Difference is a Beautiful Thing

It's no secret - I love trees. I am captivated by pictures of tree-lined roads and photos of a single tree standing in the middle of an open field. Anyone who has visited my home knows this because almost every painting that adorns my walls has a tree as the focal point.  My late husband, Steve, and I even had a tree on our commute to work that we "mentally" adopted.

My love of these God-given creations began as a child. Under a stately, old Mulberry tree was my favorite place to play. Not only did it shield me from the sun in the summer, but it offered a sweet snack that often stained my hands. Its lower branches were also near to the ground so that I could climb and see the world from a better view. Later, it served as a refuge to animals like a fox and its kits, a visiting fawn, and even ground hogs.

I'm also mesmerized by clouds, observing them from both the ground and from an airplane. It doesn't matter what kind; I love them all. In fact, one of my favorite weather moments is when a hot sunny day turns to gray with a cold front approaching. It threatens a storm, but the anticipation is electric. And who hasn't looked at the soft, billowy clouds and discerned a shape of something familiar?

It's when I take the time to see what God hath made that makes my life one of wonder. It reinforces my faith that there is something more to our existence, and the belief in a creator far greater than I. It's when the world can be seen for its beauty, and not for what frailties we humans encompass.

Strangely enough, I believe humans are God's greatest creation, yet they are often the most difficult to appreciate. Just like trees and clouds, each one is unique, and sometimes that is what we don't appreciate. Prejudice exists because of difference - not just the color of the skin, but ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and age.

But what if every tree and cloud were alike? Would we appreciate them as much? I think not, and that is somewhat of a paradox.

Blessed to Share

Is it really better to give than receive? Absolutely!

As I write this, I am thrilled and excited about two recent shopping experiences. I write not to boast, but to express my joy and to demonstrate how easy and inexpensive it is to make a difference.

On Wednesday, my sister, Marsha, and I went to Kohl's. Anyone who has shopped this department store knows that their sales and clearance prices are legendary, especially if you have their store credit card and a 30% discount coupon. I didn't have anything that I needed, but it was a great opportunity to purchase exceptional deals for those in need. I bought six sweaters and two tops with a gross retail value of $252 for $23.93 including tax. Those will go to Osawatomie State Mental Hospital where my daughter-in-law's father works as an activity supervisor. Many patients arrive with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing and no family to clothe them.

On Thursday night, I had dinner with my closest friends, Darwin and Susan. We planned to shop afterwards. For the past few years, Susan, I, and our friend, Belinda, have pooled our resources to buy two new air conditioners or fans (requested by the agency we chose last year).

We decided to check Home Depot to compare prices with another store I checked on line.  We found LG 5000 BTU units for $119. Darwin suggested that we buy three this year and decided to ask for a discount since these were going to a charity. He asked for a manager, and the young lady who helped us made contact via her walkie-talkie. She offered us $100 off the total of three units. Wow! Split three ways, we could donate three air conditioners at a cost to each of us of only $93.13 including tax! I can't wait to hear how much fun Darwin and Susan have when they deliver these to Penn House, especially since the agency was ecstatic about receiving two units. Thank you Home Depot!

Sometimes agencies ask for fans because they are less expensive and they can meet the needs of more people. But fans circulate hot air, and the elderly, those with medical issues, and young children can be very susceptible to heat-related, life-threatening issues. That is why we buy air conditioners. We can't give to everyone in need, but that won't and shouldn't stop us from doing what we can.

It's really that easy to make a difference. We are so blessed to be on the giving rather than receiving end, and sharing our blessings makes this a better world for us and others.

Making Opportunities

Recently I was accompanied by a friend to attend a conference in Miami. This particular friend has been the subject of one of my Examiner articles as well as a contributor to my latest book. She has earned my admiration and respect because she doesn't wait for opportunities to do good things - she makes them. And, I was again witness to some of them on this trip.

Our plane to Ft. Lauderdale arrived at the gate, and it was soon announced that there was a mechanical problem with an unknown delay. While I passed the time chatting away with two women lined up in wheelchairs, Belinda realized something the rest of us did not.

During our two hour wait, she watched a number of able-bodied individuals make the trek to the bathroom that was twenty yards or more away, but no one thought about the two elderly ladies in wheelchairs. She quickly hustled to their sides and offered to push them to the restroom. Both readily accepted and were extremely grateful for this kind gesture.

Belinda uses all of her resources (time, money, and effort) in the best possible way - doing whatever she can to help others. Her actions are what we Christians recognize as heeding Luke 12:48 "...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded..."

In her years as a landlord, she has never raised the rent on her long-term occupants. She makes purchases that she may not need just because it will help the people who are selling. She routinely buys items for people in need, regardless of whether they are strangers or someone she knows.

When we returned to our home airport after the conference, I was again witness to one of Belinda's kind gestures. As luggage was spewed onto the carousel, she began turning them vertically for easy retrieval. Nothing big, but certainly a nice convenience for anyone trying to retrieve them.

She is an unsung hero who performs these acts because she knows we are on this earth to care for one another. She sets an excellent example and the bar pretty high for the rest of us.

A Grateful American

Recently I was conversing with a gentleman and his wife as we rode in a shuttle to our hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. I was a bit surprised when he said he was thrilled to be a part of the U.S. – the greatest country in the world.

My surprise wasn’t because I disagreed with him, but because he mentioned becoming a naturalized citizen after living 40 years in England. His English was impeccable so I surmise that he initially spent his youth as an inhabitant of a British territory. His ethnicity was also unknown, but it was obvious that he loved being an American citizen.  

His enthusiasm reminded me how much we take things for granted. Most of us have enough food to eat, clean water, clothing to wear, and a lifestyle that lets us enjoy leisure time. We complain about politicians, but don’t vote. We grumble because we can’t afford some of the finer things owned by others. We walk complacently by homeless people and those in need. We are blessed, but often reluctant to share with others. We worry about the future while millions worry just about today.

So this 4^th of July, I hope we can each celebrate with both a grateful and caring heart. We may not be able to solve the world’s problems or even make a dent in what people need, but we can make a difference for at least one person.

So as fireworks light up the sky and picnic feasts are spread, I am going to thank God for timing and location – for less toil than our ancestors and for being born in the U.S. And then I’m going to do something to show that gratitude by sharing my blessings. I’m not sure just how yet, but I know that either the opportunity will come to me or I will make it.