Our First Gift

Have you ever gone into someone's home to find piles of newspapers, mail and clothes and think this person has a problem? Perhaps you've driven through a neighborhood and noticed one home that doesn't look as well kept as the others and immediately thought poorly of those who live there. Why don't some people notice the disarray around them and willingly live in an unkempt space? It's not our place to judge these individuals. Instead try to place yourself in their shoes. That's just what we did this weekend. A neighbor whom I had never met was in such a situation. I had heard of this neighbor through another neighbor and while strolling one day through the neighborhood noticed she was in need of some help. I called her to introduce myself and offer some yard work but was met with disbelief. Her concern was "What's the catch?"


It's not our purpose to point out people's mistakes or bad luck but to lift them up with their dignity intact. She reluctantly agreed to allow us to come over on Saturday and spruce up her yard. So it began. Our new journey of actively seeking out the opportunity to be the loving hands of Christ by helping each other in times of need. Not only did she appreciated the labor of love we were doing for her but the small gesture of giving home grown tomatoes were also well received. We had the opportunity to share a conversation, create a new outdoor space for her to enjoy and, most importantly, let someone know we cared.

How are you going to let someone know you care this week?

A Gift of Time … How It Started

Who would have thought that an annual visit to the eye doctor would jumpstart a long-standing desire of two sisters to help others in their lives and make a difference?

It started with the usual waiting that one does when you go to a doctor of any kind. Arrive to your appointment early, hope to get in earlier than your scheduled time, but usually end up waiting. This visit was no different. My wait consisted of a small waiting area with a few choice magazines to read. Nothing really appealed to me so I decided to pick up the Reader's Digest - Large Print Version (which makes sense because I was afterall in an eye doctor's office). I skimmed over most of the articles but there was one that caught my eye in particular. The article, Make It Matter: Blogging for a Better World, was about a woman, Raegan Payne, who turned one volunteer activity into 50 different volunteer projects over the course of a year and blogged about them in her blog thegoodmuse.com. Her goal was to show people different ways to get involved. After reading this article, I was inspired and the wheels started to turn.

It didn't take much to recruit Therese to join my cause because we have had discussions in the past about how we wanted to do something so much more than what we do on a day-to-day basis. Something with a purpose … something unselfish … something good. A "Pay It Forward" so to speak. Thus, with thought and desire, we have decided to start this journey of giving our Gift of Time to those who need it. A journey which we hope will provide happiness and hope to others who are less fortunate and in need and to reflect the presence of God in our lives. And, hopefully, as we share with others our experiences through our blog it too will inspire at least one other person to make a difference in someone else's life.

We welcome any thoughts or suggestions for volunteer opportunities. No matter how big or small the endeavor may be, we hope that our "light" will shine and will make a difference somehow.

Who would have thought that a trip to the eye doctor would open my eyes and see life so clearly and so differently?

What are you going to do this week to make a difference?