Simple Wisdom

I read a wonderful little book last night called "Oseola McCarty's Simple Wisdom for Rich Living." I found this little 5x6" hardcover in our local Half-Price Bookstore--- it was on their clearance rack for just 99 cents, for goodness sake. I hadn't heard of Oseola McCarty before, but her picture is on the cover of this little book and she has such gentle eyes... I had to buy the book.

Oseola lives in a small Mississippi town. She had to leave school when she was 12 and she took in laundry and ironing to do her part in helping to support her family and their home. For the next 75 years, she washed and ironed from sun-up to sun-down and then some. Proud of her work and she did it perfectly and was content and satisfied every day.

After all those years of living simply and saving grandly, Oseola's bank account grew to $280,000.00 -- amazing! Even more amazing: she established a scholarship at the University of Southern Mississippi. Just because she never had the opportunity to continue her own education, she saw the need to help others do just that and she simply did it.

Of course, by doing so, the media got interested. All of the major TV stations carried her story and she was interviewed by Barbara Walters. (Was I under a rock at that time?) Oseola was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, the Wallenberg Humanitarian Award, the Avicenna Medal from UNESCO, and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Harvard.

After reading this book, I'm sure Oseola was overwhelmed by all of the attention, but it was noted in the book that never once did she appear to be anxious or nervous or unable to speak to anyone honoring or interviewing her. Such confidence comes only with a clear mind, a generous heart and a contented soul. If you can find this gem of a book, you will see all of those attributes in Miss Oseola McCarty's gentle eyes.