We Can Do It

It's a busy time of the year but it also is one of my favorite times. I love Christmas and the holiday cheer that accompanies it. I am grateful for the hustle and bustle that becomes a part of the celebration but I try to keep in perspective the 'Reason for the Season'.
Let me share an experience that illustrates my love for the season. Many years ago I was privileged to be a small part of an act of generosity that my friends and I knew would uplift a needy family. The act was not to pat ourselves on the back rather to bring some joy to a family that would have otherwise not come. Like each one of you it feels good to do something for somebody else. There isn't another feeling quite like it. I was overjoyed on that particular day but every time I think about it a feeling of happiness overcomes me.
We help because we want to bring joy to someone else. We serve because it's the right thing to do. We feel better when we lift the spirits of somebody else.
I am thankful for this time of year and I hope that you will too.

Soar On The Wings Of Life

There are times in my life when I am awestruck by something that I see.  I watched a bird fly from the top of a large light pole and the way that it flew was graceful and effortless.  It has always been a great desire to be able to do something like flight with little effort and with a little bit of a 'rush' attached to the experience.  Now having said that I am not a lover of heights or great speed and daredevil antics.
There are however things in our lives that we can do that would compare to the flight of a bird.  
Think in your mind about one thing that you are particularly good at.  Everybody has something that they can do strongly.  Our talents are individual in nature but it takes everyone to make the world go 'round.
With that one strength think about what you can personally do to use that to help another.  It is especially true that this time of year is a time when many will go without.  The use of your strength will help to bring a much needed smile on the face of someone who feels burdened with the every day happenings of their life.
Ours is the opportunity, a privilege really, to lighten the load of the helpless.  We can make somebody smile who hasn't had a reason to for a very long time.   You can make an unbelievable difference in another person's life.  Now is that time!

Are You Willing To Help?

It’s that time of year when our minds are turned to an increased desire to help the less-fortunate.  As the holiday season approaches there are many who will go without.  It doesn’t take much to help lift the spirits of someone who is down.

I bring this up because there is time to plan a little before the time is actually here.  There are many of you who help people constantly and I find that incredibly admirable.  Thanks for your good example.  I would like to challenge everyone to find somebody or a family that will benefit from our acts of kindness.

Our service will help them through their struggles.  Put on your thinking caps and begin thinking of what you can do. 

 

Need Your Help

May I tell you about a recent experience that happened and brought my heart a lot of joy? Becky sees the needs of others very well and then she is quick to act. I have watched over the nearly eighteen years of marriage as she jumps in and helps out. We have talked about this before but service to another rarely comes at a convenient time. It has never mattered to Becky. I am grateful for her wisdom and the love she has for other people.
A person called to get some help and Becky was not home. This person tried to contact some other people but was dismissed because of other distractions in their lives. Finally the person was able to contact Becky and help was on it's way. I admire her willingness to share of the gifts and talents she possesses. It is her compassion that blesses these people.
I am thankful to have her as my best friend and my sweetheart. Thanks love, for all that you do! I am the beneficiary of daily acts of service from you.
I want to be the type of person that will act when someone is in need.

Come Back

As I was sitting in church, today, the thought came to my mind that there are many people who struggle with various things in this life.  Those challenges range from health to struggles with children.  Even marriages have issues between husband and wife.
In the Bible, we are taught by the Savior, Jesus Christ.  One of my favorite passages of scripture calms my heart and stirs within my soul the reality of hope.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

For those that lose their way in life and the hope that they once possessed dwindles, there is always hope no matter what the situation currently is.  The invitation from our Heavenly Father is "Come back!"

Ours is the responsibility to spread that 'good word' and help to lift the heads that hang low with hearts and minds filled with anguish and distress.

We can do it. 

Gramercy Court

A couple of weeks ago, our three youngest children--Laurel, Brady, and Danny, and I went to Sacramento,California to visit my family and more specifically, to attend the baptism of one of our neices' baptism.  On Sunday morning, we went and visited a facility for the elderly.  Because my dad is the president of the Interfaith Council of Sacramento, he has been able to 'reach out' to some parts of the community that he feels like he can best help.  This opportunity with the elderly has been a touching experience for him and our family.  It was Mother's day so my dad had asked that we be prepared to share a musical number that would uplift and bless the lives of these wonderful people who have grown accustomed to my dad coming to visit.  He teaches them something from the Bible and prays with and for them. 
It was one of those times when I felt very close to heaven.  The gratitude that these people show for coming to spend time with them was touching to me.  When we left this community (called Gramercy Court) our children expressed their thanks for the chance they had to go and love these people and watch the smiles on their faces as they listened to the beautiful songs that were shared and the words of love and encouragement that my dad shared with them.  They were deeply touched, as was I.
One major responsibility I have is to visit the poor and the needy.  The old and those who are not fully capable to care for themselves.  I hope and pray that I am fulfilling that great responsibility.  One day, I will hope that somebody is there to help me when I cannot do things for myself.
Gramercy Court was a life-changer!

