A Giving Heart

With graduation just a few months away, Sofia Nielsen, 17 years old, decided that she wanted to use her talent to do something special for each of her 110 classmates at Notre Dame Academy of Staten Island, New York, an all-girls school. At first, she thought she would paint a picture of the school for everyone, but then decided she wanted it to be more personal. After coming up with a plan, Sofia met with Principal Meaghan O’Brien for her idea to be approved. Next, she went to Laura Bauer, the head of the yearbook, to ask for pictures of all the seniors. Finally, Sofia met with Joe Barral, the head art teacher, to get the supplies she would need to work on the big project at home. For the next two months, Nielsen spent every spare minute painting portraits of each of the 110 graduates. Other than the three people at school and her family, no one knew of Sofia’s surprise. She even managed to keep the project secret from her best friend since kindergarten, even though they talked by phone every day. Two days before graduation, Sofia finished painting and wrapping the last portrait. The day of graduation, she taped the gift under the seat for each of her classmates. It was finally time for the ceremony to begin! As salutatorian of Notre Dame Academy’s Class of 2025, Nielsen approached the platform to address the graduates and their guests. After speaking, Sofia asked each of the graduates to reach under their seat “for a little something made just for them.” There were audible gasps, clapping, and then a standing ovation as the graduates and guests realized what Sofia had gifted her classmates. She concluded, “(The paintings would be) a reminder that everything that you have become here at Notre Dame will always be a part of you. A way to immortalize our legacy.” Sofia stated, “Everyone was so receptive and grateful for it. I am so amazed by their reaction to it.” Lisa Nielsen continues to be amazed at her daughter’s artistic talent, creativity, and academic success. She reminisced, “This girl walked into Notre Dame Academy afraid of her own shadow, unable to really present in front of a classroom of kids that she knew from kindergarten. To see her up on that stage at graduation in front of 600 people, 110 girls, all her teachers, and to witness that self-possessed ability to communicate and share her gift with others…it was nothing less than a miracle from God and Notre Dame Academy’s help to get her to that point.”

Whether it’s planned for a long time or spur of the moment, may we also be willing to use the gifts and talents God has given us to serve and bless others.

 

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in various forms.

1 Peter 4:10

 

A Father's Love

When Megan Becker was 5 years old, she made a paper tie for her dad for Father’s Day. Her dad commented on how much he liked it and  that he would wear it on her wedding day. She giggled and went out to play. Through the years, the tie hung on the mirror in his room. He would dust it off from time to time and comment, “I will wear this at your wedding.” In her teenage years, Megan would roll her eyes and say, “Okay dad!” When her parents moved into their new home, the tie was no longer on the mirror. Without Megan knowing, her dad had hidden the tie so she would assume that it had been lost in the move. Two years later, on her wedding night, just before the father daughter dance, Mr. Becker put on the paper tie and turned around to dance with Megan. She told her dad, “I will treasure this moment for the rest of my life. Love you dad!”

John Miller is a lifelong Major League Baseball fan. Through the years, he has collected baseball cards, including several Jose Altuve sets. After his father died, looking through the cards reminded John of the many hours he shared with his dad at baseball games. Miller is a single father. Recently his 10-year-old daughter mentioned that she had outgrown her shoes and needed new ones. With money being tight, John made the decision to sell his baseball card collection. He spent time boxing up his cards and then took them to the local dealer. While at the store, another customer overheard John telling his story of the need to sell the cards. Eventually, the story made it to the Astros organization and Altuve. A few days later, Altuve made a surprise visit to John at his home. Explaining that he heard the story of Miller selling his baseball collection, Jose replaced the Altuve cards John sold and also included some he had been wanting to add to his collection. His daughter, Emma, received a signed jersey. Before leaving, Jose handed John an envelope. He had written a note and included a check to cover Emma’s new shoes, school supplies, and money to set up a college savings fund. The note stated, “You gave up something you loved for someone you love even more. That kind of sacrifice deserves to be honored.” Through tears, John replied, “I never imagined something like this could happen. I just wanted to be a good dad. I never expected anything in return.”

I’m grateful that God lavishes his great love on his children every day. Because we are loved, may it make a difference in how we love, speak to, help, and treat others.

 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 John 3:1a

Caring in Action

 

During his college years at North Carolina, Jason Brown played football. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens, in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft. In 2012, at the age of 29, Brown chose to walk away from a $37.5 million contract. He felt that helping people was more important than playing football.  Even though he had no farming experience, he used the money he had saved and bought a 1,000-acre plot of land in Louisburg, North Carolina. Jason began watching YouTube videos to learn how to be a farmer and plant, grow, and harvest crops. He now grows cucumbers and sweet potatoes, at First Fruits Farms, and gives the produce to local food pantries. So far Brown has given away more than 1 million pounds of food to feed people in need.

Hasbro Children’s Hospital is located in Providence, Rhode Island. In 2010, Steve Brosnihan, the hospital’s resident cartoonist, began flashing his bike light toward the hospital every night to say goodnight to one of the patients. News soon spread and local businesses, tugboats, stores, and the university began to participate in the ritual. Brown University’s Sciences Library displayed a smiling face, using LED lights.  In keeping with the tradition, every night, at 8:30 p.m., the people, boats, and businesses flash and leave on lights to send a goodnight message to the children to remind them that the people in their city remember and care about them. In response, some of the patients flick the lights in their room back at them. 

 

Renk was riding home on the subway. A boy got on at the next station. As he entered, it was apparent that several people were staring at the worn-out shoe he was holding in his hand and the mismatched socks he was wearing. He had an old backpack and messy hair. After a few stops, the man sitting next to Renk leaned over and said to the boy, “Hey, I just bought these for my son, but they might fit you better. He’s got a pair already anyway.” He handed the blue tennis shoes, with the tags still on them, to the boy. Although he was unsure, he tried on the shoes and they fit! The boy’s smile and “Thanks” changed the outlook for those on the subway that day.

 

May we, too, show we care by our actions.

 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

James 1:22