Currency of the Heart One hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, how big my house was, or what kind of car I drove. But the world may be a little better, because I was important in the life of a child.

Forest Witcraft

As a volunteer at the Sisters of Charity Children's Hospital in Haiti, I expected to work. When I arrived, a nurse handed me a baby and said, "Please sit down and hold her." The child appeared comatose, her eyes closed, her body rigid, her fists clenched, and her toes tightly curled. She made no sounds, was hardly breathing and didn't react to any noise or movement in the room. The other children cried, laughed, shrieked, drummed and danced around but she never even flinched.

When I thought she was asleep. I asked if I should put her back into her crib. The nurse replied, “No, please continue to hold her.” My fingers drifted lightly across her legs, chest, arms and face for three hours. She seemed to sleep.

Suddenly, the fingers on one hand began to uncurl, very slowly with almost imperceptible movement. Eventually her hand opened. Surprised. Astounded. I thought something momentous had happened; yet the child simply had opened her hand.

I continued to hold her and float my fingers over her thin arms and legs. Her other hand began to open, finger by finger. I held my breath, not wanting to disturb this process. Her arms went limp. Her back softened. I cried as I watched this tiny little girl move in slow motion. Her body tension dissipated. She relaxed in my arms and looked up at me.

The nurse told me she was one and a half. Severe inner tension and malnutrition had stunted her growth.  Everyday a volunteer was asked to hold her, it usually took about three hours for the child to relax. 

What a gift to me to be given that job on that day.

Rosemary Williams

Sisters of Charity in Haiti - YouTube

▶ 0:58

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy286GEbw40

May 17, 2009 - Uploaded by ncochrane3

Mother Theresa's Children's Hospital, Haiti 2011 - Duration: 2:59. Brigid123456 1,472 views · 2:59 ...

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Rosemary Williams launched Currency of the Heart to inspire readers to “pay it forward” from the heart’s most precious currency. We’d love to hear from you! To share your story or to request permission to republish this blog post, please email rosemary@womensperspective.org.

Coming Soon a Revised Woman's Book of Money and Spiritual Vision

                                              

Work on the revision has begun with help from an expert advisory circle of professional women. 

I’d like to introduce you to these extraordinary women who are giving their time, experience, and expertise out of the generosity of their hearts and their interest in the work. This is a perfect example of a currency of the heart gift. I am deeply grateful to Rhoda Blough, Christina Burke, Elizabeth Cox, Susan Filan, Janice Jsu, Joanne Kabak, and Trudelle Thomas for sharing their wisdom.

--             Rosemary C. Williams

Rhoda Blough: Everence 

Stewardship Consultant                                                         
DENVER, CO 

Rhoda earned a seminary degree from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She uses her passion and knowledge of faith in working with Everence financial advisors in an effort to educate congregations and individuals on the integration of faith values with finances. She has two adult daughters and two grandsons.          

                                  Trudelle Thomas: Xavier University, 
                               Professor of English 

Cincinnati, OH

Trudelle is an author, textile artist, and professor emerita (having taught at Xavier University in Cincinnati for 30 years).  After purchasing The Woman’s Book of Money and Spiritual Vision in 2001, she  carried out a spiritual overhaul of her relationship with money and her an approach to charitable giving.  This "overhaul" has led to much more freedom and contentment.  Trudelle has published a book Spirituality in the Mother Zone and numerous articles.  Her love of sewing and textile arts has led to her sewing diaper bags, clothing, and other useful objects for those in need.                                                                  

Susan Filan

Attorney

Westport, CT.                               

Susan is a litigator with a practice in the areas of Family Law and Criminal Defense.  She is also a Divorce Mediator.  An experienced trial lawyer, Susan is a former Connecticut state prosecutor, and a sought after legal analyst for both cable and television news. She was MSNBC's Senior Legal Analyst and has been featured frequently on NBC’s “The Today Show,” ABC’s “Good Morning America,” CNN, Fox News, and has been quoted in print media world-wide.  She has two daughters adopted from China.                                                                      

http://susanfilan.com/about/

                           Joanne Kabak: Sacred Heart University                                                 

Professor of Communications

Westport, CT

Joanne received her bachelors from Barnard College and her masters from Columbia University. She’s been a free-lance journalist for over 15 years. Not only have her articles been published in "Newsday" and "Consumer Reports Money Advisor;" but have been awarded by the association of Connecticut Women in Communications. Currently, she is the faculty advisor for “The Spectrum” (Sacred Heart University’s weekly student newspaper); and teaches beginning and advanced courses in journalism and media studies.

Elizabeth Cox: Merit Financial Partners

Financial Planner

Westport, CT

Elizabeth has over 25 years of financial and investment experience, including 7 years as President of Cox Financial Services, LLC, 4 years as an independent financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services, and 12 years of international bond and equity trading on Wall Street. She was formerly director of International Sales Trading at Deutsche Bank Securities and head of the Latin American Sales Trading Desk at ING Baring Securities in New York.

Janice Hsu: Shakti Rising 

Director of Operations

San Diego, CA

Janice holds a Bachelor in liberal Arts degree with an emphasis on psychology and English from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. As a volunteer, Janice co-directed the San Diego
Women’s Film Festival for two years during which she oversaw operations and volunteers. Janice began at Shakti Rising as a volunteer in 2009 and over the course of her first year transitioned from a support role to being the sole director of the Transformation Through Service Program and now sits as a part of the Regional Leadership program.

http://www.shaktirising.org/?team_member=janice-hsu-business-director-aka-queen-of-the-green

Christina Burke: Shakti Rising

Director of Abundance

San Diego, CA

Christina holds a Bachelors in Urban Studies and Planning and a secondary degree in Sociology. She currently leads Resource Development and engages our spectrum of stakeholder in their various capacities to contribute as a natural asset-mapper. Over the last decade she’s worked in community development throughout San Diego County, Europe, and Africa.

http://www.shaktirising.org/?team_member=christina-burke-director-of-abundance

Thank you to all who have found the first two editions of The Woman’s Book of Money and Spiritual Vision useful. The book continues to be read and used by women individually and in workshops across the country. Now, to accommodate digital changes that have taken place globally in the financial world, a revision and update is necessary.

If you have stories or information about web-based financial information we might add to the resources mentioned in the book please share them on this blog.