Saturday, February 22, 2020

A Valentine Kind of Heart


“I follow three rules:  Do the right thing, do the best you can, and always show people you care.” 
~ Lou Holtz


Sometimes opportunities come our way and we are given a few minutes time to think and respond.  Other times, more time is needed to make and carry out a plan, which is what three young people chose to do to make others feel special on Valentine’s Day.

Jayme Wooley, 15, is a sophomore at Axtell High School, outside of Waco, Texas.  Last Valentine’s Day, Jayme noticed that while several girls received flowers or other gifts, there were some girls that were left out.  Not wanting that to happen again, Wooley bought 170 flowers so that every girl at his school would receive a Valentine.  Jayme told CNN, “Over the past couple of years that I’ve been at Axtell, not all of the girls were able to get flowers and stuff.  Sometimes, it’d just be a secret admirer or popular girls.  It felt heartbreaking that not every girl was feeling special.”  On Valentine’s Day, Jayme handed a flower to every girl from 6th to 12th grade.  Because of his act of kindness, other guys took the lead and held the door open for the girls.  Wooley responded, “I’ll probably never forget that moment of just seeing their faces brighten up.   I don’t want anybody to feel less important than anyone else.”  Jayme is hoping that this is a tradition that will continue even after he graduates.

Kayleigh Whatley is a second grader at King Elementary in Katy, Texas.  She has already developed a tender heart for others.  This year she bought 20 carnations so she could give one to every classmate.  She knew that would make them happy and feel special.   

A student at Troy High School in Troy, Ohio, began working on a Valentine surprise in September.  Using different colors of paper, origami hearts were made and the student wrote “you are loved” on the outside part of each of the folded hearts.  Other than a few faculty members who gave permission and let the student in the school, the giver of the hearts remains anonymous.  On Valentine’s Day, as the 1,504 students entered the school, they were greeted with a colorful origami heart attached to each locker.  A well-planned idea, which took hours and months to complete, was a delightful and appreciated success.

Whether it’s spur of the moment or an idea that takes extra time, energy, and planning, may we each be willing to do our part to lift others up and accomplish the good works God prepared for us to do.

Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14

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 the others.
Philippians 2:3-4

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17

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