Pink Highlights

This past weekend my family celebrated our Christmas.  For the past few years my Dad has had a drawing for $100.  If your name is chosen you have the next year to spend the $100 on any person or cause that you think needs it.  I am still waiting for the year that my name is drawn :)
This past year my sister Chelsea had the honor of choosing the home for the money. This is the story that the $100 took.

~My sister explains that this fall she was getting her hair cut at a salon in Muscatine, IA (where she now lives).  Her stylist was finishing up with a customer who looked to be about 6 years old and she had beautiful brown hair.  She was telling the stylist that she loved her new hair cut and she thought her sister would be very jealous. 

Just before Christmas my sister visited the same salon for a trim.  Chelsea noticed that her stylist was putting pink highlights in a little girl's hair.  As she sat there she realized that it was same girl that was there the last time Chelsea had her hair cut.  In her mind Chelsea questioned why a girl so young would be getting highlights.  When the girl was finished getting her hair done she came and sat on the couch next to Chelsea.  The girl looked at Chelsea and said, "My mom said that I could get pink highlights in my hair before it all falls out." (Talk about a humbling moment)

Following that appointment Chelsea was heading out of town to see some friends from college and on her way out of town she stopped by a gas station.  When she was checking out she noticed a donation can sitting by the register.  On the can was a picture of a six year old girl name Riley who has brain cancer the same girl who just had touches of pink added to her hair.  There was a benefit planned in the month of January for her.

So it was destined that the money would go to Riley and her pink highlights. ~

As my sister told this story to us my eyes filled up with tears. Chelsea adds that on the facebook page regarding Riley there is a picture of the little girl with a smile and the absence of those pink highlights and beautiful brown hair. 

 For me this story isn't about Chelsea being generous to a girl she doesn't know.  This story is about being humbled.  I am guilty about making snap judgments of people all the time.  Our purpose isn't to judge, but to find out the story.  It is amazing how much difference a story can make.