I’d like to tell you a little bit about why I donate my time, talent, and treasure to FUSF.

I’d rather not talk about me, though—let me tell you about my children. When my oldest, precocious child was 3, she began asking some very big questions: what is God? What happens when you die? Where do babies come from? I decided we needed a place to explore answers to these questions.

As she has grown up at FUSF, she has had many opportunities to share her beliefs, questions, and concerns. FUSF has given her a place to use her voice.

Next daughter down is a very different child—much more reserved and quiet. When she was younger, she rarely spoke to other adults, cowering behind me when anyone approached her, and it took a full year to get her to go to FUSF’s religious education classes without me. As she has grown up, FUSF has given her a place to connect with people at her comfort level.

And then, there is my youngest. She hated coming to service for the first 2-3 years—she used to sit in the chair with her knees to her chest, arms crossed, grimacing. She begrudgingly plodded off to RE when it was time. But as she has been growing into herself at FUSF, I have seen some interesting things pop up in her artwork. Drawings of fists raised with “BLM” written in big letters, and LOTS of Pride flags. At an Out Metrowest event here in the Fall, she shared their preferred pronouns in public for the first time– she/they. FUSF has given my youngest a place to engage with the community on their terms.

So, thank you, to all of you who have helped my children grow and be who they are. I donate my time, talent, and treasure to FUSF because it is a spiritual home that provides a safe place to learn and grow, not just for me, but for my children as well.