In 1948 this family of three (Sara, age 8, and her parents) moved to Southwest Missouri in search of a better life. Their plans for wealth failed and Sara’s father returned to his teaching profession while her mother took odd jobs. Making ends meet was a struggle, but there was a certain pride that was present.

Two things that happened, and that were never really understood by Sara, were that they drove a Packard car and bought their underwear at Macy’s Department Store. Of course, the Packard is history, but in the early 1950s, it was a sign of prosperity. In addition to this fancy car, there were those fancy, ruffled panties from Macy’s that Sara wore..

Why? Why was this happening? Looking back, Sara can see the reasons for the fancy car, but never really understood the fancy underwear, especially when a new, store-bought dress was unheard of.

The car:
Sara’s father grew up on his parent’s farm where work was hard and long. He grew a certain disdain for that lifestyle and this motivated him to go to college and have a career as an educator and superintendent of schools. Sara’s mother also shared in his pride and together they wanted him to look successful. One way to do this was to drive a car that represented success. Keep in mind, this was happening while many meals were of the soup-bone variety.

The underwear:
Sara never did understand why her mother bought fancy underwear that no one could see. Well, maybe that’s not quite true. You see, in that community everyone washed their clothes on Monday and hung them outside on the clothesline to dry. After the clothes were hung out, it was customary to drive around and see what the neighbor’s clothes looked like. Were they as white as they could be? Were there any new clothes hanging there? Sara can only speculate that fancy underwear hanging on their line for neighbors to see could be her mother’s way of showing they were successful!

Yes, Sara’s parents had pride and wanted to look successful, which a person can find fault with, but even though their actions may sound a little quirky, it was something else that Sara remembers most about her parents that has had a lasting value in her life.

This was an event that happened May 1st of each year. Every year her family would take a bouquet of freshly cut flowers from their garden and hang them on the front door knob of their neighbors’ homes. What was unique is that this was done very early in the morning before the neighbors would wake up so the flowers could be placed without their knowing who put them there. There was no note of identity, just a blessing of a bouquet of flowers left by some unknown person. Sara relished this exercise and was given the duty of delivering each bouquet. This unconditional act of kindness was very normal in Sara’s childhood as throughout the year produce and baked goods were shared with neighbors who were also “just making ends meet”.

In life we all have a choice. We can accentuate the odd and quirky things a person or family does and dwell on that, or we can do what Sara has done and pass on to her children and their families the values she relished as a child.

Yes, Sara is my wife, my very best friend, and is better known today as Jayne.

Doug
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She makes breakfast and feeds her dogs and cat.  Three days a week she drives to the Rehabilitation Unit of an Oklahoma City hospital where she volunteers.  Four evenings a week she takes two classes, back to back, at the YMCA –kickboxing and dance aerobics, or zumba and spinning.  She grocery shops, does her banking, goes to doctor appointments, mows her lawn, visits with friends.  Extraordinary stuff?  You bet. 

Shar suffered lifelong injuries in a horrific car accident when she was 18 years old. So horrific she was declared dead and wheeled to the morgue.  An alert nurse noticed faint life signs. She was the only survivor of a wreck that claimed three lives.  Shar was saved, but for what?

People who are paralyzed from strokes or accidents say she gives them courage and hope.  She has “therapy cred,” earned the hard way. The accident occurred in 1968. For 42 years, Shar has been recovering, improvising, and compensating for her injuries.  She spent 15 years learning to walk, another 15 years without the use of a cane or walker, and 25 years to talk well enough to be understood. Most of it was accomplished without professional help and by her own sheer determination.  Today she lives a rewarding, independent life. (See http://www.aswedolife.com/shar---professional-encourager.)

Twelve years ago, Shar’s father died at age 90.  As a way to deal with her grief, a doctor suggested she volunteer.  “No,” she thought, “I can’t walk or talk well.”  One day she went to the hospital where she spent six months after the accident to see if they remembered her.  Staff members not only remembered her, but thought she might be perfect for visiting and encouraging patients. 

Shar can relate to a patient’s problems in her own life.  She has trouble with buttons and tying shoes.  She compensates with Velcro, and clothing that is worn unbuttoned, like jackets. Writing is difficult because her right hand shakes, so she uses her left. Over the years she has adjusted to asking for help. “Try putting on mascara with your left hand!” she says.  

She waves aside suggestions for increased safety measures that might limit her or ways to make her disabilities more easily explainable.  “I’m not going to say, ‘Hey look, World!  Open doors for me and be sure I am safe and sound. . .  I do the best I can the best way I can.  . . . I don’t want to set up barriers between me and the world, and always explain how I’ve been in a wreck.”  Her optimistic and determined outlook keeps her going most, but not all, of the time. “Sometimes it (her situation) angers me so much.  I have cried and cried and cried.”

Shar says it takes a different kind of courage to walk into a stranger’s hospital room and strike up a conversation. “It’s awkward at first when I start talking to people.”  Dr. Patch Adams of movie fame is an inspiration to her. Encouragement from her friend Vivian Stinebeck sustains her.  Of vital importance is “Spirit,” a part of her personal support group known as Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit. Through the many years of her recovery, They have blessed her with the strength and determination to live. “I talk to them constantly; 100,000 times a day if it takes that.” 

