Responding from the Heart

Recently, Sid Edwards and his son Jack Ryan, 17, were shopping at their local Rouses Market in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  During the process of shopping, Jack Ryan, who is autistic, was mesmerized watching one of the store employees restock items in the fridge section.  Edwards thought his son was wanting him to buy orange juice, but after getting a can to purchase, his son kept watching as the man restocked the shelves.  Jordan Taylor also noticed Jack Ryan’s attention.  He said, “Something in the back of my mind was just like, ‘ask if he wants to help you.’”  For thirty minutes Jordan would hand Jack Ryan an item and he would place it on one of the refrigerated shelves.  Sid Edwards responded, “It was a big deal.  Somehow this young man reached my son … he went into Jack Ryan’s world.”  Edwards took a video and sent it to his family.  His daughter posted it on Facebook in appreciation  of  the opportunity Jordan had given her brother.  When interviewed by WAFB, Jordan said, “I was just happy that I could make someone else happy and make their day.”

Dr. David Harnish is the Superintendent/High School Principal/Junior High Principal in Martin, Michigan, a district with 625 students.  With the passing of an $18 million bond, several upgrades were made to improve the schools.  Even though the funds had been spent to better the schools and make wonderful improvements, Dr. Harnish noted that it had been 17 years since the school had been painted.  After pricing the painting upgrade, the Superintendent noted, “That $150,000 would have taken away from (the) kids or the potential for us to take care of our staff.”  With that as his motivation, and at a fraction of the cost, Dr. Harnish spent 90 hours a week this summer painting the school to have it ready for the start of the academic year.  He was joined by a few of the graduated seniors who volunteered their time as a way to give back to their school and community.

This week, Branch Whitlock took his toddler aged son to the local hardware store in Decatur, Alabama.  Bryton was asleep as they entered the store, but woke up too soon from his needed nap.  With tears and loud crying, Bryton caught the attention of customer service specialist, Kim.  With permission, Kim gently took the toddler, rubbed his back, walked back and forth while singing, “O, How I Love Jesus” softly in Bryce’s ear.  With his son quietly resting his head on Kim’s shoulder, Branch was able to complete his shopping.  Not only did the hardware store complete a sell that day, they also earned an appreciative customer who spread the news of their excellent customer service.

Whether large or small, what a difference we could make if we took time to respond from the heart to the opportunities we are given. 

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good

     and what does the LORD require of you?

To act justly, and to love mercy

     And to walk humbly with your God 

Micah 6:8

 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

1 Corinthians 13:4

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

Galatians 5:22-23

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

Colossians 3:12

Choosing Words Carefully

“You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can impact a life forever.” ~ Zig Ziglar

“What comes out of our mouth is a direct reflection of what’s stored up in our heart.” ~   Lysa Terkeurst

“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

Leland Michael is an educator in Iowa.  Before school started, he was shopping at a local store.  Parents recognized him as being a teacher at their children’s school and asked if it was really necessary to have to buy all the supplies the teachers had requested.  In front of their children, they complained about the amount and cost of what all they needed to purchase.  If they had taken time to look in Mr. Michael’s basket, they might have noticed that he was purchasing a classroom set of many of the items they were also buying.  As he neared the checkout line, a little dejected, the man in front of him was purchasing his daughter’s school supplies.  After his purchase, the man turned to Mr. Michael and said, “You are a teacher, right? I just want to thank you for everything you do. I see your cart is full with supplies, and I just wanted to help out as much as I can.”  The father then handed Mr. Michael a $25 gift card, shook his hand and left with his daughter giving him a big smile.  What a difference in responses.  Leland noted that two sets of kids heard a message of distrust and bad judgment of teachers while the girl heard and saw that “School is important enough that we should give more than required to make sure it is successful, teachers should be respected and valued, and learning requires us giving it everything we have.” Words and attitude make a big difference.

Amy Beth Gardner's daughter, Breonna, was entering middle school.  Her clothes were bought, supplies had been purchased, and she had even been to the school and decorated her locker.  As important as those events were, there was more more task that her mother wanted to accomplish.  The night before school started, Amy Beth gave Breonna a tube of toothpaste and a plate.  She had her squeeze all the toothpaste out then told Breonna to put all of the toothpaste back into the tube.  After complaining that she couldn't accomplish the task and "It won't be like it was before!" her mother then explained that Breonna's words were like the toothpaste.  "Your words have the power of life and death.  As you go into middle school, you are about to see just how much weight your words carry.  You are going to have the opportunity to use your words to hurt, demean, slander and wound others.  You are also going to have the opportunity to use your words to heal, encourage, inspire and love others.  You will occasionally make the wrong choice.  Just like this toothpaste, once the words leave your mouth, you can't take them back.  Use your words carefully, Breonna.  When others are misusing their words, guard your words.  Make the choice every  morning that life-giving words will come out of your mouth.  Decide tonight that you are going to be a life-giver in middle school.  Be known for your gentleness and compassion.  Use your life to give life to a world that so desperately needs it.  You will never, ever regret choosing kindness." 

