Setting Examples

Cheryl Boxer and her husband dropped their son off at the train station to go back to college for the spring semester.  Once again, it was too quiet when they arrived at home.  Missing were the sounds of conversation, video games, guitar playing and music.  Then Cheryl began finding notes that her son had left.  Some were in obvious places where he knew she would find them.  He left a note on the mirror, “I love you” on a card inside the coffee maker, and notes in obscure places for his mom to find.  When he called to let her know he was back at the university, Cheryl let her son know she had enjoyed finding the notes.  She was certain he had also found the note she left inside his lunch, “Be careful and I love you.”

Bekki Viau and her 6-year-old son, Edward, were walking around downtown Pittsburgh, headed to eat lunch before going to Edward’s doctor appointment.  On the way, the two passed an elderly man, sitting on the curb.  He had a cup and sign asking for money.  Edward dropped some coins in the cup.  After lunch, he told his mother that he wanted to take the man something to eat.  Bekki bought another meal and Edward gave it to the man.  On the way home, Edward decided they should go back and take the man a pillow and blanket, too. 

 

After football practice, Jason Rodgers took his two young sons to eat.  Even after practice, the boys still seemed to have a lot of energy.  It didn’t take long to realize that there was a long line and the place seemed to be short staffed.  Looking for ways to teach his boys to have a good work ethic, this seemed to be a great opportunity.  He had his oldest son, who is 7, ask the lady behind the counter for some clean towels.  Then he instructed him on how to clean off the tables and chairs.  The 3-year-old son pushed the chairs under the tables.  As he waited in line to order, Jason continued to watch and instruct.  The two teenagers behind him in line commented, “I would hate to have you as my dad.  They aren’t even getting paid!”  After finishing her meal, a woman complimented Grady and handed him $20.  He was so proud.  Jason asked his son, “What do I tell you about working and doing something others won’t do?”  Grady replied, “I will get paid more than anybody else.”  When questioned about what he would do with half of the money, his son said, “SAVE IT IN MY PIGGY BANK!”  Jason commented, “My heart couldn’t glow more if I wanted it to!  Thank you!  To the nice young lady giving my son the $20, it wasn’t needed, but it was perfect!  Sometimes when you least expect it!”

 

Whether we are aware or not, ears are listening and eyes are watching what we say and do.  May we follow God’s example, so our efforts make a positive difference and impact.

 

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.

Ephesians 5:1

Seizing the Opportunity

 

The winter weather, in a small Midwest town, had left several inches of snow and ice.  Another storm was headed their way, with even more sleet and snow predicted.  That morning, an Amazon driver delivered two packages to an elderly woman, who lived by herself.  Before the diver could return to his truck, he noticed the lady trying to sweet the snow so she could retrieve the packages.  The delivery man quickly went back up to the porch, picked up the boxes, and escorted the woman back to her door.  He then then picked up a shovel, cleared a pathway to the stairs, and shoveled off the steps.  After that, the delivery man took a container of salt and sprinkled the pathway and steps.  As he finished, the lady opened the door and gave him a bag of her homemade cinnamon rolls.

Aeron McQuillin, 18, Bailey Campbell, 17, and Billy Tarbett, 15, of Ontario, Canada, had just finished a night swim practice and were on their way to get something to eat when they saw a woman sitting in a Chevy Cobalt that was pulled to the side of the highway.  All three of the young men’s dads had taught them to work on cars so they pulled over to see if they could help.  When they couldn’t figure out what the car needed, they offered to call a wrecker to tow the car.  Distraught, the woman told the guys she could not afford to have the car towed.  That’s when the three young men decided to push her car to her house, 4 miles away.  Dan Morrison came upon the scene.  While the lady steered the car, Dan followed with his car lights guiding the way and the flashers on to help prevent an accident.  Asked if they would do it again Billy replied, “We were always raised to help, no matter what the situation was.  We were helping her but also she was helping us, doing a workout.”

 

In September of 2024, Hurricane Helene hit Cocke County, Tennessee, leaving behind much destruction.  Sean Montooth and his team were there to help restore power.  As they worked, they noticed a man looking over the damage to his farm alongside the French Broad River.  In just a few hours, he had lost everything.  After completing their job, the linemen went to talk to the man.  He showed them where his garden and cornfields had been planted.  Then Sean said, “As we walked away, he asked every one of us if we went to church.  At that moment he didn’t care one bit about himself, or his farm.  He cared about 5 total strangers and whether or not they knew who Jesus is!”