Shar is intelligent and articulate. Before the accident, she aspired to be a lawyer like her parents, or a doctor.  Her intellectual gifts serve her well in meeting and relating to all kinds of people with different life experiences. So does her sense of humor. Shar has a wardrobe of wigs and when a patient notices her hair is short one day and long the next, she smiles and says, “Anything can happen!”

Not every encounter on the rehabilitation floor is a success. “I have to deal with whatever comes out of their mouth, good or bad.”  If a patient asks that Shar not visit again, a nurse tells them about her life or shows them a home-made booklet with pictures of the wreck and the story of her recovery from it. “They learn about me and then they ask me to come back.” she said.

When asked about former patients, Shar smiles. Her clear blue eyes light up and her face glows.  It is obvious that returning patients are the best part of her job.  They tell her, “I believed in what you said and it worked!”  Or, “I did what you said and look at me!”

Her advice to anyone recovering from accidents, illness, or trauma is, “Believe positively.  You will become what you think.”  She is also fond of saying, “God helps those who help themselves.”    The healing power of prayer and physical activity saved Shar’s life. She is now spending the rest of her life sharing that message of love and inspiration with others.

Shar's story written by Monica
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Shar (blonde) "hamming it up"                      Shar giving encouragement
   with hospital employee.                       to patient receiving physical therapy.

As a child, my father played and fought with Indians who camped on his family’s farm. As a young man, my father farmed with Ponca Indians near a town in Oklahoma called Ponca City. It was from my father that I first heard the proverb, “Never pass judgment on others until you’ve walked a mile in their moccasins.”  I haven’t always followed his advice; however, As We Do Life® has helped me reflect. I don’t know whether Native Americans struggled with this issue, but I do know ‘passing judgment’ on others is everywhere in our society today.

Just think, if you wear your hair a little different, your clothes are a little wild, you have a tattoo, you have piercings, you’re on welfare, you’re too thin, you’re too fat, you are rich or you are poor, someone has probably made a non-complimentary remark about you – and probably behind your back. I haven’t even gotten to the really judgmental issues like religion, politics, and sexual orientation.

What causes us to pass judgment on others? I don’t know. Maybe it’s insecurity. Maybe it’s to ‘fit in’. Maybe it’s just not thinking.

I suspect passing judgment was a problem with the Native American or this proverb wouldn’t have been needed. From my perspective, I don’t like myself when I have judgmental thoughts or make judgmental remarks. I believe the flaw is in me and not in the person I’m judging. More often than not, I’m finding that if I will just take time to get to know another before I think or voice a judgment (walk a mile in his moccasins), I will avoid falling into this trap.

Doug
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 To put it mildly, nothing went as I expected. I had more doors slammed in my face than I care to remember. The excuses were all over the board: “I don’t have time to talk.”, “I already go to church.”, - and there was foul language. I was feeling pretty despondent and ready to quit, but I thought I’d do this one more time at the house on the corner. When I knocked on the door, I heard a child yelling – then the mother opened the door hurriedly asking what I wanted. She had a cigarette in her mouth while holding a baby with no diaper. The child I heard when I knocked, looked to be about two, and was also naked. I only got about halfway through a sentence of why I was there when she frantically said, “I don’t have time to talk and shut the door.” That was it. I was through. I didn’t want any more of this!

 As I was driving home, I couldn’t get that lady with the two children out of my mind. So I stopped for a cup of coffee just to reflect. As I sat there thinking, it dawned on me how selfish I was. My whole mission was to satisfy a goal that I had, with no real feelings for the people. I was intruding! I asked myself how I could do something for that mother and her children. She really seemed like she needed help and maybe even a friend. But, after our first experience, would she allow me to help?

Then I thought of a plan. I went to a store and got a carton of cigarettes and a big bag of diapers and headed back to that house on the corner. I walked up to the front door with my cigarettes and diapers and knocked. The door cracked open and I quickly said, “I have diapers and a new carton of cigarettes for you. May I help?” The door opened slowly to let me in. I introduced myself and told her that when I was here before, I sensed she could use some help and a friend. She thanked me, and for the next three hours, we changed diapers, tidied up the house, played with the children, and had a much-needed conversation that has changed my way of thinking about many things

I normally would be somewhat judgmental regarding a lifestyle like hers, but I discovered how that judgmental feeling faded after I got to know her. I truly, for the first time in my life, was seeing someone through their eyes and not mine. This is one of the most wonderful feelings one can experience.

This experience happened about five years ago and yes, this lady – who wants to remain anonymous – has joined our church. But because of our experience, we have convinced our church to completely change its way of interacting within our community. We no longer have a program that just tries to get people to attend our church, but rather a program that looks to help families in our community deal with life and some of the curves life throws. Oh yes, and we don’t care if they come to our church, we call this “unconditional community love”, and this wonderful lady – who lived in the house on the corner – is giving back in a most beautiful way.

This story was shared some two years ago, but just it just never was posted on www.aswedoLife.com. I especially like the woman’s ‘take’ on being judgmental.

Doug
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Intent on knowing the secret of happiness, the boy traveled to the mountain and climbed to the top. There he found the Master, an older gentleman with a long beard and a broad smile on his face.

