Välfärd eller välgörenhet

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Eller står det inte emot varandra? Ska vi önska oss välfärd och välgörenhet? Jag märker att jag snubblar på begreppen redan innan jag kommit till det jag tänkte säga. Men jag chansar på att de flesta lägger in ungefär samma sak i orden och fortsätter tankegången.

Det här är inga nya tanker med de kom upp till ytan när jag nyligen fick veta att en av mina vänner i U.S.A. har en 17 cm stor tumör som trycker på hjärtat och lungorna. En biopsi gjordes i går så det ta'r några da'r innan vi får veta mer. Redan efter ett par da'r har vännerna ordnat en hemsida där hennes vänner kan få information och lämna uppmuntrande meddelanden. Där finns nu allt från gulliga verser, bönekedjor, hälsningar och en lista med vad man kan göra och inte ska göra för henne och vilka presenter som är lämpliga.
Det här är något som amerikanare är jättebra på. När min kusin behövde stråla sin hjärntumör organiserade hennes vänner genast en skjutsverksamhet till sjukhuset — en lång resa under en lång tid.
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Jag skulle tycka att det vore jättejobbigt om mina vänner skulle behöva tigga ihop pengar för att jag skulle ha råd med en operation — eller den dyra medicin som jag är tvungen att ta'.
Vi klagar på vår svenska sjukvård, med all rätt många gånger, men jämför man det med U.S.A. så har vi mycket att vara tacksamma över.

Mary Jones was a poor woman whose husband had gone to sea on a long voyage. She lived in a house by the road side, and got her living by washing. She had two little boys, who were her great comfort, and whom she used to call Ned and Tom.

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For some time after her husband had left, she got on very well, and was able to send the boys to school: but she caught a fever and was forced to keep her bed. Her neighbour, Sarah Smith, was very kind to her, and used to come to the house every morning and evening to do what she could to help her. But she was a poor woman, and could not afford to give Mary Jones anything that cost money; so poor Mary was forced to part with a great many things that she might get food.

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Ned and Tom at this time took turns to go to school. Tom used to go to school one day, while Ned waited on his mother; and the next day Ned went to school and Tom staid at home. One morning when Ned was going to school, the thought of his poor mother pressed hard on his heart; and after he had gone a little way, he burst out crying.

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He had not gone far along the narrow lane towards the school, when two young ladies met him and asked him why he was crying. He told them that he was thinking of his poor sick mother. The ladies then asked him his name and where he lived, and said they would go and call upon his mother. He thanked them and dried up his tears, and went on to school with a much lighter heart.

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Soon after he reached home in the evening, the two kind ladies came to his mother's house with a foot-boy, who brought a basket filled with bread and meat, and some things fit for the poor sick woman.

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They told Mary Jones how they had met Ned in the lane, and what he had told them; and she thanked them for what they had brought, and said that she hoped God would bless them for their goodness to her. They then asked about Ned and Tom, and said they would get their father to do what he could for them.

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The young ladies then went home, told their father and mother what they had seen and heard, and thanked God that they had been able to make a poor woman and her two sons happy.

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