Intentional Blessings

 

Nehemiah Turner, an 11-year-old from Jacksonville, Florida, is the first child to log in 100 hours for the Humane Society’s Pawsitive Reading Program. For two years, Nehemiah has volunteered his time to go to the shelter and read to the homeless dogs.

Garbage day is a favorite for 3-year-old Davi, who lives in Goias, Brazil. He eagerly awaits the arrival of his friends. When his mother, Rafaela Miranda, asked what kind of birthday party he would like, he chose breakfast with the “garbage guys.” On July 7, as the truck rounded the corner, the men saw a table set with a birthday cake, decorated with garbage trucks, juices, coffee, fruit, and bread. The men hugged Davi and said, “It’s his birthday, but the gift is ours.”

 

Kayzen Hunter, from Arkansas, overheard that his favorite waiter at Waffle House, Devonte Gardner, was having trouble paying his rent and he needed more reliable transportation so he could get to work. Kayzen told his parents about the conversation and said he wanted to help Devonte. His family started a fundraiser, in hopes of raising enough to purchase a car. As the story spread, $100,000 was raised. Devonte was able to get a car and move his family to another apartment.

 

After visiting his sister in Boston, Tim Cook was flying home to Portland. Since Tim is blind and deaf, he was guided to his seat on the plane. Unable to communicate with their passenger, the flight attendants asked the other people on the flight if anyone knew American Sign Language. Clara Daly, 15, had studied ASL for a year and volunteered to help. Water was Tim’s first request. When Clara checked on Tim later, he was ready to “talk.” Clara spent the rest of the flight spelling words into Cook’s hand and he then spelled words and messages to her. She later said, “I believe I was meant to be on that flight. Most people never find out why they were somewhere until years later, if they ever do.”

 

Whether it is one on one or joining in with others, may we, too, have tender and generous hearts that lead us to intentionally bless others.

 

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

1 Timothy 6:18

 

Actions Count

 

When recruiting athletes, coaches are looking for talent and abilities. They are also looking for how players treat their parents, teammates, coaches, and officials, which gives them a glimpse of how an athlete will contribute to their program. When evaluating a recruit, Dawn Staley, coach for South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team, states, “If they respect their parents, they are going to respect us. If they don’t respect their parents, we don’t have a shot.” Talent matters and so does character.  

After the July floods in Kerr County, HEB offered free food and cleaning supplies at the Hill Country Youth Event Center. They served breakfast, lunch, and dinner and handed out cleaning products for those in need.

 

Karen Swensen is a former news anchor. While shopping at a Louisiana grocery store, she noticed 90-year-old Air Force veteran Dillon McCormick pushing grocery carts back to the store in an 111 degrees heat index. Swensen found out that McCormick received $1,100 from Social Security each month, but needed $2,500 for expenses. Using her media talents, Karen set up a GoFundMe account and spread the word so people could donate. Within 24 hours, thousands of people had donated more than $240,000. Swensen acknowledged, “The fundraiser proved that people from all walks of life can come together to help someone in need.”

 

Jacqui Hornbach, from Batesville, Indiana, was watching the funeral procession for 89-year-old military veteran Charles Everett Yorn pass by. She noticed two young boys get off their bikes and stand at attention. Hornbach expressed, “To see these two young boys immediately stop to pay their respects to a passed serviceman, without any prompting or knowledge of anyone watching, was just so touching to see. It was so natural for them.” Observing the boys made Jacqui stand up to pay her respects, too. After the gun salute, the boys got back on their bicycles and rode on down the street.

 

What wonderful reminders that there is still good in the world when we are willing to look for it. And it’s even better when we participate in it.

 

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

James 1:22

2026 FIFA World Cup Memories

 

Jeremy Doku, Belgium football player, flew home for the birth of his first child, a boy he and his wife Shireen named Praise. Doke shared James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” He said his son’s birth was “one of the greatest gifts God has given me.” Doku prioritized his family over the World Cup. He then flew back to play for his country.

Fans from Japan waved bright blue plastic bags, with “Japan Pride” printed on them, to cheer on their team. After the game, they used the bags to pick up trash in the stadium.

 

In appreciation for their hospitality, Scotland’s fans donated to three charities in Providence, Rhode Island.

$10,000 to the cancer unit at Hasbro Children’s Hospital

$10,000 to a grassroots soccer program for underprivileged kids

$6,500 to the Rhode Island Highlanders Pipe Band to fund a program to teach children to play the bagpipes

 

After Jacob Allmendinger’s grandmother passed away in 2020, he and his grandfather spent a lot of time watching football games together. The 21-year-old England fan, from East Yorkshire, decided to use the $12,600 he had saved for a down payment for his first home to take his 80-year-old grandfather, Geoff Golliker, to the World Cup games. He stated, “I can always make the money back. But I won’t ever get to go to the World Cup with my grandad again.”

 

Players and coaches gathered on the field, after games, to pray together and to thank and praise God. Win or lose, the men gathered, often sharing the moment with the opposing team. After France lost, Maxence Lacroix shared, “I thank God not only when everything goes well, but also when hopes are disappointed and the outcome is painful. The Christian faith does not promise a life without setbacks. It gives us something greater: the assurance that Christ is with us in every circumstance. It is found in Jesus, who remains faithful when everything around us changes. It wasn’t the ending I had hoped for, but I’ve learned to give thanks to God in all circumstances.”

 

After the championship game, Argentina’s Lionel Messi embraced Spain’s Lamine Yamal, 19 years old, and told him, “Keep following your path. The future belongs to your generation.” Yamal said “Those words are worth as much as the gold medal hanging around my neck. It was like he had passed the baton to me. He’s the greatest player in history and someone I’ve always looked up to. After the match I wanted to show him my respect.”

 

After the World Cup Championship ceremonies, Spain’s Nico Williams found his mother, Maria, and placed his gold medal around her neck and gave her a hug. In the mid-1990s, she and her husband Felix had crossed the Sahara Desert in the back of a truck and then many miles barefoot, while seven months pregnant, so she would have a better life for her family. Upon reaching Spain, they climbed over the fence. A nun advised them to apply for political asylum. Nico commented, “I run very fast, but I can’t run as fast as my mother. She once escaped death and crossed the Sahara to come from Ghana to Spain. I gave the medal to my mother because she deserves it more than anyone else.”

 

Win or lose, we have an audience observing how we act, what we say, and what we do. May they see Jesus in us!

 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16