Outside the Box

Sometimes people choose to do things over and above what is expected or outside of the realm of what is predicted or mandated.  In the process, others may be helped, encouraged, or blessed.

Senior adults in the Netherlands are said to be some of the happiest and rank #4 for quality of life.  Instead of traditional nursing homes, the seniors live in a house with up to 7 residents.  These homes are replicas of the ones built in the 1950’s, since that is where most of their clear memories originate.   College students may live in the homes for free in exchange for 30 hours of activities with the senior adults each month. The residents feel more connected with the outside world when interacting with the young people.

Cody Gross is the head football coach for Athens High School in northern Alabama.  He realizes that coaching is more than just teaching young men how to play and win games.  They also need to be taught to be winners in life.  With such a conviction, Coach Gross recruited Defensive Coach Steve Carter to set aside time each week to teach the athletes how to do some basic life lessons.  Thus began “Manly Mondays” where the young men learn to…

* Look people in the eye and give a firm handshake

* Change a tire

* Check the oil and transmission fluid in the car

* Tie a neck tie

* Do basic plumbing

* Magnetize a screwdriver

…and the list goes on.  For Mother’s Day he told the young men to be creative and make something for their mom.  Coach Gross also emphasized that they are to treat women with respect and to do things for them.  About young people, Coach concluded, “We’re here to try to grow them up into being a man and a woman.  That’s what we’re here for; that’s my purpose in life.  I think that’s why I live and breathe is to spread the good news.”

The Alternative Learning Center in Dubuque, Iowa, is a school that reaches out to junior and senior high students who often struggle with schoolwork and are at risk of dropping out of school.  The school offers independent as well as project-based learning, in order to encourage and help their students succeed.  The last two weeks of the semester the students were offered the opportunity to receive credit for their P.E. class by completing yard work or other assignments for the elderly or disabled.  The students helped with the landscaping program by mowing lawns, raking leaves, trimming hedges, weeding gardens, and chopping firewood.  Some chose to participate by cleaning up a river barge or the golf course.  Tim Hitzler, a teacher at the school told KWWL, “giving the students this option during the last two weeks of classes is a great opportunity for them to give back while getting a workout at the same time.  The act of helping others is what makes the program so impactful.”  Some of the students chose to continue volunteering over the summer.  Hitzler said some students come back to help even after they graduate.  “There’s something about helping people that really need it.”

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Galatians 5:13

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

Ephesians 6:7-8

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4:10

Seeing and Responding

Kindness makes any road easier to travel.

~ Margaret M. Painter

We will not be remembered by our words,

but by our kind deeds.

On July 29, Megan Ashley observed a kind deed unfold on her flight from San Diego to Nashville.  A 96-year-old lady was flying to Kansas.  Upon takeoff, the lady asked the man next to her if she could hold his hand.  Noticing that the lady was somewhat apprehensive, he kindly obliged.  He took the time to explain what was happening during the time in the air and again held the lady’s hand when the plane hit turbulence.  When the plane reached its destination, the man took the lady’s carryon, waited with her for a wheelchair and then stayed with her until she met her daughter.  The lady was so appreciative that she wanted the man to have her flight pretzels as a way of saying, “Thank you.”  Megan concluded her post by saying, “I walked away sobbing happy tears being so thankful for people like this wonderful human.  Hats off to you sir, for your kind heart and your compassion toward someone whom you’ve never met.  I have never been so touched on a flight before.  This truly made my week.”

Last Monday was 71-year-old Janice Hall’s day to run errands.  Since she did not have a car, she used her walker to go to the bank, post office, and shopping.  Janice is used to shopping and running errands without a car, but this was an especially hot and humid day in Oklahoma.  As she struggled to get home, Jibril Jennings, an airman from Tinker Air Force Base, drove by and then stopped to see if he could be of assistance.  With more than two miles to still walk to get home, Janice welcomed the help.  Jennings loaded the groceries and walker in his car and then took Janice home. 

Both instances were observed and recorded without the givers and recipients knowing they were being watched.  What a blessing that a need was observed, a solution willingly offered, and help was gratefully received.

* There are times we are observed, even when we are not aware of it.

