In I'm Proud of You Madigan discusses how he felt he was never able to make his father proud. Fred Rogers encourages Madigan to learn about his father's relationship with his father. When Madigan does this (by talking to his father) he learns that his father did everything he could so that his son could have a better father than he did. For example, Madigan's grandfather attended 2 of his sons' athletic events in his entire life. Madigan's father was at every single one of his sons' athletic events.
As I thought about this conscience improvement made by Madigan's father I thought of all of the people I knew who had done the same thing. My friends and family have dealt with a number of hardships regarding their parents (or other friends or family), but the majority of them strive to rise above, learn and do better for themselves and their families.
The reason this makes me so excited is that I often find myself getting downhearted about the state of the people in this world. I worry that good people are fading away and awful people are taking their places. Thankfully that's not true. There are great people everywhere, I see them all over my life. They spread love wherever they go.
Thanks for being those people!
Showing posts with label acts of love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label acts of love. Show all posts
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Love One Another!
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| via Phalon Joy (facebook) |
This faster this spreads the happier I'll be. What a great reminder!
Another great internet find regarding this topic is Single Dad Laughing's I'm Christian, unless you're gay post.
Spread the love! and remember Jesus loves you!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Souls Generated By Love
In the last week I have witnessed two outstanding acts of goodness.
The first one happened a last week. I was walking around the Crossroads (BYUI eatery) surveying people. My partner and I came upon two trendy looking guys who were taking pictures of a really messy table (to-go boxes full of trash, napkins, etc.) and ton of fliers all over the floor. At first I thought they had made the mess and were taking pictures because they thought they were funny.
Then as we talked with them we realized they hadn't made the mess but their friends had. They were documenting so they could hassle them about it later. "You know when you see messes like this and you wonder, 'what kind of person would make such a mess and then leaves it?' " one of the guys tells me, "Well apparently my friends do." He was kind of laughing it off, but you could tell was sad that his friends would do such a thing.
Then he stacked up the trash and threw it away. He and his friend got down on their hands and knees and picked up every last flier. And they were happy to do it. They weren't please with their friends for leaving the mess, but they were happy they were there to clean it up.
Isn't that amazing? As I walked away from these fine gentlemen, I couldn't help but think of all the goodness they would spread in their lives. And all of the goodness they'd already spread.
The second story happened about five minutes ago. I work in the bookstore of the Madison Library District. As I was sitting at my desk I noticed a group of teenagers sort of kneeling on the ground around someone. I got up to make sure they didn't need me, as I did one of the guys started pulling his friend to his feet. He had his arms under the other guy's armpits. I had seen this crowd before and knew that the young man being pulled to his feet uses crutches (I would guess he has spina bifida).
His friend continued to hold him up as they started to make their way to the entrance, one of the girls carrying the crutches. Then his legs faltered and gave way. Both of the boys lowered a bit, but neither fell. The boy being held up said with a little frustration, "Sometimes this body...!" His friend, as he is helping him back up, replies, "You are fine man."
We hear those words all the time. I wish you could have heard the way this young man said them. He was not annoyed or embarrassed at all. He was helping his friend when he truly need it. And it was fine. Because that's what friends do.
I cannot explain how good my heart felt when I witnessed these things. We hear a lot about the bad in the world, but don't ever overlook the good. It is all around you.
The first one happened a last week. I was walking around the Crossroads (BYUI eatery) surveying people. My partner and I came upon two trendy looking guys who were taking pictures of a really messy table (to-go boxes full of trash, napkins, etc.) and ton of fliers all over the floor. At first I thought they had made the mess and were taking pictures because they thought they were funny.
Then as we talked with them we realized they hadn't made the mess but their friends had. They were documenting so they could hassle them about it later. "You know when you see messes like this and you wonder, 'what kind of person would make such a mess and then leaves it?' " one of the guys tells me, "Well apparently my friends do." He was kind of laughing it off, but you could tell was sad that his friends would do such a thing.
Then he stacked up the trash and threw it away. He and his friend got down on their hands and knees and picked up every last flier. And they were happy to do it. They weren't please with their friends for leaving the mess, but they were happy they were there to clean it up.
Isn't that amazing? As I walked away from these fine gentlemen, I couldn't help but think of all the goodness they would spread in their lives. And all of the goodness they'd already spread.
The second story happened about five minutes ago. I work in the bookstore of the Madison Library District. As I was sitting at my desk I noticed a group of teenagers sort of kneeling on the ground around someone. I got up to make sure they didn't need me, as I did one of the guys started pulling his friend to his feet. He had his arms under the other guy's armpits. I had seen this crowd before and knew that the young man being pulled to his feet uses crutches (I would guess he has spina bifida).
His friend continued to hold him up as they started to make their way to the entrance, one of the girls carrying the crutches. Then his legs faltered and gave way. Both of the boys lowered a bit, but neither fell. The boy being held up said with a little frustration, "Sometimes this body...!" His friend, as he is helping him back up, replies, "You are fine man."
We hear those words all the time. I wish you could have heard the way this young man said them. He was not annoyed or embarrassed at all. He was helping his friend when he truly need it. And it was fine. Because that's what friends do.
I cannot explain how good my heart felt when I witnessed these things. We hear a lot about the bad in the world, but don't ever overlook the good. It is all around you.
Everybody can be
great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You
don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of
grace. A soul generated by love.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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