The Master greeted the boy kindly and asked him why he had traveled so far to see him. The boy said, “I want to know the secret to happiness. And a stranger came to town and said that if I wanted to know this secret, I must see the Master.” The Master said, “The stranger who guided you to me is not really a stranger but one who has chosen well and wants to share his happiness. The Master went on to explain, “My boy, in life you will be confronted with two wolves; one wolf brings peace, love, and kindness, and the second brings fear, greed, and hatred. Each of these wolves will be competing for your soul and your life. One will give you happiness and the other will give you grief.”

The boy, not being able to hold back anymore asked the Master, “How will I know which one will win?” The Master replied, “That depends on which one you feed.” Being somewhat stunned with the Master’s response, the boy said, “That is so simple. Why couldn’t any of my friends give me the answer?” The Master replied, “This is because they still are feeding both of the wolves and they have not yet experienced true happiness.”

Then the boy said, “Oh Master, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom. I want to live just like the stranger who came to my village and guided me to you.”

As the boy turned to leave, the Master said, “You came to me as a boy, but you are leaving as a young man. Go share your happy life.”

Doug
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Sharla was a dark-haired beauty, just beginning her modeling career. One summer evening, just two weeks shy of her 18^th birthday, Shar was a passenger in a car driven by a friend.

His intentions remain a mystery. Was he trying to frighten, intimidate, or impress her? The driver hurtled his car to speeds of 120mph on a dirt road. “To this day, I don’t know why he did this”, she said. “He wasn’t drunk or anything.” Powerless to stop him, Shar, the only passenger, cried, “Please, you’re going to kill us!” At 192^nd and Penn in Oklahoma City, the car went out of control, through a stop sign, and hit another car.

Pronounced dead at Edmond Hospital, she was wheeled to the morgue. On the way, a nurse noticed faint life-signs. Even though Shar was literally rescued from the brink of death, her injuries were massive – brain damage, broken and crushed face and jaw, two broken arms, a broken wrist, paralyzed on one side, a leg nearly amputated, an eyeball out of its socket.

The doctors gave Shar’s family little hope for her recovery. Normal life and her teen years were over. She also had to deal with the trauma of being the only survivor of the wreck, which ended the lives of three people, including the driver.

Shar was transferred to an Oklahoma City Hospital where she stayed for 6 months, including 3 months of physical therapy. Here is where her story takes an even more astounding turn.

The next step was a short stay at a “dismal and old-fashioned” rehab hospital in another town. With no money for years of private physical therapy, Shar was convinced the only way to recover would be to take charge of her own recovery.

While visiting a YMCA one day, Shar noticed the triangular logo that said, “Body, Mind, and Spirit” at each corner. She said, “The spirit part kept the light on in my mind. That is what I think of. That gives me strength.” She joined the YMCA, exercising daily. At this point, she had progressed to using a walker.

To learn to walk again, Shar practiced at the mall. “Before the accident, I wanted to be a fashion model. As I exercised, I would imagine that I was modeling. In order to do this I would dress as a true model; hats, jewelry, stylish dress, and walk (stumble) through the mall.” It took her many hours to get ready for each mall walk.

 Because doctors told her she would always need a cane, she accessorized with fancy ones; a hand-carved dragon and a push-button cane that became a sword. She also forced herself to talk distinctly through her facial injuries, hoping to develop new response pathways in the brain. Shar was “visualizing” winning and recovering, years before sports, medicine, and psychology discovered the technique.

That car accident happened July 7^th, 1968. Today, 42 years later, Shar volunteers 3 days a week at the rehab unit of the Oklahoma City Hospital that saved her. She marvels at the progress therapy has made and the myriad resources available now, especially in speech therapy, which was not available to her years ago.

In her volunteer work, Shar encourages and inspires patients, visiting and cheering them on. Sometimes she shows them a booklet that details the accident, her recovery, some quotes, prayers, and humor. It says, “Let’s talk about the last 30 years of recovery. It has taken me 15 years to learn how to walk, another 15 years to walk without assistance (a walker), and 25 years to learn how to talk and be understood.”

She also reassures patients, “Don’t worry. Modern medicine can do so many wonderful things. Your recovery won’t take as long as mine.” She tells patients that one secret to successful recovery is to have a support group of family and friends. “Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit are also a great support group. You will feel frustration,” she tells patients, “but by all means, exercise, because God helps those who help themselves.”

Shar writes, “Through the doctors, nurses, therapists, exercise instructors, faith in God and my own determination, I now live an independent life.” She drives a car, takes dance aerobics, zumba, kickboxing, spinning, and toning at the Y – usually 2 classes a day – and mows an acre of land.

Though she never modeled again, Shar was able to realize some of her professional dreams. She designed dresses, produced fashions shows, held jobs as a store buyer, window dresser, photo-shoot coordinator, and a writer/editor covering fashion for local papers. She still loves stylish clothes and dresses in cute exercise outfits. At almost 60, she has long legs and a youthful figure many younger women would envy.

Shar is not afraid to say that she has times when she is discouraged and upset. Her uphill battle has been marked by some very dark valleys. “You have no idea how hard small, everyday things can be,” she said. “When I think ‘This is awful,’ I think about how God saved me. God has taken care of everything.” She still struggles with speech, double vision, and balance, but credits her limitations to Him. “He is showing the patients that I’ve been there and I do know what it takes.”

Her philosophy is to live each moment to the fullest. “Every step serves as another step… when you get to one level, you’ve got to reach for the next level. You can’t have everything,” she says. “But I sure try hard. I improvise and compensate daily in the many challenges I still must face. It takes courage to live.”

