How will you serve?

Now that we are officially in Fall, the season of giving is right around the corner. Actually, it should be all year round, but for some reason people are more inspired and compelled to give and think of people less fortunate during this time. However, there are little things that can be done all year round. Remember, Martin Luther King’s quote “Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve”.

My sister and I are very cognizant of ensuring that our children give back all the time. They are required to feed the homeless once a month at PADS. This means serving them, talking to them and interacting with them as though they were not down on their luck. We prepare meals for people that are in need throughout our congregations and then we deliver them. The kids go along and are able to see people suffering from cancer, recuperating from surgery and/or the aftermaths of the loss of a loved one. We have a group of friends and we pass down clothes among the girls and boys in our village. Hand-me downs is not a bad word and it cuts down on what we all have to buy.

For us, these little things make the season of giving seem natural and ordinary. We don’t have to step up and find a cause or a family to help. We just need to be aware of our blessings and then give back. This year, I hope to start volunteering in hospitals and helping out on the children’s floor. I will let you know how that works out. I may be an emotional wreck, but I know the Mommy in me can comfort.

Let me know what type of ways you give back all year round or during the season of giving. Hopefully, if we all do a little, we can help a lot.

Peace and Love,

Sandals,

Real Life, Real Talk, Real Women

Happy Monday!

Weekends are just not long enough… Our weekend went by too fast and I can’t really tell you what I did, as it went by in a blur. It was filled with going to kids’ activities, washing clothes, cooking dinner, going to Church and of course watching football.

Unfortunately, I don’t know that I did anything meaningful for anyone else or myself for that matter. I am sure my nephew appreciated me attending his football game, but I always want to have good intentions to be a mentor, do service and give back in some small way that makes a difference. I just don’t know how to fit it in.

I am looking for something challenging to do on the weekend that will help me give back to the community in some small way and doesn’t require a lot of time…

If anyone has something meaningful that they do or ways that they give back, please let me know.

Peace and Love,

Sandals

Happiness!

Happy Monday!

I am extremely happy when I am helping and serving others. The ability to give back is priceless and in this day and age, most everyone could use a hand. Whether volunteering, cooking a meal, planting a garden or spending time with people that are shut in, it gives me a great sense of peace and happiness. It has the ability to make you happy and the person/people you are helping, happy as well.

Most often when people are helped or served, they are most appreciative. Thoughtful little things go a long way in making someone else’s day. Paying a toll for the person behind you, cutting a neighbor’s yard, making meals at homeless shelters, mentoring disadvantaged children are small ways to make a difference.

My heart is very full this week, as I had a great weekend. A friend and I were very instrumental in planning and organizing a celebration for our Pastor at First Baptist Church of Oak Park. In African-American churches, this is an annual occurrence. However, our church is very diverse and doesn’t have the cultural traditions many of the African-American members have grown up with. Fortunately, our Pastor is a truly great and humble servant and we decided to honor his 30th year in Ministry.

We were so grateful and humble that we were able to surprise him, but more importantly we provided an incredible forum for people to show their appreciation for the Pastor, our Church and we made a lot of people happy. It takes so little to make me happy, but bringing a smile to someone else, really does it for me.....

It is always great to start the week off in a good mood.

Did anyone else have a great weekend? Please share.

Love and Peace,

Sandals

Real Life, Real Talk, Real Women

Back to the Middle

Who defines our success?

Is it defined by where we live, where we work, or who we socialize with?

No matter where you are in life this very moment, one thing that is certain is that we all got here the same way.

Life has a way of tossing us to and fro and it is up to us individually to find our path in life but quite often, we need help.

Since the beginning of time, there has always been the haves and the have not. While there have been many fortunate to prosper, there have been many left to be among the have not.

Matthew 20:16 Says that the last shall become first.

My question is where are you in line right now? Are you among the first that have been ambitious, employed, and so far removed from the day to day struggles of life that you have forgotten or have no clue what it is like to be without? Or are you among the last, the group that society has sadly given up on. The three “u” group: the under educated, unemployed, and uncouth.

I believe that there is room for everyone in the middle.

In the middle you can learn from one another. In the middle you can understand one another. In the middle you can help one another.

I challenge everyone to take a long look in the mirror. Are you all that you desire to be? Is there more to be done? Can you say that I have truly contributed to the uplifting of the “down trodden”.

There are people that need your help to make it to the next level…not by words, but by actions.

Consider starting a workshop, etc based on experiences that you have encountered. President Obama said it best when he said that we must serve. It is time to save our generations; not by staying within our element but stepping out of it. After some time, the impact that you make will far exceed your first impression.

Invest your time, talent and skills. The return will be worth more than gold.

Come Back to the Middle!

Mary Jane

Real Life, Real Talk, Real Women

Saying Thank You

This past weekend, I volunteered along with two other PPP women to handout backpacks and school supplies to children in need in a not so privileged neighborhood. Over 50 volunteers and staff members gave up precious time, plans with their families and/or loved ones to volunteer outside in the hot, sweltering sun. This is not to bash the organizers of the event, just to set the stage.

Over 450 backpacks were given out. Yes, that is a tremendous amount of backpacks and a tremendous amount of people in need. Thank you to all the companies that donated their resources, staff and time to make this event happen. More kudos to the people who donated all of the supplies.

Unfortunately, the event was tainted for me, because a large majority of the parents and children did not say “Thank You” for anything. Not for the backpacks, food, face painting, games, etc. They were not aware of the time, sweat and resources that went into filling to the brim, backpacks with all types of school supplies, calculators, etc. Also, the backpacks were sorted into age group and grade level to ensure that the children got the appropriate backpack for the grade level.

Please know that this is not to preach, but to encourage parents to teach their children to be grateful and appreciative of people who do things for them that are not in the norm. Teach them to say please and thank you. Learn what it means to be a volunteer and what it takes to serve others.

I would love to spend all my time with my husband, daughter and family. Fortunately, I was taught to serve and give back. Although this was a little shocking, it won’t stop me from volunteering. Everyone should really learn to give of themselves. For it is very true, “it is far better to give than to receive”.

Peace and love,

Sandals

Real Live, Real Talk, Real Women