We just celebrated America’s freedom. There will be those who claim we are no longer free, but they haven’t lived in a nation that has no vestige of freedom.
Whether or not you served in the military, you still have an opportunity to serve. One of my grandsons did a tour in Iraq. Home now for more than a dozen years, he still serves as a firefighter, on the local school board, and heads up a motorcycle group that ministers to veterans with PTSD.
Last week we attended a Quilt of Valor presentation for a Vietnam vet. He shared some of his struggles with PTSD and mentioned that he goes to a mission in a nearby town to play and sing for those who come for a meal. People come up and thank him for the tunes. As we know, music heals.
Several of my family members serve as commissioners in their respective counties.
A friend who is in her 90’s volunteers at a food pantry.
Youth groups travel to various towns to build things, do clean up, or serve meals at Community Tables.
My Seattle cousin helps care for a neighbor with health issues and drives her to medical appointments.
A woman with severe handicaps prays every time she hears an ambulance go by, and every time she hears of someone with a need.
Each of us has some sort of talent that could be used to make someone’s life easier. If you can do that and not let it be known, so much the better.
I’m weary of hearing folks complain about the mess our country is in, or that their town is in. The messes are real, of course. None of us can do everything but we all could do something that makes a difference. The wailing and dark predictions do nothing to help; they only contribute to the negative energy that spreads worldwide and grows bigger every day. One helpful act, one silent prayer, one piece of trash picked up, one nail hammered into a Habitat for Humanity house, is huge in the grand scheme of our world.
There’s a saying where I come from that applies to people who wail and worry.
“He wouldn’t be happy if he was hung with a new rope.”
We all need to listen to ourselves and change gears if we discover we are more into complaining than serving. Run for office, sign up to volunteer, mow somebody’s lawn, join the Teammates program, teach someone to read… there are more needs to be filled than can be counted.
There are a lot of things I used to do and can’t, anymore so I write every week in the hope that the words you read here will provide some encouragement. Many of you thank me for my efforts and I thank you back because we all need to know that the little things we do really can make a difference.
Some folks are just determined to be displeased, in which case we can save the new rope for dragging calves to the fire; the old rope will do.
Meet me here next week and meanwhile, do your best. Somebody might like it.