If doctors could prescribe inspiration and encouragement, Shar’s life would be a testament to persistence, faith, and optimism in giant doses. Shar’s advice is, “Whatever life throws your way…you’ve got to deal with it! Amen.”

Shar's story written by Monica
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His father was a black belt instructor while in the service, so it was only right that he pass these skills on to his son. The boy took to his training like a duck takes to water, and to his father's pleasure, the boy became a state champion.

The boy began to have a nagging discomfort in his lower abdomen, but being a tough black belt champion, he ignored it. It got worse – much worse. After his doctor's examination it was discovered that the boy had only 1 kidney that was located, not in the normal area, but in the lower frontal area. The kidney had been damaged from the blows over the years of black belt activities.

When the blood drive was over, the staff went to the boy's family-owned restaurant where the dad tearfully shared this story while he cooked dinner for the staff. As we were leaving the restaurant, the dad hugged each and every member of our crew, and with tears still in his eyes thanked them again and again.

Some days are just better than others! Pay it forward.

Rick
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After only a few days, I noticed how much happier and outgoing I had become. I realized that kindness will spread because those stories I read each morning made me want to pass it on.

Some of the people I work with noticed this difference in me and asked why I was so happy. I told them what I was doing, and I think at least one person is reading the stories, too.

We don’t have a lot of money, and we don’t live in a big house, but we are thankful for what we have. I am also very thankful for the people who share their stories for us to read. People who are touched by kindness should share, and pay-it-forward.

Renae
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 Hopefully, this is a spontaneous part of all of our lives. After all, we love to be on the receiving end, so why not spend a little extra time thinking about the giving part?  Rather than artificially plotting to hand out nuggets of encouragement, I found that if I listened carefully to that inner voice we all have, there were plenty of opportunities to be a positive force.

For example, an elderly friend’s name might come to mind.  Why was I thinking of her at that particular time?  Act on it!  Pick up the phone and say hello.  Go over for a visit.  Buy a card and send it.  Write a letter. Too often we are headlong through a daily to-do list and casually toss off that impulse with the thought, “I’ll do it later when I have more time.”  More often than not, that time never comes back.

Someone has done something special for you.  Or they have an attribute you appreciate. Tell them!  A lady in my dance aerobics class moved to Washington D.C. and then returned for a visit.  I told her how much we missed her and at a particular point in class, when I turned around, there was a hole there because she was not in my line of sight. I might have not said anything if I had not been consciously aware.

 A writing teacher I admire was in the business of encouragement. We bared our souls in her living room every Monday night by reading our homework out loud.  Some people in the class were writing about emotional struggles and scarring events from childhood.  It was sensitive work.  Carolyn always had something positive and sincere to say about each offering.

  The Bible mentions the word “encouragement” throughout the New Testament.  Encouragement in the form of letters from church leaders kept early, isolated Christians strong in the face of persecution and fear.  The name Barnabas means “son of encouragement.”  He was one of the seventy followers, sent out in pairs to distant lands.  His partner was St. Paul. Barnabas is mentioned often in Acts.

My daughter is learning to drive.  In this arena, I have discovered that sometimes encouragement involves saying nothing.

     This isn’t the stuff of Nobel prizes or the evening news.  It happens quietly but makes the world a kinder, gentler place. 

Monica
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Evan’s father is involved with the Mexican drug trade. In order to help Evan succeed in life, and to help him escape the cruelties of being raised in poverty under bad influences, Evan’s aunt’s family adopted him. When Evan first moved in with his aunt he was skinny and scared. After living with his aunt and her family for a year he has begun to excel in school and has packed on some weight.

When Evan first moved he didn’t speak a word of English but within a year he has taken it up as his primary language with the help of his aunt. Now with Evan advancing in his math skills and his bilingual gift, he will be a great asset to the American community whenever he gets older.

By choosing to raise Evan, his aunt gave him the opportunity to succeed where he would have struggled greatly if he had been raised under the difficult circumstances his parents would have placed him in.

Turell
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I awoke to the news that my house was on fire. Luckily we had all stayed the night with my oldest sister because of the electricity outage from the ice storm. The furiously paced ride to my house was gut twisting and heart wrenching. “Could my house really be on fire? Could my family lose everything we had worked for? What am I supposed to do?” These questions were just a few of the vibrating ones I had.

We topped the hill and we saw a fiery glow at the bottom and sure enough it was my family’s house. In the world today, I never see much kindness anymore but that night the air was filled with love, compassion, and hope. The firefighters were working hard putting out the blaze, but the fire was too strong and it took down the whole house. The structure in which I was raised, educated, and lived – my most precious memories had been wiped out in a matter of a few hours.

Someone once said, “Kindness is LOVE with its work boots on”. I never gave thanks to the firefighters for risking their lives to save my house; I just sort of took it for granted. The thing that took me by surprise was my classmates. I stayed home, my sister’s home, from school that next morning, but apparently so did my fellow students. My entire family was in the living room thinking of different approaches on our financial circumstance when we heard the doorbell ring. We answered it just like every other knock at the door and there, standing in that lonely doorway, was a single boy. In his hands he held a glass baseball that gleamed full of hope. He was one of my best friends and his mother walked up behind him crying. The boy said, “I don’t have much but I want you to have it”. I looked at him puzzled and he looked at the baseball in his hands, opened it up and gave me all of the money inside. It was his money bank that he had been saving up to buy himself a new baseball bat. Yet, he gave the money to me. Why? Why would a boy, even though he was my best friend, give me money that he had worked for?

