What Difference Does a Hamburger Make?

My oncology nurse friend is all about bringing sunshine into the world. What a joy it must be for her patients who face a riveting cancer diagnosis. Her bright light intersects their darkness with hope. In addition to her nursing job, she is also a volunteer at a charitable organization that is truly a "back-up resource" for families who have a loved one dealing with cancer, and if that's not enough.....she goes to hospice facilities to cheer up the families and their loved ones. I couldn't resist sharing the following story with you. It touched me so much.

Jodi was headed to a hospice facility to visit a patient there. As she approached the facility, a 93-year-old man was sitting on the porch. She greeted him with “How are you doing today?” He responded, "Good -- and I'm working on the pretty!" She remarked that he was a delight and just had to sit down and visit with him a while. They carried on a long conversation and he mentioned “I’d love a hamburger.” She didn’t hesitate to say: “I’ll be right back” and went to get that burger for him. There wasn't a question about whether it was good for him or not -- she knew her attention to him WAS good for him. She came back with the hamburger and a strawberry shake. The dear man had a chair pulled up right next to him for Jodi to sit by him. Jodi said he ate every bite and drank all the shake. She spent over two hours with him. Jodi was beaming as she told me this story. The dear man passed away a few days later.

What makes someone go the extra mile to bring a ray of sunshine into someone's life? Especially when that someone is close to leaving this world anyway. What difference does it make? Here's the difference: Jodi was serving a sweet man that was getting ready to leave this world. I told her she was his midwife -- giving him a sweet, comfortable and beautiful time as he was transitioning to "going home". But, more than the sacrifice of her time for this sweet man, this was about Jodi. She was so grateful for those two hours.

Helping others makes us see what we have.....and makes us even more grateful for it. Helping others makes us happy. There is so much joy in giving. She was grateful. When we help others, it makes us see what we have and makes us more thankful for it. Jodi's acts of kindness are seed planting times. She is already enjoying the harvest of her acts as she experiences such overflowing joy and happiness. “Give….and it shall be given back to you!” Luke 6:38

What difference does it make? Maybe our solution to complacency, boredom, loneliness and sadness is to find some-one or some-place where we can make a difference in someone's life today. It just might be the last act of kindness they will receive, but it will be an act of kindness that will change us FOREVER.

Be a REFLECTION of What You'd Like to Be

REFLECTION: an image that is seen in a mirror or on a shiny surface; something that shows the effect, existence, or character of something or someone.

I love how God gives us "thumbs up" on decisions we make. I typed up this blog early yesterday morning before I left for an event so it would be ready to POST this morning at 6 am. Imagine my delight, when a lady at the event said, "Donna, in my thoughts about you I saw you outdoors in nature and you came to a stream and you looked in the stream and saw your REFLECTION,....etc. Her words encouraged me beyond that word, but she confirmed the post I had written for you today. God is so faithful to me AND you!

I love this photo, and quote. "Be a REFLECTION of what you'd like to receive. If you want love, give love. If you want truth, be truthful. What you give out, will always return. REFLECTION is also like a boomerang -- when we give love, it will come back to us. If we give joy, we'll receive back joy. If we give forgiveness, we will be forgiven.

It's the Laws of Reciprocity -- God's laws of sowing and reaping. Those laws aren't new at all. It started with the greatest of all GIVERS when Jesus said, "Give...and it shall be given" Luke 6:38. Simply put, reciprocity is the notion of mutual exchange or fair return. It’s the basis of many business interactions where a fair exchange of goods and services is made between parties.

On the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us the Laws of Reciprocity in the purest form -- for example "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Matthew 5:7

We've heard the words: "Serve....and you shall be served." "Love....and you shall be loved." "Be a friend.....and you shall have friends." Just makes good sense -- especially when it's been tested and proven by successful leaders! Our dear friend, Zig Ziglar, said, "You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want." Smart and truly successful people get this. It's NOT giving TO GET. Typically, in those times that we give -- we do so with absolutely no expectation or desire to receive back.....but with God's Laws of Reciprocity -- there is ALWAYS a give back. Those laws just can't help themselves. We do receive back in so many ways. If our heart stays fixed on giving, serving and loving -- the REFLECTION and the ACTION will be to RECEIVE.

Christmas is All About Giving AND Receiving

These photos capture a day of Christmas "love" like none other! I met Susie Jennings in October. Susie is the Founder and President of Operation Care. Susie stepped out in faith and obedience to God when she resigned from her nurse supervisory position at Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas in 2011 to become a full time missionary to those in need.

