Good People

 

On “Twosday”, 2/22/22, people across the Susquehanna Valley took time to celebrate the occurrence.  In Lancaster County, a former student of Dick Pillion, a math teacher of many years at Warwick High School, chose the day to disclose a secret.  Since Pillion’s favorite number is two, the student anonymously started a scholarship in his teacher’s honor for $222.22, in 1993.  The scholarship continued to be given each year until 2014, the year Pillion retired.  The giver of the scholarship chose 2/22/22 to reveal his identity to Dick Pillion.  He also took the time to invite other students to send cards to their former math teacher on that day.  Pillion stated, “To be remembered by so many people after so many years, some 35, 40 years and they sent cards to me, that’s truly amazing.”

 

It seems that on airplane flights the signal to stand up, retrieve your belongings, pack the aisles, and rush to the plane exit occurs as soon as the pilot turns off the seatbelt sign.  Jenny Hale was recently on a plane where the unexpected happened.  The man on the back row had a very short amount of time to make it to his connecting flight in hopes of making it home in time to take his twin daughters to their first father-daughter dance.  The entire plane of people stayed seated, so the man could get off the plane first and sprint to his next flight.  As he hurried down the aisle, the other passengers cheered and clapped for him.

 

Maria and Jesse Hulscher were celebrating the birth of their son.  After arriving home from a hospital visit, Jesse realized that the heater was no longer working.  With a two-year-old, his wife and baby son coming home from the hospital in a few days, and a snowstorm on its way, Jesse knew he needed help in a short window of time.  In panic mode, he called the people at Magnuson Sheet Metal to explain the situation and ask for help.  Magnuson co-owner Craig Aurand replied, “I just said to take it easy, we’ll be right there.”  Workers were sent out and the furnace was repaired within the hour.  A few days later, when the bill arrived, Jesse reported, “I opened it up, and looked at the receipt and it said, ‘no charge, take care of the new baby.’”  The Hulschers quickly spread word of the amazing act of kindness.  Jesse said, “I can’t thank them enough for the great service, speedy response time and amazing technicians.  Businesses like this earn customers for life.”  Aurand responded, “We didn’t do it for the PR, we just did it to be good people.  That’s it.  Just to be nice to these people.  That’s what this is about.”

 

This week may we, too, find ways to be good people.

 

 

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 as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

2 Thessalonians 3:13

 

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Hebrews 13:16

Inspired and Challenged

 

May we have

Wisdom to know His Way

Courage to take His Way

Peace to trust His Way

~ Sharon Seeley Hayes

 

 

“Each day is a new beginning, I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings, and to put my trust in God.”

~Queen Elizabeth II

 

 

KINDNESS

in any form

is never a waste,

no matter how small.

 

 

Too many people think the grass is greener somewhere else, but the grass is green where you water it.

 

 

“THE CHRISTIAN’S MOTTO SHOULD

NOT BE “LET GO AND LET GOD,’ BUT

“TRUST GOD AND GET GOING.”

~ J.I. Packer

 

 

Your attitude determines your happiness, not your circumstances.

 

 

Life is like a camera…

focus on what’s important,

capture the good times,

develop from the negatives,

and if things don’t work out,

take another shot.

~ Ziad K. Abdelnour

 

 

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”

~ Henry David Thoreau, ~ Zig Ziglar

 

 

Be someone

who makes

someone else

look forward

to tomorrow.

 

 

“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others.  If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter which fork you use.”

~ Emily Post

 

 

SUCCESS

ISN’T JUST ABOUT

what you accomplish in your life.

IT’S ABOUT WHAT YOU

INSPIRE

OTHERS TO DO.

 

 

It’s not about “having” time.  It’s about making time.

 

 

TODAY only

happens once…

Make it

                amazing!

 

 

“Happiness comes when we stop complaining about the troubles we have and offer thanks for all the troubles we don’t have.”

~ Thomas S. Monson

 

 

WHEN

GRATITUDE

BECOMES

YOUR

DEFAULT

SETTING,

LIFE

CHANGES.

~ Nancy Demoss

 

 

May we be willing to be inspired and challenged to make the changes that help us become the people God created us to be.

 

 

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

 

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

 

Doing the Extra

 

Courtney Potts, from Columbia, Tennessee, was stranded on the side of the road, after taking a curve in the road and her tire having a blowout,.  Since she had her small children with her, she knew it would be difficult to change the tire herself.  Courtney was standing on the side of the road, trying to figure out who to call and what to do when a man pulled over in his truck and offered to help.  When the man stepped out of his truck and spoke, Courtney immediately recognized country music singer and songwriter Luke Bryan, one of the most awarded country artists.  Potts called her stepdad and explained, “My tire is being changed by a country superstar.”  She continued, “If there is one stereotype about the south that is a good thing, it’s that everyone is especially nice.”

Belong Kitchen is a neighborhood grab-n-go kitchen in Houston, Texas.  Founded by Kim Brown, the kitchen employs adults with developmental and intellectual differences.  They offer family-sized meals from a weekly rotating menu.  Their motto is “Special people making special food.”  On Wednesday, Ellie Brown, daughter of Kim and an employee at Belong Kitchen, spotted Jose Altuve at a nearby store.  She asked the All-Star second baseman for the Astros to sign her cap.  Since neither had a Sharpie, Altuve said he would come by work the next day and bring a Sharpie to grant her request.  As he was leaving, Ellie called out, “If you come, you better bring Correa with you!”

 

On Thursday, Ellie was working the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift at Belong Kitchen.  Much to her delight, at 11:30 Altuve and Astros shortstop Carlos Correa walked in.  The players came with autographed baseballs for the staff and they had a signed bat for Ellie.  Then Altuve and Correa took pictures with the employees and volunteers.  In turn, the two athletes were gifted with Belong Kitchen hats, T-shirts, and dinner to take with them.

 

“We are so grateful they would take time out of their busy schedules to do this for Ellie and our employees,” stated Brown.  “So many people in this town look up to the Astros, and these two stars gave our kitchen the memories of a lifetime.  Ours is a group of society that’s often overlooked.  So, it’s wonderful Jose and Carlos made the effort to make an impact.  It won’t ever be forgotten.”

 

It wasn’t in their job descriptions.  It wasn’t their responsibility.  It wasn’t for publicity.  Luke Bryan, Jose Altuve, and Carlos Correa chose to give of their time and effort to help meet needs and encourage others.  May we be willing to do the same.

 

 

Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

 

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

Colossians 3:12

 

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

James 3:13