Ripple Effect

Every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., retired bus driver, Frank, goes to CVS to pick up his medicine. One particular day he saw an older lady, with tears in her eyes, trying to read the label on her prescription. When he offered to help, she explained that her son picked up her prescription, but she hated to bother him and wanted to be sure she was taking the right amount. Frank waited with Margaret until it was time for the pharmacist to speak with her. That week, he bought a magnifying glass to give to Margaret to make it easier to read the label. She was so excited and pleased and then showed Frank the drawings her grandchildren had sent. The conversation then turned to his years driving Bus #42 for 30 years. A young mother took time to admire the drawings and spent about ten minutes visiting. The next week Maria, the pharmacist, gave Margaret a cup of hot tea to enjoy before she returned home. That was the day Frank decided that he would purposely find someone to spend five minutes with before leaving. He spoke to a man wearing a fishing hat about his love for catching fish. Frank thanked the tired looking nurse for the difference she was making in her important job. Before long, other people began noticing people, too. The man from the hardware store began speaking with Mr. Brooks, who usually just sat and looked around. A teenager, who waited for her mom to pick her up, read magazines to Mr. Davis, who was going blind. Frank missed three weeks of coming to CVS when he had pneumonia. The day he returned he was greeted with a welcoming committee. The pharmacist now used large print prescription labels, when needed. A table was set up with a sign: “Stuck? Ask for a 5-minute friend. We’re all waiting for something.” Margaret had been helping out, since Frank was sick. She even made soup and took it to the new widow. She commented, “You showed us how, Frank. We just…kept going.” Frank noted, “Turns out the best medicine isn’t in a bottle. It’s right here, in the space between ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye.’ And it’s free for anyone who’ll take five minutes to give it away.”

 While shopping at the neighborhood grocery store, Eleanor noticed that the cashier was quiet and seemed to be tired. After receiving her receipt, and looking at his nametag, she said, “Thank you, Marcus.” Surprised he responded, “You’re welcome, ma’am” and even offered a slight smile. Eleanor decided to continue the greeting when she returned on Friday. “Having a busy morning, Sofia?” “Yeah…yeah it is. Thank you for asking.” From then on, Eleanor made a point to speak to each cashier by name. She asked about sick pets, their day, something that let the person know she saw them. Her husband, Walter, even noticed that she seemed happier after going to the store. This week there was a new cashier. She was obviously nervous. That’s when the lady in front of her in line said, “First day, sweetie? You’re doing fine. I’m Ruth.” Chloe responded, ‘Yes…thank you, Ruth.” Ruth then glanced back at Ellie and winked. No words needed. “It’s spreading. Slowly like ripples. I’ve seen other regulars starting to use names. I see the difference. They stand a little taller. They smile easier.  They see us, too.”

 

What a difference a gift of five minutes and/or speaking a name can make!

 

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12

Still Needed

Last spring, Allen turned 66. He spent his days repairing lawnmowers and other items, for free. One day, when working with wood scraps in his garage, his neighbor, Martha, took him a glass of lemonade. Allen confided that he was disappointed that the school had cut the woodshop elective from the curriculum. He knew how valuable it was for boys and girls to learn to use a hammer, nails, and sandpaper. That Saturday, Mary heard laughter coming from Allen’s driveway. A 10-year-old boy and 8-year-old girl were learning how to measure and cut wood. They built a wobbly birdhouse, painted it bright blue, and hung it on the fence for all to see. Word got out and four kids showed up after school on Monday. Allen taught them how to sand the wood until it was smooth. Allen didn’t spend time criticizing, but helped the kids learn and talk through what needed to be done. Other children began to bring scrap wood and began to learn skills. One day 14-year-old Maya came to watch. She had been kicked out of the after-school program because of her attitude. Allen didn’t ask questions, just handed her a chisel to learn to round a smooth curve. Every day, for three weeks, Maya came and worked. She didn’t say much, but did a lot of observing and work. One morning, Allen found a shelf left on his front porch, made by Maya, with a note to hang it in his garage. Neighbors noticed what was happening. Rich kids were working beside poorer kids, those who learned the skills were joining Allen in patiently teaching the proper way to “Measure twice and cut once.” They learned to paint. People at the bakery brought cookies and the mailman even brought boxes of nails to be used. The elementary school principal made arrangements to bring the 5th graders, every Wednesday, to learn new skills. When Martha asked why he agreed to teach the kids, Allen replied, “I thought I was teaching them. Turns out…they were teaching me how to be needed again. We all need fixing sometimes. But nobody gets fixed alone.”

Kathy lives in the town of Cedar Hills and is a retired teacher.  Her husband died two years ago. Still wanting to help people learn, Kathy set up two chairs and a chalkboard on her front porch, along with a sign that states, “Homework help. Free. All ages.” Manny, 9, missed 3 weeks of school when his dad lost his job. With a cookie and a pizza drawn on the chalkboard, he learned fractions. Word spread quickly and children and even adults came to learn. A former librarian would come and read stories. A retired engineer, Mr. Rivera, came and taught Algebra. Outgrowing the front porch, the city offered an old rec center to be used. Volunteers fixed up the building, teens painted murals on the walls, teachers gave supplies, and people volunteered their time to tutor. Soon “The Open Door Learning Center” was ready to be used. Kathy still takes time to sit on her porch to drink tea. The blackboard now states, “Knowledge is a seed. Plant it anywhere.”

 

No matter what our age, may we all know we are still needed to give, help, and encourage others.

 

Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

August Beginnings

The starting of school offers fresh, exciting, and new beginnings for the academic year. It also gives ways to be involved with donations, physical help, and offered prayers.

Brina was shopping for school supplies for her children. In the check-out line, a man glanced in her basket and curiously asked why she was purchasing 150 notebooks. She explained, “I teach science and it wasn’t worth the hassle of trying to get kids to bring their own notebook, and that it takes away from time I could be teaching them.” As the cashier rang up the total, the man handed his credit card to her and paid for Brina’s cart full of her own children’s supplies as well as the notebooks for her students. An added blessing was that the man’s son witnessed his father’s kindness, generosity, and valuing of education.

 

Church members, families, and neighbors are meeting at schools in their community to pray for a safe, successful, and productive year for the faculty, staff, and students.

 

Groups are gathering backpacks, supplies, shoes, and clothing to gift to children, in order to offer them a successful start to the new school year.  

 

Teachers are posting wish lists of items that would be beneficial for teaching their students and people are purchasing them.   

 

Walt Disney Elementary School, in Alvin, Texas, was heavily damaged by a tornado, in December, 2024. Because of the outpouring of giving of their community, neighboring districts, the Disney Corporation, and generous donors, so many supplies were gathered for the students and teachers that they had to stop collecting. Every student received new school supplies for the Spring Semester. Earlier in August, parents were notified that because of the abundance of donations, supplies and a backpack were also being provided for the 2025-26 school year for every student!

 

May we, too, be willing to invest in the 2025-26 school year through giving, helping, encouraging with our spoken and written words, and praying.

 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17