 

This week, may we also seize the opportunities to help, bless, and make a difference for others.

 

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6:10

Caring Responses

Beth Dunnington was at LAX waiting to board the plane to Portland.  A toddler, around 18 months old, was having a tough time.  Due to his kicking, screaming, and lying on the ground it was hard for the mother to get ready to board the plane.  Overwhelmed, the pregnant mom sat on the floor, put her head in her hands, and began to cry.  As if on cue, six women, from different parts of the waiting area in the terminal, came together and sat in a circle around the mother and little boy.  None of the women knew each other, but they had a common goal.  Beth began singing “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider” to the boy.  Another lady had an orange that she peeled.  One woman had a toy in her bag that she pulled out for the toddler to play with.  Another person gave the mom a bottle of water while another helped the mom pull out the toddler’s sippy cup to give to him.  It wasn’t long before the mother and son were calmed down and able to make it on their flight.  Beth later commented, “After they went through the door, we all went back to our separate seats and didn’t talk about it.  We were strangers, gathering to solve something.”

Sabrina Laffan picked her teenaged son up from school.  They stopped for a snack and then drove through the car wash before heading home.  As they exited the car wash, her son noticed a woman wearing baseball cleats and pushing a shopping cart along the road.  After commenting that he wished he could buy shoes for everyone who needed them, they stopped a block away at Ross.  Her son bought a pair of tennis shoes, a pair of boots for when the weather turned colder, and a pack with six pairs of socks.  They drove back and found the woman.  Sabrina’s son got out of the car and gave her the gifts.  In return, he received a big hug.  When they determined that the shoes were the right size, he carefully removed the tags and helped the woman put on her new shoes.  When he returned to the car he said, “Ma, today is her birthday.  She was so happy.”  Sabrina commented, “This simple act of selflessness turned it all around.  It put things in perspective for him and for me, too.  He didn’t ask questions, judge her or talk negatively about her situation.  He simply cared.  This kid goes to school, plays football and works six hours a week.  He took basically one week of his pay and unknowingly made this beautiful lady’s birthday special – all because he cared.”

 

Whether with strangers, family, or friends, may we, too, quickly respond with care when seeing a need.

 

Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

 

Helpers in Action

While checking out at Target, in Fort Myers, Florida, Rachel Syngo noticed a kind woman bending down and tying an older man’s shoe.  Her younger son was watching his mom with great pride.  Rachel commented, “This is just one of those great reminders that we’re all here together and that it’s still okay to help out a stranger.”

Last week, in Boone, North Carolina, 62 people from the Pennsylvania Amish community built 12 tiny houses in less than 48 hours.  The $300,000 cost was raised and donated by the Amish community. 

 

Sunshine Oelfke is a five-year-old from Ishpeming, Michigan.  Recently she noticed that one of her friends did not have enough money to buy milk at school.  That afternoon, she broke into her piggy bank, put her money in a baggie, and took it to school so her friend could buy milk.  When Sunshine’s mother found out there were other children who couldn’t afford milk, she decided to give part of the commissions she made from her job to pay for the rest of the children to have milk with their meal.  Sunshine’s mother helped her set up a GoFundMe account to pay for the milk for her class.  They raised over $700, enough to provide milk for the entire semester. 

 

John Joyce, 83-year-old from St. Petersburg, Florida, makes a living by mowing lawns.  His 2o year old truck broke down so he was now walking his mower and supplies from house to house to mow lawns.  Sometimes the houses were several miles away from each other.  Nikki and Robert Norton found out about Mr. Joyce’s dilemma and decided they wanted to help.  They had recently married and decided they wanted to give some of their gift money to John.  Nikki also spread the story online.  In less than a month, over 300 people gave money and raised $13,000.  A used car dealership sold them a 2004 Nissan V8 truck at cost.  That Monday they surprised John with the truck, money to pay for insurance, and a new lawnmower.

 

In a small village in Germany, bags of food and supplies are hung anonymously on an iron fence for anyone in need.  There are no cameras or people standing around to record who takes a bag.  The ones who provide the filled bags say, “It’s simply an unspoken gesture of goodwill and service, done with humility and compassion.  This quiet kindness, absent of any need for recognition, serves as a powerful reminder that true generosity often goes unseen, yet its impact is deeply felt.”

 

Whether individually or as part of a group, may 2025 be the year we are quick to notice and respond to those in need.

 

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

Hebrews 13:16