 I didn’t understand it but I found out when I got older that kindness shouldn’t have an ulterior motive. Most of my classmates came that day at different times and gave me something that meant the most to them, whether it was their favorite jacket, playing cards, game, or even a trinket. They weren’t forced to give me something they loved, but they wanted to. They wanted to show that they cared.

Today, I still have a majority of the things I received from all of my friends that week. I go through them occasionally and remember how lucky I am that I have people around me who are unselfishly able to show a random act of kindness – a kindness that can’t be seen with the naked eye, but can be felt in the warmest of hearts. And it was that warm feeling that gave my family hope.

Dalton
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That's when a tall man about 6'8" with long hair walked up to both of them and handed them a Wal-Mart gift-card. He then just walked off before either one could ask a question or thank him. Eddie couldn't believe that someone would just give him a gift card. He thought it might have been a joke or something. He didn't use the card at that time, but paid cash for our groceries.

When he got home, he found out that the gift-card had $25 dollars on it. Now, that is a gift of Kindness! Eddie wished that he had thanked the man. He said that if he ever saw him again he would make sure to give him a big thank you. We really appreciated that money and used it for my son. We bought him a new Elmo, since his was getting to be ragged out.

Amanda
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Her dad was diagnosed with cancer. She has two older brothers, but they were off at college and couldn’t be home for support. She and her mother would take turns driving him the 100-mile trip to the closest treatment center for his weekly appointments. She worked full time her senior year just to help pay for the family bills.

Eighteen months later amazing news was received that the cancer in her dad was gone and he was in remission. Shortly afterwards her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Her mother fought hard, but ended up losing her battle against cancer this semester.

My friend is the rock of her family, and when things got tough, she was the level head. She held everything and everyone together to give her mother the ceremony she deserved while maintaining a high GPA and keeping her scholarships in the 19 credit hours she has this semester.

It has been a few months now and she is learning how to adapt to the changes. Just the other day though, she called to let me know that my birthday is in just a few days and she didn’t want me to think she had forgotten. Her kindness and compassion touches my heart. It just amazes me that after all that she has been through, she still thinks of me. She makes a point to let all the people in her life know that she cares about them. It means the world to me that she can be so selfless when she has every reason to be bitter at life. Just one little phone call has changed my perspective on life and shown me true holiday spirit.

Allyson
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During the whole time all that was going on, the neighbors were coming in the house asking what they could do to help. After an hour people were at the house with flowers, bread, coffee, and all kinds of food.  This is like a tradition people do as an act of kindness and for the family to give thanks to all the neighbors who had helped the family in any way.  All this was surprising to me because it was the first time I had experienced a death in my family. I saw so much kindness by the neighbors and even by other people in different cities who came to see the family.

Gabriela
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My younger sister and I came to the U.S. to further our education at a university right after we finished high school. Around the time I had finished high school my mother began suffering from depression. This was a problem we had never heard of or had to face. Even though my mother suffered daily she still wanted us to have the opportunity of a better life through further education. My father wanted the same as well. It would be the first time that we would be a whole ocean away from our parents. At that time we were too excited to even think what it would be like for our parents to have to let us go.

My sister and I graduated in May of 2006 and we began working. My sister managed to get a long-term job whereas I only got one for a year. My youngest sister left for Australia in January of 2007 to university.  After a year of working, I came back to university to work on a Masters degree.

It was about this time that my father fell sick. Within a few months he was practically at death’s doorstep.  Due to being sick and having to fly out of the country for treatments, his businesses did not do so well and we were in a financial crisis. Having a sick husband and creditors to deal with did not make it any easier for my mother’s depressive condition. It was then that I decided to go back home to look after my parents and try to run the business and work on a way to pay back debts that had accumulated.

Going back home I saw what condition my parents really were in and how both would just never give up getting their lives back on track to how it was before. After being there for a year, they began pushing me to come back to the U.S. to finish my degree. And now I am here, still worried about my parents well-being and financial stability, yet they are the ones who constantly assure me that everything will be alright and not to worry.

I believe that it is because of my parent’ hope and faith in each other and in us that we sisters have become the people we are today. If it were not for the way they raised us I do not think that I would have had the courage to go back home and face the pressure and worries they had to; or that my younger sister would take up the financial responsibility to put my youngest sister through university in Australia; or that my youngest sister held up her studies to deal with my mother’s depression. All I can hope is that I can instill in my children the same values that my parents have instilled in me.

Aashka  
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We were stranding at a 7-eleven at mid-night with nowhere to go. This lady walks in the store. We had seen her a couple of days before working on a house that she and her husband had bought. She said hello to us and went on to purchase some things.

When she came out she asked us what was wrong. I did not want to say that we had nowhere to go, so I said, “Nothing”. She didn’t believe me and asked me again, and said she wouldn’t leave until I told her. I told her what had happened and she then said don’t worry about it. Ya’ll can come stay with me at my house. She then took us to her house and told her husband what was going on. They fixed us something to eat and helped us put the kids to sleep. They talked to us for a long time and told us that they believed that God had sent them to help us.

