Recognition Enough

Remember that song "You Can't Always Get What You Wanted" by the Rolling Stones? I believe it is on the Big Chill soundtrack, if that helps anyone. The sentiment it communicates is a good one to understand.

This afternoon I, along with my PTA Council level cohorts, are hosting a luncheon for our local PTAs from each school to award a recognition plaque to their chosen recipients: volunteers, teachers, staffers, or administrators. I was in charge of putting together the luncheon program wherein a "brief"summary of the great and brilliant things the winner has done are written.

I learned "brief" and "200 words maximum" are difficult ideas to convey seriously.

When we put the call out for the local schools to submit the names for their winner so that we could order the plaques and I could then begin the program, in my mind I figured I was a shoo-in for our elementary school's volunteer. In fact I was a little excited by the possibility. After all, I have spent 9 years of my life there. I have my youngest child leaving the school at the end of the year. I felt I had made a positive difference.

Can you say "EGO"?

Of course, to make this posting a life lesson, my name wasn't on their list. Two others, both very deserving, were being given the award from our school. After thinking of it for a day or two--and mistakenly shooting my mouth off to another PTA friend prior to absorbing it that far--I was really glad. I am glad I wasn't on that list.

Not being given this honorable recognition has made me re-evaluate the reasons behind my service. Sure, the recognition frm my peers would have been nice, but is THAT my purpose in doing this, day in and day out? I was forced to think about my motivations.

Now that I have honestly examined my motivations and reasons, I can happliy tell you that I do it because it is good for the kids, and because I gain a lot of personal satisfaction from my service at the schools. I discover and develop great friendships among those with whom I serve. I also gain a greater appreciation for teachers, my kids' and the others, who do their jobs with dedication and genuine concern. I do it because this is a way I can aid my community and offer service to those who not only need it, but who are continually dropping down society's priority list. I do this because it have a residual feeling that this is what I have been "called" to do. It is a good fit for my interests and talents. I do it because I like it.

I can say that there is a bit of selfish satisfaction in my volunteer work, but I now know that it is not for the public recognition by other adults. If anything, the best recognition is a child's face at the grocery store or the city pool who will see me and wave and say, "I know you...you work at my school."

If that one child knows that there is another grown up who cares about them, the school or our community then that is recognition enough. I believe that is what Mick and the boys mean when they sing the lyrics: "You get what you need."