Doing Something

Lydia, 78, lives across the street from one of the city bus stops. It’s the stop with a broken bench and no walls or covering to block the rain, snow, wind, or hot sun. Most days, Lydia sits by the window, drinks her hot tea, and watches the people as they wait for the bus. With the first snow coming early, she noticed a young man blowing on his hands and rubbing them together to try to keep warm. Lydia thought about that scene all day long. That evening she went to her stash of yarn and knitted a pair of gloves. Early the next morning she left the gloves on the bench with a note that said, “If your hands are cold, these are for you. No need to return them.” By that afternoon they were gone. The next day another pair was left. Soon Lydia was also knitting scarves and hats to leave on the bench. One day she noticed a student leaving a pair of socks. The delivery driver left two new pairs of gloves. Another person left a thermos of coffee, with disposable cups beside it. Notes soon appeared on the bench.

“Stay warm, friend.”

“You matter.”

“Take what you need. Leave what you can.”

 

The city even replaced the broken bench. Lydia continued to knit, even when her hands were sore, reminding herself she was part of something bigger than herself. She noted the lesson she learned: “You don’t need to change the whole world to make a difference. You just need to warm one person’s hands, one heart, one moment. Because kindness – like a thread – travels further than you’ll ever see.”

 

While Asunka Kumara was attending a veteran’s funeral in Texas, it began to rain. He noticed a uniformed soldier standing at attention in the downpour. Immediately, 14-year-old Moises Sauceda stepped over to the soldier and respectfully held an umbrella over his head. Tears and drops from the rain were running down Moises’ face.  When asked why he did it, Moises commented, “It reminded me of my dad. I needed to do something.” Kumara reflected, “And he did – showing all of us what quiet, genuine respect truly looks like.”

 

Every day, may we also choose to do something to benefit and encourage others.

 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

James 1:22

A Right Heart

Mario Hoefer is a senior wide receiver on the Charles City High School football team in Iowa. September 27th, the team played New Hampton High School. During the fourth quarter, Hoefer was running to high five his teammates, after a great play, when he noticed New Hampton junior Carter Steinlage grab his calf and drop down on the field with a leg cramp. He noted, “I saw him go down and I didn’t see anyone go over there to help him. I know how this feels and wanted to help him get through this cramp until someone came over. We’ve played each other for years now. It was more like a brotherly thing to help. ryan Bjorklund, head football coach for Charles City, praised Hoefer for his sportsmanship and character. He told the Globe Gazette, “People see true sincerity and that’s what he was doing there. He’s just a good dude and that’s what was coming out. It looks natural and pure, and that’s what it was.”

Selena, 81, lives in a small apartment over the hardware store in Bristol. Every Friday she takes Bus 12 to the grocery store. With her arthritis, it now takes more effort and time to walk up the hill on Maple Street to get home. One rainy Friday, James, 30, who works security at the hospital, noticed Selena and offered to carry her groceries home for her. Since she didn’t have an umbrella, he held his coat over her, to keep her somewhat dry. The next Friday, James again met Selena at the bus stop and carried her groceries. It became their weekly tradition. When she told James he didn’t need to carry her groceries he replied, “I know. But someone once did the same for my nan. She told me, ‘Kindness is a habit, not a favor.’ I’m just keeping the habit alive.” On Sundays, Selena began baking oat and raisin muffins and leaving them in a tin on her front step for James. When Stella had pneumonia and was in the hospital for ten days, she came home to flowers on her doorstep and a note taped to the door: “Welcome back, Selena. Your steps were missed at the bus stop. – James” Others also noticed James’ kindness to Selena. A woman began walking with her father on Fridays. A teenager carried groceries for elderly Mr. Ellis. The postman has even been seen waiting, if someone is struggling.

 

Oh, to have a right heart that responds in the right way at the right time. And just a reminder; you never know who is watching.

 

Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Sparking Kindness

Every morning Mrs. Thompson walks from her house to the neighborhood park and leaves bottles of cold water and energy bars on a park bench for joggers, children, or anyone in need. One morning, 16-year-old Eli spotted the welcomed snacks while finishing his jog. He looked around, but there was no one in sight. The next morning, the snacks were once again available. Recognizing the anonymous kindness, Eli began to notice ways he could give. He helped the boy on the corner who was trying to carry too many bags from the grocery store. Eli took the time to help a little girl reach the swing that was too high. There were times that an apple was left on the bench and juice was given to the mail carrier. One day Mrs. Thompson caught Eli leaving a note on the bench. “A little kindness goes a long way. – Eli.” The bench had become more than just a place to sit in the park. It is changing lives, one act of kindness at a time.

Working as the crossing guard and part-time grounds keeper at the elementary school, Mr. Harland stands at the corner of Maple and Fifth streets every school morning. Wearing his bright orange safety vest, he welcomes the students and helps them safely cross the street. As the colder weather approaches, Mr. Harland stores coats, mittens, hats, and scarves in a wooden box in the shed behind the playground. On cold days, the crossing guard keeps gloves, scarves, and hats in his big pockets to give to the children who are in need. Mr. Harland gives out coats at recess. He is making the world a little warmer, one pair of mittens, a scarf, a hat or a coat at a time.

 

An email was sent out to the student body that a new family in Sullivan needed help moving. The students were told they would earn service hours or be paid by the family.  Within a few minutes, senior football player Kyle Corkill responded that he and eight of his football buddies would take care of it and they didn’t need it to be counted as service hours or to be paid.  Early Saturday morning the young men arrived and helped the family move. Insisting they be paid, the young men finally took the money and chose to give it to the football coach to put in the football fund. When interviewed, senior Aiden Ballinger said, “they wanted to set the bar for the younger guys on how we can thank the community and give back.”

 

Whether individually or as a group, may we, too, spark kindness, one act at a time.

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 

Words and Meditations

 

"CHAMPIONS DON'T

SHOW UP TO GET

EVERYTHING THEY WANT;

THEY SHOW UP

TO GIVE EVERYTHING

THEY HAVE.”

~ Lexi Hull

 

 

“Every morning is a

fresh start.

Wake up with a

thankful heart.”

~ Kristen Butler

 

 

“DISCIPLINE

LEADS TO HABITS.

HABITS

LEAD TO CONSISTENCY.

CONSISTENCY

LEADS TO GROWTH.”

~ Coach Lisle

 

 

“Start where you are.

Use what you have.

Do what you can.”

~ Arthur Ashe

 

 

“LIFE

is not measured

by the days we

collect, but by

the love we

scatter.”

~ Unknown

 

 

“The person you will be in five

years depends largely on the

information you feed your

mind today. Be picky about

the books you read, the

people you spend time with,

and the conversations you

engage in.”

~ Ruben Chavez

 

 

“Be the reason

someone feels

welcomed, seen,

heard, valued, loved,

and supported.”

~ Mindful Christianity

 

 

“What you feed will grow.

Feed your faith,

not your fears.”

~ Dr. David Jeremiah

 

 

“Good teams become great

ones when the members

trust each other enough

to surrender the

Me for the We.”

~ Phil Jackson

 

 

 "You can't control the

finish line, but you can

control every step you

take toward it.”

~ Zig Ziglar

 

 

May our thoughts lead to words, deeds, and actions that make a difference in our family, neighborhood, community, and beyond.

 

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14