Live without, so others can have.
That was the mantra of my grandmother. She wore secondhand clothes, rarely bought anything for herself, and lived a remarkably simple life so she could make the lives of others easier.
Back when people immigrating to the United States needed a sponsor, she and my grandfather sponsored eight families – most of them from Holland. One family benefitted immensely from my grandmother’s generosity. She paid for the father’s undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education. I grew up with his children, who called my grandparents “Grandma” and “Grandpa,” since their own paternal grandparents lived in Holland.
I’ve been thinking about my grandparents a lot this week after having the opportunity to speak to students at Florida Southern College – School of Business , where I graduated and where a scholarship in my grandfather’s name has been endowed.
While on campus, I met with the VP of Advancement to learn more about the Russell Thomas Richardson Endowed Scholarship – an idea my grandmother quietly set in motion. Without his knowledge, she began raising money in 1964. She wrote letters to parishioners in the churches where he had served as minister, to her friends and family, and to anyone in her wide circle, asking them to contribute.
She also made Christmas decorations and trinkets out of everyday items – most of which weren’t particularly attractive! She sold these items at craft shows and bazaars (and bizarre some of them certainly were!). She continued doing this for most of her life. I remember going with her to a local drugstore where she sat all day, cheerfully selling her handmade items. Whether she collected $7 or $70, she believed every little bit mattered.
Every couple of weeks, she would show up at the college with checks, cash, and even coins, which undoubtedly drove the staff a little crazy.
Some people thought my grandmother had wild ideas and behaved in ways that made them question her sanity (a concern many of her grandchildren shared).
Beyond raising money, she and a group of ladies who met weekly at her house – “the sewing ladies,” as we called them – made school bags for children in developing countries. They collected pencils, paper, and other supplies, filled the bags, and loaded them onto semi-trailers that were eventually shipped around the world. Through her work with Church World Service , more than two trailers of supplies were distributed over her lifetime.
My grandmother’s crazy ideas didn’t end with fundraising. She “rescued” items others threw away and found ways to repurpose them. Many thought she was crazy when she ran for public office and became the first female mayor of Lady Lake, Florida. I remember thinking she was crazy when she climbed apple trees at nearly 80 years old! And this is only a small glimpse.
Her “crazy” idea of starting a scholarship in 1964 turned into a fund that for more than 50 years has helped students attend college.
She didn’t care what people thought. And maybe… neither should you.
My grandmother’s life is a powerful reminder that impact rarely comes from comfort, convenience, or waiting for the perfect moment. It comes from showing up, giving generously, and daring to act on ideas others might dismiss.
You don’t need to start a scholarship or fill a trailer with school supplies to make a difference. You simply need the willingness to give what you can, where you are, and with what you have. Small acts, done consistently, can change lives.
My grandmother proved that.
What “crazy” idea is waiting inside you – one that could bless someone else?
This week, find one small way to “live without so others can have”—time, attention, resources, encouragement.
Thanksgiving seems like a really great time to begin.
Tim Richardson
The Power of the Pause/Exceptional Service keynotes, workshops, and panel discussion facilitator. Speaker, author, husband, father, outdoor enthusiast, and aspiring jazz pianist.
Published Nov 20, 2025