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.

I have finally mustered up enough courage to join the blogger world.  For the past little while I have had the desire to share with other people at least one positive thing each day.  We all know what it feels like to be bombarded with the negativity that surrounds life.  So...without further adieu, let me begin.

2012, holds the opportunity for all of us to seize every moment of the day and make the very most out of every situation.  Yes, that means every situation whether good or bad.

Last year, a funny thing happened at our home.  It was funny after the initial shock and stress.  Becky and I were visiting in the living room of our home when a loud gun shot type sound startled us.  I looked out the front window to see our oldest son in a picturesque golf back swing with a look of horror on his face.  In a moment I realized that he had driven a golf ball through the side window of our van.  He continued to look at the mess that he found himself in.  My gut hurt as I thought about the cost of a new window.  The whole thing sent Becky into complete laughter.  My heart raced as I replayed the conversation between he and I where I had clearly asked that he not ever hit the golf ball in the front yard.  Yep, you got it!  Mistake #1.  What was I thinking.  What must a boy do with a driver in one hand and a golf ball in the other, just stand there at look at them?  The minutes that passed were the funniest of all once Becky reminded me of the blessing of auto insurance.  Brady was mesmerized by the crackling of the glass.  He sat on the lawn and watched.  Before long he retrieved a lawn chair to watch the action in comfort.  Next, came a soda.  Who needs a sporting event when you can watch the action of shattered glass.  I learned a valuable lesson.  It was just a window.  Another important lesson I learned was that if I ever want an entertaining family activity, I just needed to buy a sheet of glass with the intent to shatter it.

You might wonder what my point really is with this.  A young girl taught us a valuable lesson some years ago.  Do you remember the girl who was fighting a battle with cancer of her own.  She decided that a lemonade stand would help to fund the costs that would incur with the terrible illness.  That lemonade stand generated a lot of money and the attention from the local media helped bring business to this young girl's fight.

As a young married man, I was taught a positive lesson.  One evening I made the statement to Becky that she made me really mad.  Without hesitation she taught me a lesson I have never forgotten.  "You are choosing to be mad, I don't make you do anything."  I admit that her statement ticked me off a bit, but as I thought about her wisdom I soon realized that I was the person who had control over the things that I did and the way that I felt.

You and I have control over whether life is good or bad.  Everybody has bumps along the path of life.  Let it be today that you choose to make the most out of every situation.  You'll be glad you did!

This year promises to be remarkable!