SermonStudio

Some in our generation grew up hearing about World War II. We can't relate too much because we weren't there, but we have heard stories and understand the horrific events that took place. Some people came out okay; others did not make it out alive. But everyone who has been through it has been changed forever. Some are stronger; some can never recover; some are outspoken; some are prisoners in their own silence.

One story has touched the hearts of many as a woman shared her story from riches to rags to riches again. She feels she has been blessed to be through the war because she knows the tragedy it brings, the preciousness of life, and the opportunity it gave her to make every second count. She has a fullness of life about her.

Willy, as her friends call her, was born in southern Germany and was a teenager during the war. Her father was a clock maker, renowned for his intricate work and the ability to fix just about any timepiece that came his way. Her mother died when she was young, and Willy was very close to her father. The only problem was that her father was Jewish. They lived in a beautiful flat with mahogany furniture made especially for the rooms. The parlor was draped in pink and maroon velvets. Gold brocade and fringe accented much around the home. Her mother had an eye for decorating, and her father's wealth allowed the home to be beautifully appointed.

Willy was driven to private school across town by the family driver. She wore fur coats to ward off the chilly German air, and her shoes were polished daily. Willy admits she lived a life of luxury when she was young.

But the war changed that. Her father was killed in a concentration camp, and Willy escaped to Holland, where she was passed off as a daughter of a Dutch family. She was not bothered. She went to school with the children of the family, riding their bicycles along the canals in Voorburg. She wore dresses that were handed down through the family and thought they looked wonderful! Willy grew up remembering what it was like to have only a piece of cheese and a half a slice of bread for supper. She was poor living with this family; but she was rich. She had her life. She had her faith. She was going to live her life to the fullest!

Willy grew up to marry a wealthy entrepreneur who owned a chain of hotels. They eventually moved to the east coast and the business took care of itself. But Willy never forgot the kindness of her Dutch family, sending for them often to come and see the sights. She also visited them many times over the years until the children -- her "siblings" -- all grew up.

At the age of sixty, Willy wanted to leave behind a legacy, not for her own glory, but to honor her father and her adoptive family. She started a scholarship fund for students of German, Jewish, or Dutch ancestry. They would have the opportunity to be awarded thousands of dollars toward their education. The only catch was they had to get high marks and write an essay on what it meant to live life to its fullest. Willy got funny letters from people saying living life to its fullest meant spending lavishly, getting the most out of life they could. That wasn't even close to what she had in mind.

Willy received many truly thoughtful letters from young people who felt living life to its fullest included reaching out to others, helping where they could in their own communities, or changing negative thoughts. Willy has single-handedly sponsored many scholarships -- full scholarships -- to several young men and women. She loves to tell their stories.

One is a young woman who was born with a cleft palate. Her family was poor, and a team of doctors operated on her free of charge. Ruby was an excellent student and used Willy's scholarship to go an Ivy League school. She is now a doctor who works in Brazil, where babies born with cleft palates are a particularly common problem. Her clinic is sponsored by churches, and she and her team are able to help many children each month. She feels she is living life to its fullest.

Willy gets a kick out of Jeremy, who learned what it is like to be a prisoner at the ripe age of ten. He wrote Willy a letter saying that the fullness of life meant staying out of juvenile hall. He was in and out of foster care until he spent seven years straight in a juvenile facility. His loneliness made him swear that he would grow up to make a difference for children. He is now a successful lawyer in a large town. He works in family law.

Willy has many, many more stories like these besides her own. Willy could have been killed in Germany -- or even in Holland had her identity been revealed. She regrets her father's death, but she also wants to go on with life. She chooses to give so that others may give and be of service in their professions. She hopes gifts of scholarships will make a difference.