She said she had never stopped at that 7-eleven before, but for some reason she did and that is why she believes that God pointed her in our direction. They gave us shelter and helped us out until we were able to get on our feet.

Esmeralda
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Out of nowhere, this man pulled up beside my car and asked if I needed help. I told him what was going on and he took a look to discover a part of my battery had come off. There was no way to fix it unless I took it to a mechanic. I did not know what to do. I had no phone and had only ten dollars on me.

The man saw that I was really stressing out over my situation, so he offered to take my family and me home. I was really happy that he was willing to go out of his way to help us because the park where we were was on the Southwest side of Oklahoma City and I lived on the Northwest side.

I was really grateful because he was the only person willing to help us. I had asked so many others who just simply did not care. Even when they saw the children with me, they still did not help. This goes to show there are still angels here on earth, even in this evil world.

I could never put in words how thankful I am for his kindness to help us. This act of kindness has made me really think of how I can be a better person. So I try my best to help anyone who needs help. I also think if more people were like the man at the park, then the world would be a great place.

Felicia
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Jeff
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I remember one particular day, a nice, warm Saturday; I was out with my grandma.  We had a girl’s day out; just she and I.  My grandmother was driving down I-35, headed south to Crossroads Mall and there was a woman walking down the side of the highway with two children.  My grandmother pulled over and we both got out seeing if the lady needed help or a ride.  This strange woman broke down in tears.  She said that she had lost her job, gotten evicted from her home, had her car repossessed, and lost her husband, all in the same month.  I was really young so I really did not know what was going on, but I did know that those children were hungry, thirsty, and very tired.  There was a girl standing there about my age at the time who just looked so lost.  She looked like she needed a friend, so I offered my hand to the girl and her brother and took them to sit in the car so that they could get out of the heat.  Since my grandmother and I were on our way to eat, I didn’t have much to offer them but a Sonic drink and a bag of sunflower seeds.  They were hesitant at first, but I told them they could have it.

My grandmother and the woman stood outside and talked for about ten minutes.  When they walked to the car my grandmother said that we were going to have to put off going to the mall.  We went back to my grandparent’s house instead.  My grandmother ran bathwater for the kids in her bathroom and she let the woman take a bath in the guest bathroom.  Instead of going shopping, my grandmother ordered pizza and allowed the family to stay the night at our house.  My grandparents had a shed in their backyard that had lots of old clothes in it.  Well the clothes were not really old it was just stuff that I had that I had growns out of or never got to wear.  She went through the boxes of clothes and washed what she found and gave them to the little girl.

Later on in the evening my grandmother took the woman and h

er children shopping for some new things.  I had never seen anyone that happy in my life.  The woman did not know whether she wanted to laugh or cry.  All I know is that was a very special day for them.  Seeing as though they had no where to stay, my grandmother let them sleep in the guest rooms at our house. 

Later that night while I was getting ready for bed, I overheard my grandmother talking with one of her friend’s from the hospital where she worked.  Not only was her friend a nurse, she was also a real estate agent.  My grandmother asked her if she had any homes or apartment homes available for rent.  Apparently she said yes because my grandmother said, “Thank you Lord!”  My grandmother used to always say that the Lord works in mysterious ways and at that moment I knew what she meant.

My grandmother was and still is a guardian angel.  She ended up paying a deposit on an apartment for that family.  She got the woman a job working at the hospital and gave her the family car that had been sitting in the driveway.  She did all of this out of the kindness of her heart.  Opal Louis Johnson was a great woman.  She helped as many people as she could while she was here, and for that she will always be remembered.

Larika
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This is one of the greatest acts of kindness and selflessness I have seen in my life. It made me realize that there are people out there who are appreciative of those who serve our country and who are not too selfish to perform a simple act of kindness like I witnessed that day.

Tyler
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One evening I went to her apartment and her place was untidy, since she had been so busy during that week. I helped her make her bed, clean the dirty dishes, and clean her house. She was not expecting anyone to help her because as she told me, she always does her stuff all by herself. By the time she came back from class, I had left to go to the dorm so she called me and thanked me for helping her.

A week after that, a friend of mine asked me to lend him the last fifty dollars I had. He said that he was going to give it back to me four days later – on a Wednesday. I called him on that day but he did not respond so I went to my friend "Nina" to borrow money. When I started telling her that I needed money, the first thing she said was that she would give me sixty dollars. I promised to pay her back when I came back to Weatherford, but I was surprised when she called and said, "You can keep the sixty dollars I gave you". I was shocked – and so happy.

 
When my friend gave me back my fifty dollars, I happily gave it to my boyfriend who needed money badly.

Fidelia
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When I was about 6 or 7 and reading, he gave me one of his cards. The front read, “Frank J. Fischer” and the back read, “Romans 10:9-10:  (9) That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” At this age, I was unsure as to why he would put this on a card. As I started to pay attention in church more as I grew older, I became aware of the significance of this verse.

When I had reached my early teen years I would get embarrassed very easily if I was with my PeePaw when he handed out the cards. I’m sure it was because I never knew if I would know the person or not and maybe they would make fun of me if they thought what he was doing was “weird” or “stupid”.

