Hagen and his mom and dad flew to Dallas, Texas, and then rented a car to drive to a family funeral. As they traveled away from the airport, they soon realized that Hagen’s favorite Buzz Lightyear figure had been left on the plane. They found out that the doll had not been turned in and the plane was now on its way from Love Field to Little Rock, Arkansas, the final destination of the day. In Little Rock, Jason, a Ramp Agent at LIT, was making the final check of the plane for the day when he noticed Hagen’s buddy. Jason’s eye caught something written on the bottom of one of Buzz’s boots: Hagen. After some investigation, he found that only one Hagen had been a passenger on the plane that day. Jason then began to take action, knowing he would be mailing Buzz back to his friend. He wrote a letter to Hagen and told him about Buzz’s adventures on his Southwest flight and time in the Little Rock Airport. He also included pictures of Buzz at the various places. Before mailing, Jason hand-decorated the box. A few days later the surprise package arrived at its destination. There was a joyous reunion with young Hagen and Buzz. Ashley, Hagen’s mother responded, “There’s definitely not enough good in this world, and for someone to take the time out of their day to do that for strangers means the world to us.”
Randy Smalls, from South Carolina, was contacted by Richauna Reese to let him know of a problem she hoped he could help remedy. Smalls 7th grade daughter, and some of her friends, had been making fun of and bullying Ryan Reese because of the way she dressed, her choice of shoes, and her hairstyle. After the recent death of her father, grandfather, and aunt, the bullying was weighing heavily on Ryan. Upon learning of his daughter’s involvement, Randy remembered his feelings of being bullied and laughed at in school. He knew something needed to be done to correct the problem and make an impression on his daughter. Randy was planning to take his 13-year-old daughter shopping on Saturday for new clothes. He decided to contact Richauna and ask if Ryan could go with he and his daughter. His daughter soon found out that the money her dad was planning to give her to shop would now be spent on new clothes for Ryan instead. Smalls stated, “I think that’s the perfect punishment because my daughter likes to dress. So if they’re picking on a student because of the dressing, then I take away from her and give it to somebody else.” Randy’s daughter was not pleased, but did eventually decide to help Ryan choose outfits. The more time the girls spent together, the better the conversations. Smalls also made a hair appointment for Ryan for that day. He then told her he would be paying for hair appointments, each month, to the end of the year. With Randy Smalls’ daughter’s encouragement to her friends, the bullying stopped. Smalls concluded, “I believe as a parent, we have to take responsibility for what our children do.
Katherine Hepburn tells the story of going to the circus with her father when she was a teenager. It finally came down to just one family in front of them in line, waiting to purchase tickets. The family consisted of a father, mother, and eight children all under the age of 12. The children were lined up, two by two, and holding hands. From their excited chatter, it was obvious that this would be their first time to see the circus. As the father stepped up to the ticket booth, the lady asked how many tickets were needed. The man proudly stated, “Two adults and eight children.” When told the cost, the man realized he didn’t have enough money. At that moment, Hepburn’s father reached in his pocket, took out a $20 bill, dropped it on the ground, tapped the man on the shoulder, and told him the money must have fallen out of his pocket. With a tear streaming down his face, the man thanked Mr. Hepburn, realizing what he had done. After that, Katherine and her dad walked back to the car and went home. The money that had been given to the family was what would have purchased their own tickets to the circus. Katherine remembered, “Although we didn’t get to see the circus that night, we both felt a joy inside us that was far greater than seeing the circus could ever provide. That day I learned the value to give. The importance of giving, blessing others can never be over emphasized because there’s always joy in giving. Learn to make someone happy by acts of giving.”
May we too experience the joy and value of giving from the heart, especially when it is unexpected.
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
Love is patient, love is kind.
1 Corinthians 13:4a
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12
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