Let's All Be People Who Live Lives of Compassion to ALL

I have shared in the past some interesting and wonderful things I learned about my great grandpa Badgerow. Today seems like a good time to share it again. He was orphaned the day before his 11th birthday, raised by his sisters, finished the 8th grade and became a small business man - he had a grocery store/gas station in Sparta, Michigan.

When the banks were seized by the state of Michigan and ended up taking half of depositor's money in the 1930's, he could have lost heart and quit in despair, but he didn't. He extended credit to families and let them get food from his store when they didn't have the money to pay for the food - whether they were "citizens" or immigrants.

Years later when he died (at 96 years old) a man who was an immigrant, came to his funeral and said my great grandpa saved his family's lives by giving them food when they needed it. As I wrote in the previous post today, tomorrow is National Immigrants Day. If ever there was a time for us - all of us - to pull together and stand up for, speak up for, and offer help, love, and compassion to ALL other people, this is the time for us to do so - and to teach the children we love to do the same.

I am proud Charles Wesley Badgerow was my great-grandpa. He set an example of compassion, courage and generosity which I want to, and will, follow. (The photo is of him, my great grandma, grandma, and great uncle Ray.)