Being Noticed

Principal Michael Glynn, of Central Community Elementary School in Corinth, Maine, recently reported on an activity three of the fifth-grade teachers are doing. Every school day in February, Mrs. Dawe, Mrs. Hart, and Mrs. Poulin add a heart to each of their student’s lockers with a word that describes the person. It is not required. They choose to do so, “Because they believe kids should see proof, every single day, that someone notices who they are becoming. This is how confidence is built. This is how belonging is built. This is how kids become brave enough to be themselves.”

 

People at First Baptist Church of Conroe are collecting gently used formal dresses for their “Princess Gowns” event. The month before prom Junior and Senior young ladies of Montgomery County can go by the church, try on dresses, and select one to have at no cost.

 

Gladys, 67, has been the receptionist at Rosie’s Hair Salon for 16 years. She answers the phone, schedules appointments, and puts out magazines. Gladys also observes and listens. Mrs. Chen, 81, calls and makes hair appointments very six weeks. The day before she is to get her hair cut and styled, she calls and says something has come up and she cancels her appointment. The next time she called Gladys asked Mrs. Chen why she could not come. With tears she explained that after she paid the rent, bills, and bought food she didn’t have enough for her hair. When Gladys told Rosie, she was asked to call Mrs. Chen to come in for her appointment. After her haircut, there happened to be a computer glitch so she didn’t need to pay. Gladys started a quiet list, which was approved by Rosie. Mr. Phillips’ hands shook so much that he couldn’t get a clean shave. A young mother, who had just left a shelter, needed a haircut so she could interview for a job. Both were taken care of with no charge. When regular customers noticed, they began leaving donations for the fund. Mrs. Chen now comes to her appointment every six weeks. Last month, the new stylist, 23-years old, told Gladys, “My mom used to bring me here when I was little. We were so broke. But Rosie never charged us. I thought it was charity. It wasn’t charity, it was dignity. That’s why I became a hairstylist.” She then handed Gladys an envelope and said, “I want to sponsor one person a week forever.” Yes, she is the receptionist, but Gladys says, “People don’t just need services. They need to feel worth the effort. They need to feel seen.”

 

May we have perfect vision when it comes to helping others know they are seen.

 

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John 13:35

 

Lifting Others Up

 

“The Snow Team Heroes” are a group of young volunteers in Washington D.C. During the recent ice and snow storm, the young people, and parents and adults who sponsor them, went door to door shoveling snow, breaking up the ice, clearing sidewalks, and then spreading salt to make it safer for the elderly residents in their neighborhood. Rodriguez Norman, Jr., 14-years-old, spent several days making sure the ice and snow were cleared. There were hundreds of others, across the city, who also participated in the volunteer program.

In Summertown, Tennessee, where Highway 20 and Highway 43 meet, there is a food box, on a pole, outside the Shell station. Anyone is welcome to take what they need or to add items to the box. Recently, Sheena Sweeney filled the box to overflowing. She added a note: “God blessed us during these hard days and we are paying it forward! God bless! Praying for all.”

 

Mrs. Chen, 79, lives on the third floor of her apartment building. Since there is no elevator, it makes it a challenge to carry her laundry basket back to her apartment after doing the wash. It sometimes takes her 20 minutes to walk up the steps. Jason, her 17-year-old neighbor, was running down the stairs when he noticed Mrs. Chen. He stopped and said “Let me get that, Ma’am.” Keeping with her pace, he carried the basket up the three flights of steps. When Mrs. Chen said he didn’t have to do that Jason replied, “My Mom raised me right.” He set the basket by her door and sprinted off before she could pay him. “Muscles are made for lifting others up.”

 

Dale Schroeder grew up poor in Iowa. He never married or had children. Dale worked as a carpenter, in the same shop, for 67 years. Living a simple life, he only owned two pair of jeans - one for church and one for work. When Mr. Schroeder died, it was discovered that he had saved up almost 3 million dollars. He had set up a fund to pay for 33 young people, from small towns in Iowa, to attend college debt free. Dale explained that he “knew what it was like to grow up with nothing – and wanted others to have a chance he never did.” The recipients went through an application process. Known as “Dale’s Kids,” they became teachers, therapists, doctors, and professionals.

 

May we also look for ways to lift, bless, and encourage others.

 

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good works,

Hebrews 10:24

 

Generous Hearts

 

In Margraten, Netherlands, a beautifully maintained 65-acre cemetery is the final resting place for 8,301 graves of American soldiers, who died in the war while liberating the Netherlands from the Germans. After the war, the land was gifted to the US. Each grave has been adopted by a local Netherland family. When other volunteers are needed, there are over 300 on the waiting list.

 

Needing gas money to make it to college orientation, an 18-year-old young man took his Fender Stratocaster to the pawn shop. After hearing the student’s explanation, the owner offered him $200 for the $600 guitar. With a shaky voice, he took the cash, looked at the guitar one last time, and left. The owner immediately put a tag on the guitar, “SOLD-DO NOT TOUCH.” For four years, the guitar stayed behind the counter. One day, a well-dressed young man, wearing a suit, walked into the shop and said, “I sold a guitar here years ago. I know it’s long gone, but…”. That’s when the man reached behind the counter, picked up the guitar, and replied, “It’s not gone. I was just holding it for you. $200 plus tax.” Puzzled the young man asked, “Why?” The man replied, “Because you don’t sell a dream. Sometimes you just have to hold onto hope for someone else.”

 

Paul Brittain owns Paul’s Tree Service in Fenton, Missouri. During the winter storm, an 85-year-old widow called and begged him to bring some firewood so she could be warm. Paul delivered the wood and gave it to her for free. In the process of assessing her needs, he also repaired her roof, fixed her AC and heating, and repaired her car. Brittain then raised $20,000, with help from the community, for any additional needs.

 

During these freezing days in Fort Worth, Texas, the HOPE Team went downtown to help rescue people in the homeless encampment. The people live under a bridge and down a steep embankment. Many were shoeless, without warm clothing, freezing, exhausted, and some were in distress. Louis Pantoja and other firefighters carried the people on their backs, up the steep ice- and snow-covered hill. Drivers then transported them to a shelter where they could warm up and recover.

 

Especially during these days, may our hearts and lives overflow in generosity.

 

Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14