One story we love to read is Desmond and the Very Mean Word authored by Douglas Carlton Abrams and illustrated by A.G. Ford. Based on a true story from Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s childhood in South Africa, the book reveals the power of words and the secret of forgiveness. When Desmond takes his new bicycle out for a ride through his neighborhood, his pride and joy turn to hurt and anger when a group of boys shout a very mean word at him. He first responds by shouting an insult, but soon discovers that fighting back with mean words doesn’t make him feel any better. With the help of a mentor, Father Trevor, Desmond comes to understand his conflicted feelings and see that all people deserve compassion, whether or not they say they are sorry. It is this timeless wisdom that makes Desmond Tutu’s way of life heroic and he himself a hero to us.
The idea of Ubuntu, which means ‘I am because we are,’ gained international recognition through the writings of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who wrote, “When we want to give high praise to someone we say, ‘Yu, u nobunto’; ‘Hey so-and-so has ubuntu.’ Then you are generous, you are hospitable, you are friendly and caring and compassionate. You share what you have. It is to say, ‘My humanity is inextricably bound up in yours.’ We belong in a bundle of life.”
Ever thought about giving monthly to a truly heroic cause?
The Thanda Superheroes are a group of monthly donors who are fighting food insecurity, poor education, and unemployment – creating real and lasting change in rural South Africa. With these powers, they are building a world where everyone can be a hero in their own communities.
Join the fight today at www.thanda.org/
