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Mar 26, 2004 Webster’s Dictionary defines a community as a group of people living together. This is an extremely simplistic definition. The term community has a much broader meaning. Our society is a community made up of many communities. Our church is a community, the neighborhood in which we live is a community, our work place is a community, and this city and state is a community. We all benefit directly or indirectly the various things our community provides us. Such things as spirituality support, enabling our successes, protecting us and our loved ones, and also our community blesses our endeavors, and much more. The overcoming of sins in the lives of Christians was a witness to the redeeming power Of Christ in Acton in Community (Gal. 5:12-26). My father who was Man of the Year 36 years ago in 1967 always taught me that I must “repay my community” for its gifts to me. Start Making a Difference "Think about what you have to give, not even in terms of dollars because I believe that your life is about service. It's about what you came to give to the world, to your children, to your family, and your community. "The Courage to Give.” "This is what I know for true: what you receive from the world is exactly what you give to the world." Today might be your own greatest discovery. We meet ordinary people who make miracles happen for others - and today, they tell about a universal discovery: how the simple act of giving to another opens up the best part of yourself. "They needed a family." In rural east Texas, there is a small church that is changing the quality of life for children who need it. Reverend W. C. Martin, his wife, Donna, and the Bennett Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Shelbyville have found homes for 40 abused and neglected children. The reverends own family has adopted four children. His sister, Diane adopted two boys, raising them as a single mother. Fred and Johnnie Brown are reliving their child-rearing years all over again by reuniting triplets with their younger sister. "We've given the most important gift and that's love." "There was never an option not to do well." College sophomore Brianne was born with 13 broken bones. As a child, hiccupping caused her to break ribs. She has endured over 50 operations in her lifetime and she is only 19. But Brianne has learned to heal herself by helping others. At 12, she raised $20,000 for South African orphans. At 13, she went to Iowa and helped with the building of sandbags against tremendous floods. "I saw things that needed to be done." And she did them. "God sends you messages and you have to be listening." Medical reporter Diana Gonzales was just doing a typical story when she received a note from Kathleen Lamberti asking for the name of a doctor. Kathleen's husband, Frank, was suffering from a rare cancer in his leg and their current doctor was suggesting amputation. Diana got Kathleen a name and her husband's life and leg were saved. Kathleen wrote Diana a simple thank you note and that made the difference in Diana's own life. She held on to the note and seven years later, Diana discovered a bump on her leg - it was the same cancer as Frank had. Finding the card again prompted Diana to go to the doctor and save her own life and leg as well. Though Diana and Kathleen have talked on the phone many times, they have never met. Both Brianne's and Diana's stories can be found in the book, Small Miracles of Love and Friendship. "To be truly happy you have to be useful." Bea Salazar says she was at the lowest point in her life when she found a three-year-old boy rummaging through a Dumpster for food. Despite her own financial troubles, she took the boy home and made him a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich. He came back a few hours later with six more children who also were looking for food. Today, Bea has her own organization, Bea's Kids, which provides over 150 children with food, clothes and hugs. "Anyone can be a mentor." Valdimer Joseph grew up in a Bronx housing project when his mother abandoned him at age 12. Val was determined to go to college, says it was "a matter of survival." He understands how a youth's spirit can be broken on the streets firsthand. While Val worked three jobs and attended Morehouse College, he one day summoned the courage to talk with a young crack dealer on his street. After four hours of talking, Val encouraged the young man to stop selling crack and found him a job. By year's end, Val was mentoring 25 other young men. He began the organization, Inner Strength, and his group has mentored 200 other young people off the streets and onto their road of success. Catch of the Day Eight years ago, Tuck Donnelly was a commercial fisherman, troubled by the tons of fish that went to waste. Today, fishing companies now provide the largest source of protein for homeless people, thanks to the nonprofit group Tuck started, called Northwest Food Strategies. When he quit his job to pursue this dream, Tuck says he was "swept up by the energy the seafood companies had and the food banks that showed me the need." In six years, Tuck has collected enough fish for over 12 million meals. Finding Your Own Courage Jackie Waldman, author of The Courage to Give, says you can get started by asking yourself these three questions: 1. Which group do you enjoy spending time with - peers, children or the elderly? 2. What special talent or gift do you want to share? What do you love to do? 3. Are there any specific issues that speak to you? Jackie says, "If you can put your own stuff aside, that is the courage." Remember, too: start simple and small. You do not have to begin an organization or volunteer weekly - try volunteering just once a month at first. In conclusion I am reminded of the movie “Pay it Forward” where the storyline is based on someone doing a good deed for another and in return he asked the person not to repay him, but to pay it forward and so a good deed for someone else and ask them to “Pay it Forward” So my friends I urge you to take what your community does for you and “Pay it Forward. ------------ About the author: Michael Hughes is a CPA in Montgomery, Alabama who enjoys writing. He has one published novel, The Gazebo (www.thegazebo.info). Email Michael Hughes: mhughes105@earthlink.net Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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