Words and Meditations

 

"CHAMPIONS DON'T

SHOW UP TO GET

EVERYTHING THEY WANT;

THEY SHOW UP

TO GIVE EVERYTHING

THEY HAVE.”

~ Lexi Hull

 

 

“Every morning is a

fresh start.

Wake up with a

thankful heart.”

~ Kristen Butler

 

 

“DISCIPLINE

LEADS TO HABITS.

HABITS

LEAD TO CONSISTENCY.

CONSISTENCY

LEADS TO GROWTH.”

~ Coach Lisle

 

 

“Start where you are.

Use what you have.

Do what you can.”

~ Arthur Ashe

 

 

“LIFE

is not measured

by the days we

collect, but by

the love we

scatter.”

~ Unknown

 

 

“The person you will be in five

years depends largely on the

information you feed your

mind today. Be picky about

the books you read, the

people you spend time with,

and the conversations you

engage in.”

~ Ruben Chavez

 

 

“Be the reason

someone feels

welcomed, seen,

heard, valued, loved,

and supported.”

~ Mindful Christianity

 

 

“What you feed will grow.

Feed your faith,

not your fears.”

~ Dr. David Jeremiah

 

 

“Good teams become great

ones when the members

trust each other enough

to surrender the

Me for the We.”

~ Phil Jackson

 

 

 "You can't control the

finish line, but you can

control every step you

take toward it.”

~ Zig Ziglar

 

 

May our thoughts lead to words, deeds, and actions that make a difference in our family, neighborhood, community, and beyond.

 

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

Clothed in Compassion

When Rob Kenney was fourteen, his father abandoned him and his seven siblings. He never forgot how much he needed a dad figure to answer everyday questions. That’s why, as an adult, Kenney wrote the book, Dad, How Do I?: Practical ‘Dadvice’ for Everyday Tasks and Successful Living. He taught the basics for others who might need to know as well. Rob eventually started a YouTube channel to demonstrate, step by step, how to cook rice, manage money, tie a tie, iron a shirt, change a tire, plus other do it yourself instructions. Kenney now has over 5 million subscribers.

Champale Anderson’s love and consistent actions have changed the lives of children in her neighborhood. The Anderson house is known as a safe place, in North St. Louis. Every day, Champale prepares 100 lunch/snack bags to give to children after school. She includes a sandwich, piece of fruit, a juice drink, and snacks. When she first started making the extra lunches, Champale paid for all the food herself. Once word spread, people in her community  began giving money and bringing items to distribute.

 

After hearing stories from the nonprofit organization, Little Dresses for Africa, Lillian Weber, from Iowa, knew she wanted to help. She made a commitment to make one dress a day for the orphans and underprivileged girls. The dresses are detailed and sewn with great care. Lillian’s dresses give a message of dignity, hope, and love.  So far, at age 99, she has made 840 dresses. Lillian’s goal is to make 1,ooo dresses by her 100^th birthday.  

 

A young boy was being teased in the cafeteria at DuBose Middle School. The bottom of one of his tennis shoes had fallen off and the other shoe had rips in it. Coach Bradbury happened to hear the insulting remarks. He quietly pulled up a chair and sat next to the student, who was sitting at a table by himself. Coach opened his laptop and let the boy customize his own pair of new tennis shoes. They were ordered that day. A colleague commented, “Mr. Bradbury’s actions are a shining example of how a simple act can change a person’s day, and perhaps even their life. He didn’t just replace a broken shoe; he restored a child’s dignity and showed everyone what true kindness looks like.”

 

Every day, may we, too, choose to be clothed in compassion.

 

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

Colossians 3:12

In This Together

 

While shopping for groceries, Stacey, a retired school custodian, overheard two nurses’ talking. “No visitors. Not a single call in two years.” She soon learned the ladies worked at Oakwood Nursing Home and were speaking of Mr. Ellis. The next Tuesday, Stacey pushed her shopping cart into Oakwood and asked for Mr. Ellis. After introductions, Stacey spent time visiting. She came the next day, with a spiral notebook and pen, so Henry could help her spell better. The visits were now a weekly part of Stacey’s schedule. One day, Mr. Ellis said he wanted to write a letter to his grandson, his only relative. It took a few weeks to write the note and then it was mailed. The next Tuesday morning, Henry’s grandson arrived for a visit. From that time on, he came weekly. Workers and residents noticed the happy and content change in Henry. Other residents asked Stacey to help them, too. She began interviewing the people and finding out what they liked. She would arrive each week with a full cart of items to distribute. Soon the home started a “Friendship Board” so people in town could sign up for a resident to befriend.

Walter went to the laundromat on Main Street to wash his flannels, in preparation for the cooler weather. The place wasn’t crowded. That’s when Walter noticed a young mother, with a baby on her hip, digging in her purse trying to find another quarter to do her wash. Walter slipped a quarter in the slot and told the young lady, “This one’s on me.” With tears in her eyes, she softly said, “Thank you.” The next Monday he went back, dropped some quarters in a machine, and left an unsigned note: “Load’s on me. Stay warm.” Someone left a note that said, “You saved me today. Bless you.” For three years now, every Monday, Walter brings a baggie of quarters and sticky notes to leave on the washers. He wants people to know they are seen and cared for. One Monday, Walter walked into the laundromat and there were already notes and coins by the machines. A note was left for Walter that said, “We’re in this together.” One time Walter caught a teenage boy leaving two quarters in a machine and walking away. Now every Monday morning, at three laundromats across town, individuals, church groups, and even the mayor, leave quarters and notes taped to the machines. Walter expressed, “Just quarters. And a quiet message taped to a machine: I saw you. I know it’s hard. I’ve got you. The world may stay divided. The noise may never stop. But as long as the washers keep turning on Monday’s, so does hope.”

May we also be willing to join in to serve others.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Matthew 25:40