You Have To Go Now

There was a young married couple who lived in our neighborhood.  They seemed to be content with their life together.  The man traveled quite often for his employment.  Some things happened in their marriage and soon after we heard that they were getting a divorce.  The man moved out of the house and the woman began to set up the life she would have on her own. 
I was over at one of our friend's house and noticed that a truck was in the driveway that I hadn't seen for a long time.  The closer I looked, I realized that the truck in the driveway, next door, belonged to the man that had divorced his wife some months before.  I didn't think much about it, at the time.  I went to bed that evening and suddenly began to get an unsettled feeling about the truck being at that house.  The longer I lay in bed the stronger the impression got that I should go and check out the situation.  I finally sat up on the edge of the bed.  Becky asked if everything was alright with me.  I told her what I was feeling and expressed to her that I needed to go check on the home and make sure everything was fine.  She agreed.  The biggest dilemma for me was that it was late and I didn't want to be inconsiderate to anyone.  I couldn't take it anymore.  I called my friend, who lived next door to the house I was concerned about, to see if he would go check on the house with me.  Of course, he was more than willing to do it.  We walked up to the door and knocked.  We waited for a minute and then the door opened.  It was the young woman who lived there.  We could tell that she had been crying because her eyes were tear-stained.  I asked if everything was okay.  She hesitated briefly.  With her hesitation I knew that something was wrong.  A man called out her name.  The woman turned around away from us as if she was scared.  I recognized the voice of the man.  "Brian."  I inquired.  The young woman immediately opened the door wide.  Brian seemed surprised to see my friend and I at the door.  "Is everything alright?"  I asked.  "What are you doing here?"  Was my next question.  We were invited into the house.  We stood there in the entry way and visited for a few minutes.  The situation seemed heated and uncomfortable between the young couple.  We asked the man if he could please get what he needed and then get going.  He said that he would.  When we knew that all was calm, we left to go back to our homes.  As we left the house, my friend and I talked about our visit.  We hoped and prayed that things would be alright with this couple.
I got home and felt good about the decision to go and check. 
My dad has taught me on many occasions that when I get an impression, no matter if its big or small, I should act on it immediately. 
I was grateful that I had finally acted on the feeling I had gotten.  None of us will ever know why we get the feelings we get sometimes.  I'm thankful on that night, long ago, that I listened and acted.

What about a stranger?

My dad asked me if I wanted to take a day off from school and spend some time, just he and I, in downtown Sacramento.  Off course, I jumped all over the chance to miss a day of school.  I really was excited to spend some time with my dad.  You need to know that I was sixteen at the time.  We walked around the "old" part of Sacramento.  The city of Sacramento has made it really nice and there are fun stores and shops to look in.  We went down by the edge of the river that meanders its way through that part of town.  At lunchtime, dad suggested that we go get a bite to eat.  As we approached Burger King, I could see a homeless man up ahead.  He had strategically placed himself outside of Burger King hoping to get someone to help him.  I could see that he was clearly homeless by the look of his tattered clothing and the bottom of his feet were completely black with filth.  The thoughts in my young mind were unkind as we got closer to the man.  His eyes screamed desperation and my heart was closed to help him.  My dad, however, was different.  With a soft voice the man pleaded, "Sir, can you help me?"  My dad being the compassionate person that he is invited the man to come and eat with us.  Bear with me as I tell you how disgusted I was at the time.  My dad wasn't just giving some money to help the man, he just invited this filthy man to come into Burger King and eat with us.  Dad opened the door for this stranger and I.  The smell from the filth was hard to take and I wondered if I was hungry at all.  The three of us approached the front of the store where we would place our order.  I looked over at my dad who didn't seem the least bit embarrassed by the situation.  I couldn't stand the thought of what was really happening.  We got our food and found a spot where we could sit down.  "Where are you from?"  my dad asked the homeless man.  His answer came quietly.  A conversation began between the man and my compassionate father.  I listened trying very hard to not have to be a part.  I learned a lot from the man as he spoke of sadness and misfortune that played out in his life.  I learned the most by listening to the true love that dad displayed for this man.  We finished our lunch and walked out of Burger King.  "Is there anything else I can help you with?"  dad asked.  I will never forget the look in the man's eyes as the desperation in his eyes lessened because someone had taken the time to love him and listen to him. 
The man walked away and my sixteen year old heart was changed.  I had learned something..  First, my dad took the time to want to be with me.  Second, my dad had helped someone without giving a second thought to their situation.  Third, what my dad taught me that day would be valuable for me to help someone later down the road.
The challenge is that you never give a second thought to how somebody looks or acts because that person might be the individual that you end up loving the very most.