* It’s important to have open eyes and hearts to see opportunities to be of help and then do something about the situation.

* Whether help is asked for or offered, be a gracious and grateful recipient.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Matthew 25:40

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Acts 20:35

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

Colossians 3:12

Cause to Pause, Ponder, Reflect, Consider, Apply

Sometimes a word, a quote, or a picture will cause me to pause, ponder, and reflect in order to consider changes to be made or affirm qualities already in practice. 

The tongue has no bones, but it is strong enough to break a heart.  So be careful with your words. ~ Unknown

Don’t ask God to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet. ~ Sean Patrick Flanery

What we worry about the most reveals where we trust God the least. ~ Craig Groeschel

To make a difference in someone’s life, you do not have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful, or perfect.  You just have to care. ~ Mandy Hale

Don’t let your ice cream melt while you are counting someone else’s sprinkles. ~ Akilah Hughes

“I’m convinced that when we help our children find healthy ways of dealing with their feelings, ways that don’t hurt them or anyone else, we’re helping to make our world a safer, better place.” ~ Fred Rogers

“Modern religion focuses upon filling churches with people.  The true gospel emphasizes filling people with God.” ~ AW Tozer

“All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” ~ Edmund Burke

Lord, empty me of me, so I can be filled with you. ~ Chris Sligh

Grace isn’t a little prayer you say before receiving a meal.  It’s a way to live. ~ Unknown

Be teachable.  You’re not always right. ~ Unknown

God still uses broken vessels. ~ Unknown

“Don’t treat people the way they treat you.  Treat people the way God treats you.” ~ Dave Willis

You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequence of your choice. ~ Unknown

“There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” ~ Ronald Reagan

God is still writing your story.

Quit trying to steal the pen.

Trust the author.

~ Unknown

Let your love for God change the world, but never let the world change your love for God. ~ Unknown

Grow through what you go through. ~ Unknown

In a world where you can be anything, be kind. ~ Unknown

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

And see if there be any hurtful way in me;

And lead me in the everlasting way.

Psalm 139:23-24

The soothing tongue is a tree of life,

     but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

1 John 2:6

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything  is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

At the Right Time

Larry Yockey is a fourth-generation farmer who owns a 1,200-acre farm in Ritzville, Washington.  Yockey, 63, can no longer work his wheat fields due to stage 4 skin cancer.  When the neighboring farmers in Adams County found out about the situation, they rallied together and showed up to harvest the wheat crop.  To the surprise of Yockey’s wife and three daughters, the farmers were able to complete three weeks worth of work in around 6 hours.

In late June, Patrick Riordan and Susan Cook went to a Payless shoe store to look for a pair of shoes for Susan and possibly some for the grandchildren.  The store in Hamilton, New Jersey, was soon to be closed, along with others across the country.  While they were shopping, the price of shoes went from $3 to $2 a pair.  The couple talked with the employees and found out that they were hoping to close the store as soon as possible.  At that point Patrick and Susan talked about buying all the remaining shoes and donating them to charity.  After approaching the manager with the idea, they offered to buy the remaining shoes for $1 a pair.  The couple bought about $5,000 worth of shoes for $247.  At the suggestion of Susan’s daughter, Racheal, the shoes were donated to WomenSpace, an organization in Lawrenceville, New Jersey that provides emergency shelter and legal services for women and children who find themselves in unfortunate circumstances.

Granbury ISD held their Back to School Convocation for employees on Tuesday.  After the first part of the meeting, a representative from the Granbury Board of Trustees welcomed the personnel and expressed how it is a known fact that teachers spend money out of their own pockets for their students.  Instead of spending money on a motivational speaker, the trustees announced that they had made arrangements with Wal-Mart to purchase $100 gift cards to give to each teacher, front office staff, and bus driver.  After mentioning a few more items on the agenda, the personnel were dismissed to do some back-to-school shopping.  From the looks of the employees on the video, the teachers and personnel are starting the school year feeling well motivated, respected, and appreciated.

And at just the right time, God knew that we would also need help, encouragement, redemption, hope, and a future so he sent his son Jesus to be our Savior.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5:6-11