Journey XIV Week 9
Making Every Day Count
A March Sunrise. Meditation Hill, Butler Park. Last Wednesday, while working out at Butler Park we were greeted with the gift of a surreal sunrise. It was as if God was dipping His paint brush in a bucket of colorful paint and swiping it across the sky as it changed every few minutes.
“May you have eyes to see, ears to hear, and may life have a deep meaning for you that saves you from a thousand trivial bordoms, and may you live life intentionally and on purpose.” — Pastor Matt Chandler
Action: Every day, use your mind, move your healthy body, and embrace your freedoms and opportunities. Live in the moment, make every day count, pursue your passion, dream big, play hard, laugh a lot, dance when you have the chance, Love yourself, Love your family, and Love your neighbors!
This weekend, I had the meaningful and rewarding opportunity to attend the Helping Hand Home Style Show and Gala. For one hundred and seventeen years, the Helping Hand Home for Children has provided a place to heal abused, neglected and abandoned children. The style show and gala is the primary fundraiser for care and treatment of the children.
This event was special for many reasons: Young Adult Monarch Lizzy Jarvis, daughter of Marvelous Monarch Anne Jarvis, was a debutant; Magnificent Monarchs Francie Little and Susan Prickett were the co-chairs of this spectacular event; and a bevy of Masterful and Loving iGnite Monarchs volunteer for the Helping Hand Home. I definitely was not going to miss this very special day.
The festivities began Saturday morning with first grade princesses dressed in fluffy white dresses and sparkling tiaras. Each little girl was introduced by Austin’s favorite weather man, Jim Spencer (the MC), who then revealed a cute tidbit. The spirited, innocent and funny stories ranged from wanting Taylor Swift to sing at a birthday party, to loving chickens and hoping to one day learn braille and get a seeing eye dog.
Next were the debutants, all currently college freshman. Introduced along with their escort and junior escort, each shared their life ambitions, favorite things to do and inspirations. Their stories were hysterical and telling of their age. Several of the debutants and their escorts said their favorite thing to do was sleep and their favorite place was their bed. Vividly remembering how exhausted I was during my college years, I completely understood. Many of their ten year plans were to be a doctor, happily married with children, retired and living on a ranch, and solving the world’s energy crisis. A few of the junior escorts planned to play college or professional sports. What stood out where their king-sized ambitious futures. For most of them the future is very bright and is in the palm of their hands, just as it should be for you and me as well.
What I appreciate most about all the participants is they don’t lead with wounded or fearful hearts. Little things (like chickens) are awesome and their confidence is high, but why not? Like Brian Littrell says, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you’ll land among the stars.”
While being introduced, sweet Lizzy Jarvis paid me the nicest and most generous compliment by suggesting that I inspired her. Words can’t express my gratitude and I am deeply honored and humbled. Lizzy’s words inspired me to keep pursuing my passion—which involves YOU!—so in case you were thinking I might one day fizzle, NO WAY!! We’re iGniting for LIFE!
Christiane Benson was the precious first grade princess who said she wants to learn braille and hopes to get a seeing eye dog. She has Batten’s Disease, a fatal neurodegenerative disease that will take her eye sight and cause seizures. Children with the disease eventually become bedridden and suffer dementia. Her future is grim and there is no cure. I can hardly stand to write about this horrific disease and I am deeply saddened for the Benson family and Christiane, but I am also moved and inspired. They are a mighty and brave family living life to the absolute fullest. They are living in the moment while not knowing what tomorrow will bring, which is exactly how we should all live.
Life is filled with setbacks, heartbreaks, and sadness, but it is also abundant with rich and wonderful blessings, with our health being the first. We are blessed to live in the land of the free where we get to choose our daily activities and pursue our greatest goals and passions. We live enormously privileged lives and want for nothing. It is a gift that we have the means to give of our time, talents and treasure to places like the Helping Hand Home and other non-profit organizations.
As we go about our week—the week before you possibly travel for Spring Break or just enjoy a nice break with your children—I encouage you to consider the awesome blessing it is to have your health, a healthy family, a rich and abundantly filled life with friends, family, choices, opportunities and more, while avoiding all thoughts of lack, negativity, dread and despair. Every day, use your mind, move your healthy body, and embrace your freedoms and opportunities. Live in the moment, make every day count, pursue your passion, dream big, play hard, laugh a lot, dance when you have the chance, Love yourself, Love your family, and Love your neighbors!
The video this week is of the Benson Family. Christiane’s mom, Charlotte, profoudly states that “Every day has to count. Every day is a gift. Every skinned knee, every spilled glass of milk, every temper tantrum, every time you wash their hair and get them dressed is an opportunity to share a moment together. That’s what we have.” I also encourage you to read Charlotte’s beautiful blog.
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