She desired to serve God and her community after the tragic death of her husband when she asked God "What do you want me to do for you?" Then she said, "Don't ask God that question, because He will tell you." At that time, Susie didn't like homeless people, but that's where God took her -- right to where most of the homeless live in Dallas. Her first mission was to buy blankets for them. She rallied her friends to help her in November, 1993. The homeless called her, “The Blanket Lady.” That beginning was the start of Operation Care which now ministers to homeless and impoverished families here and in nations around the world. Her spunk, energy and obvious love for God's "misfits" inspired me so much, and it ignited my desire to join others from my church, and my family, to be a part of Susie's annual Christmas "Happy Birthday Jesus" celebration at the Dallas Convention Center. We were able to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the homeless and impoverished in the Dallas area. It was eye-opening, heart wrenching and inspiring beyond adequate words to share.

When I woke up Saturday morning in my cozy, warm and comfy bed, I thought about the precious souls I would meet at the event. I had seen the homeless sleeping under bridges or staying in shelters and while volunteering at the Food Pantry and Catholic Charities in Tulsa when I lived there. We also had served and ministered at the Salvation Army and John 3:16 Mission. But, reality set in for me on Saturday when we witnessed thousands and thousands of homeless people, bearing their earthly possessions in a cart, standing in line (some since the night before) to receive blankets, sleeping bags, coats, be fed a hearty meal, get haircuts, receive eye glasses, be seen by a medical team, have their feet washed and given new shoes, and best of all to be prayed with and to receive Jesus into their hearts. 

One of our dear friends, Jody Weersing,lovingly served as she washed their feed and gave them new shoes. My daughter, Staci Wallace and grandson, Payton Wallace, were on the music team lifting up praises to God while the people ate their meal; Larry Wallace was on the coat distribution team, Denise Gerrich served on the Veterans' team, serving those who faithfully served us and our country, and I served first at registration where I saw thousands upon thousands standing in line just to get in the door, then I moved to the greeter station when they came through the "heaven-on-earth" doors for them where they were high-5'd, hugged and celebrated with singing and welcomes. Finally, I stood at the entry to the meal line where I could hug them more and wish them Merry Christmas. My heart was full.

Unless you can see it with your own eyes, it is unimaginable – mostly, because we are people of so much “plenty”. It’s easy to remark, “What a shame”, and go on our way. But, God shows up with His people and organizations that go the distance in making a difference.

This Christmas season beckons us to have hearts of giving – pitching in a little cash into the Salvation Army kettle, donating coats from our overstocked closets, buying a gift for an Angel Tree child, or volunteering at an organization that does so much for the underprivileged on a daily basis. We can do something. While the recipients experience so much love, GIVERS of that love and compassion are sincerely on the RECEIVING end of so many blessings -- way beyond what we give.

1) Our eyes our opened to the blessings we have, and to the "little things" we take for granted and we become more thankful.
2) Our hearts of compassion are opened.

3) The dissatisfied and grumpy attitudes that we have dwindle to softness and appreciation.
4) Blinders fall off our eyes and we see the needs of others far greater than our own needs.

5) We start to re-evaluate spending senseless dollars on gifts for family and friends that we know will be tossed in a corner within just a few minutes or hours of having received them.
6) We start to desire to help support volunteers do what they do.

7) We have unmistakable and contagious joy because we gave.
8) We start to realize WHY we are here on this earth.

God demonstrated how to give when He gave His only Son to us. That's what Christmas is all about. The Reason for this Season. Could it possibly be that God has been waiting on us to live with PURPOSE -- making a difference in the lives of others? Mother Teresa said, "What we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop,"

"For God so loved the world that He GAVE......." John 3:16
"GIVE and it shall be given you, pressed down, shaken together and running over....." Luke 6:38

Dream, Play, Give, Smile, Cherish

Day 52 of Photo Inspirations -- DREAM, PLAY, GIVE, SMILE, CHERISH
This wall mural got my attention while shopping at the At Home Store.  This is the way I really want to live!

DREAM like there are no impossibilities.  Nothing is impossible with God -- so we shouldn't insult Him with small thinking -- BIG THINKING brings Him BIG PLEASURE!   “Let the Lord be magnified who has PLEASURE in the prosperity of His servants.” Psalm 35:27

PLAY like there are no winners.  My son is a marathon runner. He loves it.  He doesn't run to win.  He competes against himself -- to finish.  He is the winner of every race he runs.  And I intend to be the winner of my race!  I will finish my course.  I will be the single winner of my RACE!

GIVE like you have plenty.  Generosity is all about a heart for giving -- and when we have that heart -- there will always be more than enough to share.  Pastor Craig Groeschel says "Be an irrational giver.  Round up!  If the tip should be $2.50, round up to $3.00!  Give like you have plenty -- and before long you will have plenty."  "Give and it shall be given, pressed down, shaken together and running over"  Luke 6:38

SMILE till your face hurts.  I want my outside to reflect the inner joy and delight I have on the inside.   I love Nat King Cole's SMILE lyrics:
Smile though your heart is aching, Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow, Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness, Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying, Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile, If you just smile.

And, CHERISH your friends and family everyday.  I really do cherish my friends -- THAT'S YOU -- and my family everyday. My greatest joys and the things that money just can't buy are those people that God has given me.