See - N - Serve

Last Sunday, Mama and I went to the Hendersonville Apple festival with my sister-in-law and niece and nephews.

It's a huge event and people come from all over. We took the kids in the Mast General store, and all was well until getting ready to leave.

Mama was in line to pay for things and my sister-in-law had gone in another direction to try to avoid the crowds. I tried to follow her, but my wheelchair wouldn't fit through the narrow space.

I got Mama's attention and said, "I don't know how to get out of here!" She told me just to wait at the side while they paid for things.

I was going to do that until I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked up to see a young girl asking me (the very same one who tried to help me moments before), "Where are you trying to go? In the store or outside?"

I said, "Outside."

To my surprise, she said, "Do you want to follow me and I'll help you get outside?"

I said, "Yes!" Off we went.

She didn't just hurry on ahead of me. She checked to make sure I was close behind several times. And when a few people didn't see me she said, "Excuse us" so we could go on.

When we finally weaved our way out of the crowd, she said, "Do your friends know you're out here?" I said, "No, my mom will be wondering where I went."

She said, "What does she look like? I'll tell her you're out here."

This young girl was not an employee. She was just looking for an opportunity to serve someone. She didn't just see a need, she met the need. There were countless people around, but only she offered to help. This reminded me of Jesus when He said, "If anyone sees a fellow believer in need and has the means to help him, yet shows no pity and closes his heart against him, how is it even possible that God’s love lives in him(1John 3:17 TPT)?

My challenge for you this week is this: If you see a need (and trust me, there will be plenty if you look), meet it! We can all do something to make this world a better place.

My 500 Words: A Writing Challenge - Day 26

Today's prompt is to write about disappointment. I've been disappointed about things and people many times in my life, but I'm going to share a story that marked me.

I was in middle school. It was the time when everyone was invited for sleepovers. I invited one of my friends over and I was SO excited!

My mom bought me a new comforter that day. It was light blue with little white daisies. I made sure my room was clean. I wanted everything to be perfect for my friend!

After awhile I started asking my mom, "I wonder when Lily(name is changed) will be here? I can't wait for Lily to get here! We're going to have so much fun!"

I waited and waited. I never got a phone call. "Maybe Lily's mom is just running late." I couldn't think of another reason why she wasn't here yet.

The darkness outside my window let me know it would soon be nighttime. Still no Lily. I crawled into my bed and tucked my clean sheets around me. "I bet Lily will show up!" I said, still holding out hope that she'd show up at my house any minute.

Finally, Mama said something. She'd been quiet in the midst of my excitement and never-ending questions about Lily. "I don't think she's coming, Madison."

"What? Why would she do that? She IS coming! I know it!" I went to bed half sad and half mad. I was sad because deep down I knew my mom was right, and mad at Lily and myself for wasting all my afternoon waiting on someone who probably wasn't even thinking about me.

Lily never came for the sleepover. I was hurt. I wanted to spend time with my friend, but she didn't want to spend time with me, and I didn't know why.

I didn't let that experience break me. I still tried my best to be friends with people - even Lily. Even when you are disappointed, you have a choice. You can let it make you bitter or better. You can shut down and close off from the rest of the world, but you will be limiting yourself. 

You will be missing out on laughter and great times. Don't let one bad experience taint your view of everyone. You won't be friends with everyone, but there are people out there who will love you for who you are.

If you're wondering, I have forgiven Lily for what she did. I learned to not let my happiness be determined by someone else. 

Be a Friend by Edgar Guest

Be a friend. You don't need money;

Just a disposition sunny;

Just the wish to help another

Get along some way or other;

Just a kindly hand extended

Out to one who's unbefriended;

Just the will to give or lend,

This will make you someone's friend.

Be a friend. You don't need glory.

Friendship is a simple story.

Pass by trifling errors blindly,

Gaze on honest effort kindly,

Cheer the youth who's bravely trying,

Pity him who's sadly sighing;

Just a little labor spend

On the duties of a friend.

Be a friend. The pay is bigger(Though not written by a figure)

Than is earned by people clever

In what's merely self-endeavor.

You'll have friends instead of neighbors

For the profits of your labors;

You'll be richer in the end

Than a prince, if you're a friend.

I decided to share this in honor of a friend who is going through a physical struggle. Sometimes we all need a friend just to listen. By that I mean, no interrupting, just being there for the other person. I get so much joy from helping others. Words of encouragement have carried me through some of my darkest times, so I try to repay the favor as often as possible.

Mrs. Geraldine Needs a Kidney

My pastor's wife, Mrs. Geraldine, needs a kidney. She is the most caring and giving woman you will ever meet. Since the blogging community is so vast, I thought I would do a blog post to help spread the word. She needs a kidney from a living donor because the kidney will last longer.

Here is a little bit about how she came to need a kidney:

David and Geraldine Coker have been married for more than 45 years, have five children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. They are the founding pastors of Gateway Believers Fellowship in the small, rural town of Carnesville, Georgia where they have ministered for nearly 30 years.

