Oseola McCarty spent most of her life washing and
ironing clothes for the well-to-do of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Miss McCarty
always dreamed about becoming a nurse, but had to drop out of school after the
6th grade to help support her mother, grandmother and an aunt. She continued to
“take in laundry” until arthritis in her hands forced her to retire from washing
and ironing in December 1994, at the age of 86.
McCarty's lifelong work ethic and generous heart drew global attention after it
was announced in July of 1995 that she would will $150,000 of her life's savings
to the University of Southern Mississippi to provide scholarships for deserving
students in need of financial assistance to continue their education.
Where had she obtained that kind of money? She had lived frugally, saved
carefully, and invested wisely. In the beginning, she said, she charged $1.50 to
$2 a bundle, but, with inflation, the price rose. "When I started making $10 a
bundle -- I don't remember when ... sometime after the war -- I commenced to
save money," she recalled. "I put it in savings. I never would take any of it
out. I just put it in. It just accumulated."
Amazingly, she had saved the $150,000 -- representing about 60 percent of her
life's savings -- washing and ironing other people's clothes for 75 years.
At the age of 87, Miss McCarty decided that there was something better to do
with her savings than spend it on herself. “I thought it best to give it to some
child to get an education,” she said.
"People in Hattiesburg call her donation ‘the GIFT’," Pulitzer Prize-winning New
York Times correspondent Rick Bragg wrote after interviewing McCarty in August
of 1995. Miss McCarty received scores of awards and other honors recognizing her
unselfish spirit including the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second
highest civilian award, presented to her by President Bill Clinton during a
special White House Ceremony. She also won the United Nation's coveted Avicenna
Medal for educational commitment.
She was embarrassed by all the attention, but when asked by reporters why she
had done what she had done, she borrowed some familiar words: “It’s more blessed
to give than to receive – I’ve tried it.” *
Miss McCarty was quoting Acts 20:35 – “And remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Miss McCarty’s generosity reflects not only the WORDS of Jesus, but also His
LIFE and His DEATH. Jesus “gave Himself for our sins” (Galatians 1:4) so that we
might have forgiveness and the hope of an eternal inheritance in Heaven (1 Peter
1:3-5).
These blessings are included in “The Gift” of salvation that He will give to
those who respond to Him in loving obedience. To receive His Gift, one must
believe in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31),
confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ
for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).
Because of the indescribable generosity (grace) of God, THE GIFT is available to
you!
Won’t YOU accept it on His terms?
David A. Sargent creekwood@comcast.net
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