I've been feeling very humbled and blessed lately because of things that are unfolding in my life. I also have been seeing more how necessary it is for us to reach out and serve and take part in our communities.
There is a show that Justin and I watch every Sunday night at 7 called Extreme Home Makeover. If you don't watch tv much it is well worth watching or even recording for later. They travel around the country building brand new beautiful homes for families who are in desperate need. Most often these families have a member or members who are very ill, or they are poor families who do tremendous things for their communities but live in terrible circumstances themselves. It is very emotional to watch people in their communities donate their time and talent and materials to build them a new home that meets their needs, within a week. Every time this show ends I am left with a desire to find someway I can reach out in my community, and at some point in every episode, I am brought to tears.
Last Saturday some people in our community put together a 5K for a little boy with leukemia. It turns out the Dad of this boy was Braden's brother's mission companion, but that's beside the point. As with all 5K's those who joined the race made a donation, and in this case the money went to the family of this child. I haven't been running much lately, but when I saw the poster for this run with this sweet little boy probably only 2 or 3 years old with tubes in his nose, I was brought to tears and knew I had to take part. I cannot imagine having to go through that with one of my children and on top of that having to deal with the resulting financial turmoil. On Saturday, when I drove up to the park where the race was to begin, I was brought to tears again, seeing all the people in the community who felt moved to reach out and help this family who is enduring a tremendous trial.
I am forever grateful for all of those things and people in my life and in this world that inspire me and help me to be a better person, and I hope that I can in some small way help to do the same for others.
