Keith Davison is a retired district court judge from Morris, Minnesota. During World War II he served as an Army radio operator. He also played bass and tuba in musical groups. When Keith was 93, his dear wife of 66 years, Evy, passed away. The house became too lonely and quiet. Keith talked with neighbors about an idea he had been thinking about. The neighbors were shocked that he was actually going through with his plan. Workers arrived and began marking his yard. Then the big diggers came. At the age of 94, Davison had an in-ground pool built in his backyard that is 32 feet long and up to 9 feet deep, under the diving board, for the kids and adults in the neighborhood to use. Since the community does not have a pool, the people were delighted. Now he has lots of visitors, happy squeals, and hugs that he looks forward to each day. After the completion of the pool, Davison commented, “I knew they’d come. What else would you think of doing where you could have a whole bunch of kids over every afternoon?”
On July 7th, Laura Failner, a Sky West flight attendant, shared a moment of kindness that happened on the flight to Washington. An elderly lady was having difficulty walking down the aisle of the plane and locating her seat. That’s when a gentleman asked Laura to please let him change seats with the lady. After receiving permission, the man went to get the lady and took her to his seat in first-class. With tears of gratitude, she gave the gentleman a big hug and said, “Never in my 94 years has someone done that for me. Thank you, young man.” Laura posted, “It was amazing how his thoughtful act changed the attitude of everyone on the flight. May we all look for the little things we can do to help others around us and show kindness. In this crazy world, let’s all try to be the good.”
Every day Margaret McCollum goes to the London underground station, sits on the platform, and listens for the “Mind the gap” announcement that was recorded by her husband in 1950. After the death of her husband, Oswald Laurence, in 2003, going to hear the recording of his voice helped Margaret feel close to him. After more than 50 years, Laurence’s voice was replaced by an electronic recording at all the stations. When Margaret learned of the decision, she contacted Transport for London to see if she could get a recording from the tape so she could still listen to her husband’s voice at home. After hearing Margaret’s story and request, the company decided to continue to have Oswald Laurence’s announcement played at the Embankment stop of Northern Line, which is the closest one to where Margaret lives, and play the electronic recording at the other stops.
May our words, deeds, actions, and decisions also show others that they matter.
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
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