When I was at church camp my senior year of high school I became a Christian, and was reading my Bible one night and came across Romans 10:9-10. It was highlighted in several different colors with a caption that said, “PeePaw’s verse”. It was then that I realized what my PeePaw had a heart for. He cared enough about everyone he met to share that gift of eternal life with them. He was so strong in his walk with God that people could say any negative comment about his “card” and my grandpa would just simply say, “I’ll pray for you and I hope you have a blessed day.” He never let any comment upset him in the least bit. At the end of the day he would always focus on the positive feedback he received from passing them out.

My grandparents eventually got to the point that they had to move into my parent’s house. My mom would have to print out at least 100 cards every couple of weeks for him. He never let anything stand in his way.

My PeePaw left my family and me last Christmas to be with Jesus, and I believe that heaven gained a true treasure that day. The family decided that at the funeral we would put a card in each of the funeral books that were given to all those in attendance. The front of the card now read, “In memory, Frank J. Fischer, March 10, 1920-December 5, 2008.” The back of the card with the verse on it remained unchanged. After the funeral and the days that followed we received an outpouring of letters, and verbal stories about how my grandpa and his “cards” affected them. These were stories about how his card was a wake-up call to them and brought them back to church, or how his card played a role in their becoming Christians. I am reminded on a regular basis about just how much love and kindness PeePaw showed as he passed his cards out. He was branching out way beyond his comfort zone to spread news so great that it should not be kept a secret.
 
I am ending with the lyrics to a song that my PeePaw would sing to me on a regular basis and one that I was fortunate enough to sing to him the last time I saw him a few days before he passed away……
“Let me call you sweetheart I’m in love with you, Let me hear you whisper that you love me too, Keep your love-lights growing in your eyes so blue, Let me call you sweetheart I’m in love with you!”

Sammie Jo
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The story goes like this in his words:

Today I sat down and gazed out of the window. I was totally astonished to see the scenario. Nothing looked familiar. Everything seemed so strange here. I tried a lot to cope with the environment here but everything and everyone were just none of my type. Even the classmates of my college were just acquaintances only – nothing more than that.

All these things led me to remember my past. Remembering my past draws me back to the memory of my childhood when I used to be such a cheerful, athletic boy often engaging in mischievous activities. Being born in Nepal and raised in a medium-class family, I often used to have many kinds of restrictions. Because my mom was a teacher, she was always strict with my studies. I was often good at my studies because I used to get lessons not only in school but at home as well! So I was a favorite student for most of the teachers. I progressed not only in studies but sports as well. I used to be one of the highlighted players of football in my school.

Everything was going so well until I began having problems with my eyes. I went to the eye hospital for a checkup and as a result, I needed to wear high-powered lenses! So this is how my childhood went by. My teenage years started with new hopes and new dreams. But having to wear high-powered glasses and always sitting at the front desk of my classroom made me look different from other classmates. In spite of this, my classmates were so friendly and helpful to me. I used to have lots of fun with them. It was the most wonderful and memorable time of my life, but I didn’t realize this at the time.

As time passed, I completed high school and was planning to get my Bachelor’s degree. After finishing high school, there was a trend of going abroad for study. I was also affected by this trend. For most of my life, I usually made wise decisions; however, this time I think it was the craziest decision I’ve ever made. I chose Cyprus as my destination to study abroad. I did a lot of research about the college and about Cyprus but what I found on the internet and in reality was totally different. College is totally worse and Cypriots are too weird, especially to Asians. They are very unfriendly. And back in my apartment, I find my roommates always smoking and drinking all the time. It totally annoys me. This is how my one decision changed my life devastatingly. Everyone is responsible for his destination, and so am I.

I have always been positive towards my life, and I will always be. But the thing is, from now on, whatever decision I make; it will not be in haste!

Najuma
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Playing professional baseball for the last five years I have had an opportunity to be around a lot of people and places. Like most people, I have gone through most of days taking life for granted, and forgetting what life is truly about. Going through personal battles of the minor leagues all I focused on was how well I could hit a baseball and getting back to playing after three surgeries. All my energies amounted to what me can do for me.

The past two years I have had the opportunity to look at life in a whole new way. In 2008 I got involved with the Make A Wish foundation for kids. Since then I have never been nor ever will be the same. Through the foundation, I have been given an opportunity to build relationships with some of the best kids I have ever seen or will probably ever know. I never imagined that a person could learn so much through children. When first getting involved I thought I would use the platform athletics had given me to help out and guide kids. Little did I know, I was the one that was going be helped out. By being living examples, these kids have shown how to be kind in the middle of struggle and how to focus on what is truly important.

This year Make A Wish had their annual fishing tournament on October 31st. It had some of the best kids one could ever imagine. The happiness, kindness, and passion for life the Wish kids have is sobering. These children have gone through more than anyone should ever have to experience, and still have smiles that light up the Oklahoma plains. I cannot express my appreciation for what these kids have given me. I want to mention one of kids from the event, his name is Ethan. On my first introduction to Ethan he said, "Hey you wanna see my sharkbite?" Hesitantly I said sure. He without shame pulled up his shirt to show a four month scar that could have been mistaken for a sharkbite, but was the evidence of a successful liver transplant. We were fishing together in a boat and my competitive nature wanted me to catch as big of fish I could for him to win the tournament. That is when he gave me advice I will never forget, "James it's not how many fish we catch or how well we do, it is how much fun we have at doing it." There is nothing left to say after hearing that from a boy who has more courage and passion towards life than most grown men combined. I want to thank all of the Wish kids for being an example to me on how to live with passion, courage, strength, kindness, and happiness.

