of my blog is usually on adults looking for Princeton homes for sale, and how to buy and sell real estate in our area. My son recently showed me that we could learn a lot by stepping away from the familiar and looking at the real estate from a different perspective.
This time it was in Biloxi Mississippi, where he went with a religious youth group to help in the rebuilding effort. Of course, being like any other mommy who missed her son, I wrote a post about it and promised to report the results.
Today the kids who went on the trip spoke about it during the services in our synagogue. Their job in Biloxi was to paint the Salvation Army volunteer headquarters. The facility is used to provide housing and meals for the volunteers that come from all over the country.
The kids reported painting the rooms “cheery colors” so volunteers would feel better doing their job. They met several amazing people. One guy, a local reporter, told them that he was not religious before Katrina. He stayed to provide coverage and at the end found himself a believer.
Another person told them that he was not from the area. After Katrina he decided to go Biloxi and work as a volunteer. He is a Christian and he felt that he had a good life and it was time now for him to help others.
One boy said he could not participate in the work of the group because his father had a heart attack and he had to go back home. He was amazed when the next day the kids called not only to find out how his father was doing, but also to ask what he wanted for them to write on the wall, where the volunteers can leave their handprints and messages.
The kids decided instead of handprints to have a symbol that in our tradition keeps away an evil eye –it looks like a hand. Inside this hand my son wrote his name and words “To Life”.
The kids believe that their messages are visible not just to the other volunteers, and that the Salvation Army volunteer headquarters will now be under His watch and protection.
Today I learned from my son that you are never too young or too old to go outside of the familiar, to relate to the suffering of 
others, to give a helping hand, to learn from our kids and to celebrate life.
Here is To Life!
Please contact Faina Sechzer at 609-553-4175 when looking for real estate, homes for sale and/or listing your house to sell, and relocation assistance in Princeton, Montgomery Township, West Windsor, Hopewell, and Lawrenceville New Jersey. Referrals are accepted.
If you are moving out of the greater Princeton area, please inquire about the countrywide relocation program.
Copyright 2007 Faina Sechzer All rights reserved. This information cannot be copied, reproduced, transmitted, distributed, displayed or published.
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Hi Faina,
Thanks for sharing such an inspirational story. I agree, there is a lot we can learn from kids, who live their lives with out the complicated pre-conceptions we devlop over the years.
Last month, my son turned to me and said, "Mom, instead of complaining about the market, why don't you do something to turn it around." I looked at him with my mouth open for a few seconds and then simply said, "you're absolutely right". I have adopted a more positive outlook and find it endearing that he thinks I am endowed with the super power to turn a National Housing downturn around all by myself!
www.ColleenFish.com www.MapleVAlleyRealEstate.com