My grandmother emigrated from Holland at the age of 16. I often wonder at her courage and try to imagine how isolated she must have felt — no phone, no email, no Instagram, just an occasional letter. She and her husband raised four daughters during the Great Depression, and she dealt with World War II realities of the Nazi occupation of Holland, hearing sketchy reports of how thousands of Dutch citizens (including her family) were starving during this horrible period.

She certainly had plenty to worry about.  Yet I remember her telling me that she didn’t let herself worry. When she began to worry, she turned her attention to knitting hats and mittens for neighborhood children. She told me that nothing came from worry, and “doing something good for another person is useful, and feels better!”

Trevor Stratton, Wolverine Journeyman Lineman, spoke last week in Washington, D.C. to nearly 2,000 teenagers from around the country.  NRECA invited him out to tell about his experiences in Guatemala with the International Program to electrify a remote mountain village.  The teenagers attending were with the NRECA Youth Tour, a program aimed at giving young people of electric cooperative families and customers an inside look at our Capitol, and a better understanding of electric cooperatives. Check out this video if you want to hear more of Trevor’s story. He’s a great storyteller and he really connects with his audience.

Trevor’s remarks reminded me of my Grandmother’s.  Of course he was proud of the work he and other Michigan cooperative linemen did to electrify that remote mountain village.  More touching to me, however, is hearing the power of giving in Trevor’s words. He talks about how the trip changed his life, and the how meaningful he found the villager’s gratitude for the work our linemen did to bring light to their mountain.  Thank you, Trevor, for your fun stories, and thanks for reminding me of my dear and wise Grandmother who spent her entire life giving.