Servant Hearts

 

Lance Corporal Myles Kerr was prepared and ready to run the 5K at the Venetian Festival in Charlevoix, Michigan.  After extensive training, Kerr was predicted to win the race.  The day for the 5K came and the race started.  When the winner crossed the Finish Line, and Corporal Kerr was not in the top finishers, his friends began to check on what was happening.  They soon found out that as Kerr was running, he saw a young 9-year-old boy, Boden Fuchs, walking alone.  When he ran past him, Kerr commented, “Hey little guy, you alright?”  The young boy replied, “Will you run with me?”  He soon found out that Boden’s friends had run ahead.  Even though it meant giving up first place, Kerr knew what he needed to do.  He stayed with the young boy and continued to encourage him to not give up and to complete the race.  They crossed the Finish Line together at the 35-minute mark.  After the race, Corporal Kerr stated, “As a Marine, we try to reach out and help as much as we can.  I don’t think I’m a hero.  I was just trying to help.”  He may not consider himself a hero, but he made a big difference in Boden’s life.

In November, Melody Luttenegger, her husband, and infant son moved to a house on Stewart Avenue in Grand Chute, Wisconsin.  After a week or two, Melody noticed something that puzzled her. When the trash was picked up, the can was returned up the long driveway to a place beside the garage.  She asked her husband if he was bringing the can up, but he wasn’t.  Then it happened again.  Melody thought that maybe it was the trash collectors.  The day before Christmas Eve, Melody decided to wait outside to see who was returning the trash can after the trash was collected.  Soon a 75-year—old man, Dick Pontzloff came riding by on his bicycle.  After retirement, he was bored.  He would return the trash cans on his street and then branched off into putting the cans up for everyone in their neighborhood.  Even with icicles forming on his brows, Dick said he especially loves helping in the wintertime.  “Just be nice to all people.  It’s just what you gotta do.  Just think if you were at home and you needed someone for help.”

 

Spur of the moment, or planned, may we, too, look for ways to encourage and serve others.

 

 

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