When Joy Ryan was 85, she told her grandson Brad that she regretted never seeing a mountain in person. Brad decided to take care of that and made plans to take his grandmother camping in the Great Smoky Mountains. Once there, Joy admired the mountains and decided she also wanted to climb them! Over the next six years, they traveled over 50,000 miles and visited all 63 U.S. national parks. They camped out in tents, climbed mountains, kayaked and even went white-water rafting in Alaska when Joy was 91. At 93, Joy visited the National Park of American Samoa. Brad claims his grandmother gave him “a new perspective on life.”
While watching the news, in Napa, California, 9-year-old Ryan Kyote saw a girl’s lunch taken from her because her meal plan was out of money. After questioning his mom, Kylie Kirkpatrick called the school district to inquire of their policy. Ryan also wanted to know how much the 3rd graders in his school owed for their lunch accounts. The total was $74.50. Going to his room, Ryan brought the money he had been saving for sports gear and gave it to his mother. Together they went to West Park Elementary School so Ryan could pay off the debts for his peers.
Anthony Cymerys is known as ‘Joe the Barber’ in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1988, Anthony began volunteering to give haircuts at the homeless shelter. Now, on Wednesdays, the 82-year-old retired barber takes a folding chair and clippers, powered by a car battery, and sets up shop in Bushnell Park. His clients are men and women who cannot afford a haircut. Joe the Barber gives away haircuts and human connection. One client shared, “It was about dignity, being seen, and knowing someone cared enough to spend time with them. Anthony’s corner of the park became a place of respect and compassion, where everyone was treated as human first.”
Jerry Martin, Jr. is a bus driver for the Copperas Cove School District. On his route, he noticed that one group of children had to wait in an area with high grass. After taking the students to school, Jerry went home, loaded up his lawnmower, and cut the grass. Choosing to help, Mr. Martin made his community a safer and better cared for place.
May we, too, be willing to show up and give of our time, talents, and money.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12