Whether spoken or written, words should be carefully considered before expressing them.  Do my words honor God?  Do my words edify and build others up?  If so, speak up.  If not, silence can be golden.

Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Psalm 4:24

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

Gracious words are a honeycomb,

     sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21

Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them. But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts – murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”

Matthew 15:10-11, 18-19

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Ephesians 4:29

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5:4

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

James 1:26

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

James 3:9-10

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.”

1 Peter 3:10

Heart Choices

On July 26, 2018, Bethany Hatfield went to Walmart to purchase some grocery items and a few things for her incoming students in her elementary class at school.  Bethany buys extra clothes for the students in her room to use in case of an accident or if they are inappropriately dressed for a change in temperature.  As she was checking out, the cashier commented on the great price of the jeans she was purchasing.  Ms. Hatfield agreed and proceeded to tell the cashier she was buying the extra clothing items to keep in her classroom and why.  Bethany paid for the purchase and was loading her bags in the cart when she felt a tap on her shoulder.  A woman, whom she had never met, tried to give her money to pay for additional items for her students.  At first Bethany refused, but Sharon finally convinced her that she wanted to be part of the blessing for her students, too.  After loading the shopping bags in her car, Ms. Hatfield then checked her pocket and found out that Sharon had given her $50 to purchase additional items for her students.  In writing a response to what happened, Bethany stated, “God led me to this profession and I try each day to be obedient to that calling….  Today, tho, today I was reminded why I do my job and that there are great people in the world.  I work each day to try and shape children into good people.  People like Sharon.  Thank you Sharon for what you did for me and my students today.  Today you financially provided my students with pants, shirts, shoes, socks, and underwear.  The biggest blessing was that you provided me with hope and a reminder why I’m following my calling.”

David grew up in Nebraska.  For decades, his relatives had owned and farmed the land.  One day, without the consent of the family, a relative sold the 80 acres that had belonged to their ancestors.  David and his father decided they were going to try to do whatever they could to one day purchase the land again.  When the acreage finally appeared on the auction list, David and his father spent days trying to figure out how they could afford to buy the old family land.  The day of the auction arrived and about 200 farmers showed up.  Feeling they would never win the bid, because of all the interest, they still had faith and decided to carry on with the plan.  It was time for the bidding.  When the previously owned family acreage was announced, David and his father opened with a bid.  They waited.  And then waited some more.  The 200 farmers remained silent.  Due to no more action on the bidding, the auctioneer made a strike with the gavel guaranteeing they had won the bid.  The article concluded with, “This is an example of the true power of kindness and considering the interests of others over your own.”

These two stories bring to life what Paul wrote about in Philippians 2:4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.”  What an amazing difference it would make if we, too, made heart choices to show kindness in the opportunities we encounter.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

I Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:1-4

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:18

Beach Week 2018

Families:

 

 Larry and Debbie

Scott

 Abby

 Mary (5), Daniel (3)

 Brad and Melinda

 Chad and Lori

 David (7), Ryen (5), Sawyer (3), Della (1)

 Robin

 Kirk

 Adam and Jordan

Eli (7), Josiah (5)

 Andrew and Melissa

Lena (3), Amelia (1)

 My brother Terry's daughter, Stacy

Jane (8)

 My brother's son, Erich

Micki and Mark

 Sarah with her nephew Charles

Kevin and Amy

 

Charles (1)

 10 of the 12 in shirts they designed
(2 were napping)

 Plus

Lena and Amelia 

Beach Time:

Birthday Time:  We celebrated Melissa's actual birthday and Mary and David's August birthdays.

Mary asked for a Batman for her birthday.  Since her brother's birthday is in January, she didn't want Daniel to have to wait for a Batman figure.  So sweet.

 Build a Bear Astros National Championship outfit

Required Fun Activities:  Decorated t-shirts, masks, treasure boxes

Annual Tradition:  Magic Carpet Golf

 Hole in one!

 Hole in one

 Della thought this was a slide

Indoor Fun:

David and Sawyer would build the tower so Charles

could knock it down.

Outside/Deck Fun:

... until next summer

We will not hide from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.

Psalm 78:4

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:5

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

Psalm 133:1

The LORD has done great things for us,

     and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126:3