James
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                    James and Ethan

My aunt took her to the doctor the next day to see what was wrong with her. The doctor informed her that it was her disease and that the signs or side effects were coming faster than they thought. That’s when I realized that it was a big deal. I was scared for Emily, my aunt and my whole family. The doctor told my aunt that around the age of 16 Emily would have to have a wheelchair. Emily is now 13 and is, and has been, in a wheelchair for a couple of years. She has lost the use of her leg muscles. She can use her arms, but very little. She also has a big problem with talking and holding her head up.

Let’s backtrack just a little. Two years ago is when she was put in the wheelchair and started losing the use of her legs, arms, and neck muscles. I became very close with Emily because I was the only girl cousin she felt comfortable around. I would help her get to the bathroom, get in bed, and anything else that she needed help doing. Most of the time I would even talk for her. I was always making her laugh. That’s been one of my priorities since I found out she has MD. I wanted to make her feel normal like everyone else. There was nothing that the two of us couldn’t do. I went to a lot of Dr. appointments with her and a lot of parties that the MDA would throw, but I felt that wasn’t enough.

 I found out about a camp for children who have MD. So I set it in my mind that she would go. I told my aunt and Emily about it. Right away Emily said no. She is a very shy person. Her disease causes this because she feels like people will judge her and she doesn’t like not being able to do things on her own. I saw videos and watched news broadcasts about this camp and I knew she would have fun. One week every summer she would fit in and feel normal. I was willing to do anything I could to make this happen. She told me no, but I knew she would love it. I just had to find a way to get her there. Every time I would see Emily, after I had made my mind up, I would tell her, ask her, and beg her to go. Finally one day after church our families were eating together and the subject was brought up. Emily is not the type of person to talk to you first or start a conversation, but out of nowhere she looked at me and said, “I have a deal for you”. I was like “Okay. What’s that”? The deal was if I went to the camp and was a counselor, she would go. I almost started crying I was so excited. I just knew she was going to have the time of her life! Don’t get me wrong though. I love her to death, but I just didn’t know if I could handle help taking care of someone else I didn’t know. I had my doubts and second thoughts, but I ended up going. I wasn’t going to let her win so easy.

So, summer came and we both went. She liked it automatically just like I knew she would. I struggled at first. I didn’t want to hurt the camper I was assigned to. After the first day though the older counselors gave me great tips and tons of help.

The week came to an end faster than expected. We were both sad to go. We had made a lot of friends and had a blast. On the ride home I asked Emily if she had fun and if we would be attending the next year. She looked at me with a weird look and said, ”Lindsay are you dumb?” I was like “Huh?” That question threw me off. I just knew she would be saying great things. She then quickly stated that she would go as long as they would let her. We both started laughing and my aunt also joined in. I was so happy that she had fun and would keep going. Now she starts getting ready for camp the day after she leaves!

I’m glad that just one week of my time made a big difference in her life, and that camp made an even bigger one. That year, week, or whatever you want to call it, also changed my life. I’m now 19 years old and attending college. I want to become a nurse. One of the many reasons is that at that camp I realized they were short on the nursing staff. This year they almost had to cancel camp because not enough volunteers were signing up. So after I graduate, I plan on becoming a nurse on their staff. That way I can help change the lives of children and teenagers.

Lindsay
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During my middle school years I had a lot of acne. I was called names like “pizza face” and everyone would always say stuff behind my back. I had a few friends but they would say things as well.

One day a new girl cane to our class.  When she got there, the teacher sat her in the empty desk next to me. I said hi but that was all. I didn’t want to talk because I figured she was like everyone else. Next thing I knew she was telling me her name and where she moved from. She heard the kids calling me names. They told her not to talk to me because they could catch my "pizza face". She told them she didn't care because I was her friend. Her kindness really gave me a new attitude on everything!

My freshman year in high school was the next year. I was put on some medicine to help my acne, and it was all gone by the time school started. The first day came around and everyone that had called me names were suddenly being nice to me, and I figured since it was a new year I would be nice back! To this day "the new girl" and I are still really good friends.

The next time you have a chance to do a kind thing, do it. You never know what it'll do for someone else!

Casi
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That morning we woke up and ate breakfast then went outside to begin our first tasks. The first task they gave us was to paint trees with lime sediment to keep the bugs from killing them. After we finished they gave us time before lunch to meet and get to know some of the kids. I was walking around when a little girl grabbed my hand and asked me to join her in a game of soccer. We played and talked and soon became very good friends. She told me her name was also Jessica and that today was her birthday. Then she just walked off and left. Later she came back with this stuffed animal in her hands. It looked like it was one of the very few things she owned. She handed it to me and told me she wanted me to have it and that I was her best friend. I thought it was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me. This little girl, who has practically nothing, wanted me to have one of her most prized processions. I didn't keep it. I told her to keep it and think of me whenever she looked at it.

This taught me that even the simplest of things makes you realize never to take anything for granted. Cherish every moment in your life and make your life something you want to look back on. She taught me to be thankful for everything I have been given.

Jessica
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Luckily, the following year, when I approached them and began opening up and actually talking to the group, they welcomed me with open arms. They remain some of my closest friends to this day and even though we’ve all gone off to separate colleges I’ll never forget how they helped me.

Amanda
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