At the age of 42, Geraldine was struck with Wegener’s Granulomatosis, a rare disease causing inflammation of blood vessels and restricted blood flow to many vital organs. Following an intense battle with the disease, Geraldine went into remission for 15 years before the Wegener’s once again wrecked havoc on her body. She is currently in complete remission, and the specialists treating her believe the medicine she is taking will keep her in remission for the rest of her life. Unfortunately, however, Geraldine’s kidneys have been permanently scarred and are no longer functioning. Now 63, Geraldine must undergo dialysis three times each week until she can receive a kidney transplant. The dialysis is helpful, but Geraldine's involvement with church and family has been drastically limited due to her weakened state.

She is looking for a living donor who is O+ or O-. If you still want to help Mrs. Geraldine, but don't have the right blood type, Emory Transplant Center participates in the paired donor program. Your gift to someone else could trigger a gift donation to Mrs. Geraldine. You're still in the loop to help Geraldine, but you'd help more than one person live a quality life.

Like Mrs. Geraldine's F@cebook page, Find a Kidney for Geraldine Coker to stay updated on Mrs. Geraldine!

Please share this post with your friends! Thanks, everyone!

Hart County High Gives Back to CHOA

My alma mater, Hart County High School, has gotten in on donating journals to CHOA! After an email to a teacher approval from the principal, the ball was rolling full speed ahead. I was just asking to see if any of the clubs wanted to donate, but some classes actually wanted to help. 

Mrs. Pratt's  freshman STEM class raised $140 in THREE DAYS!!! Do you know what this means?! I can buy five cases of journals in addition to what I already have! This is fantastic and yet another reason my small town is special! 

They made this jar. The whole group met my mom today, which was a surprise. I hated I missed it, but I wasn't feeling well. We had some pictures of the class, but mostly everyone wasn't looking. So, I am not going to post unflattering pictures. No worries, I will get my mom to take more on a different day!

HCHS, YOU ROCK! 

Giving Back to CHOA

Today after a doctor's appointment with Dr. Brosky, I dropped off a donation of journals and lip balms to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta(commonly known as CHOA) - Scottish Rite campus. As of right now, there were 97 journals and 100 lip balms donated!

Lauren, the hospital volunteer in the picture, said, "Thank you! This is such a kind and generous gift. The little kids always get stuff, but we rarely get things for the teenagers." 

She also said, "Journals are such a nice gift!" She was elated over the lip balms, too!

Thank you to all who gave! We have made a difference!

It all started on June 25, 2014. I was getting ready for my foot surgery, and I decided to do something good for others instead of focusing on my pain. 

Here's what I posted to my personal friends on Facebook and friends of my blog's Facebook page: 

"Okay, since I feel better when I am doing something, I've decided to tackle something that has been on my bucket list for at least four years. Longtime readers will know that for my 21st birthday, I wrote a blog post called "21 Wishes." Oneof those things was to give back to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta(CHOA), a hospital I have been a patient at a various times in my life. During one of those hospital stays, I won a journal playing bingo. 

Ever since then, it has been my goal to give back to kids who are considered adolescents because they are often forgot about when it comes to donations. I chose journals because I want to provide them with the materials to spark their creativity and expand their horizons beyond the hospital walls. Dreams start as thoughts in our heads, then go to words on a page, and eventually become reality. 

I am going to buy the first case, which will contain 24 journals in various colors, suitable for young men and women. If anyone else would like to buy a case and give to something bigger than yourself, please let me know. I am only one person, but together we can ALL make a difference in the lives of these children. A case is $24. (If purchased separately they are $1, not including tax). If you still want to help, but can't contribute that much, let me know. You can mail a check for any amount and I will buy the journals for you and add them to the box. This is not about me. I have already arranged to meet a volunteer at CHOA when I bring the donations."

I emailed eleven companies, only two donated. One donated without me asking. Sally, of Heavenly Homemade, gave of her time to make her all-natural lip balms in various flavors that kids would like. Two friends also gave. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

So, blogging friends, if YOU want to help make a difference, just click the contact link and send me an email. Any color or design is acceptable, just no composition notebooks. Most people have been giving 4x6, 5x7, or 5x8 journals. You can buy hard cover, soft cover, leather, etc. I will gladly give you my home address in a message so you can ship them to me. I plan on making a second trip in November. Writing friends, feel free to share this on your blog or website as well. 

Sweet Skylie

I had a tiny visitor on Tuesday.  A seven pound visitor named Skylie to be exact.  She's my neighbor who was born at 25 weeks weighing a mere 1 lb, 2 oz at birth.

After a few months in the NICU, she's doing well at home on oxygen thanks to the prayers of many people who continue to pray for her and her family who have been through other very trying struggles.

She was right at home in my arm, gradually dozing off to dream land.  With each flutter of her eyelashes and movement of her tiny hands, I was reminded again at what a miracle life is.  I guess good things really do come in small packages!

Warm Welcome to New Followers

I clicked on my blog to check for any new comments before bed last night, and to my surprise, I have 51 followers now! Wow, over fifty people are interested in what I have to say. Thanks for all of your comments over this past week. I read all of them, and I enjoy getting to see things from your perspective.

Since some of you are new here, I want to make sure you are aware of all the ways you can keep up with this blog. Look on my left sidebar. There is a box that is linked to my Facebook page that I created for this blog. Click the "like" button to stay up-to-date with all things related to Making my Mark!

I just wanted to welcome all of the new people. Click through my followers list. You might even find some new blogs to read!