Warm Wishes

I tend to get a lot of ideas in my head, and I've learned over the years that I can't jump on every one, that I have to really think it through before I commit. More importantly, I have learned to think and pray over these things before I mention it to anyone else. Too many times I have opened my mouth only to ask myself a short time later -What was I thinking, I don't have time for this?! I know you all know what I'm talking about!

I had been thinking for a while that the kids in my daughter's class needed to do some sort of service project. I remember when I was a kid we went at least once a month to a local nursing home to sing to the residents, and those old folks [as we used to call them :)] really loved it. I wanted the kids to experience what it feels like to help others-it's a good feeling, a feeling that we are all connected. It also reminds us of how blessed we are, and helps to develop empathy.

Last week, I helped my daughter's 7th grade class make lap blankets for a local nursing home. Yesterday, I took my daughter and a few of her friends and their teacher to deliver them to the residents. And, of course, the residents loved and appreciated them.

To make them, I cut out rectangles from lots of pretty colors of polar fleece. I took them to school, and the kids each picked out 2 pieces, in colors that they liked. We placed the 2 layers together, measured 3" from the edge all the way around, marked with masking tape, and then cut fringe up to the 3" mark and about 1" wide. Then, we just tied the fringes together. The kids had a great time, and were proud of their accomplishment. The local newspaper has agreed to feature photos of the class project.

The reason that I wanted to do a project like this is because I think it's really important to get kids involved in their community. Kids learn by doing, and when they do something nice for someone else, it makes them feel good about themselves. It's easy to get caught up in our lives and all the stuff we have to do, and not have time to go out of our way for others. I can't tell you how many times I thought to myself as I planned and prepped for this project, "I don't have time for this," and really wished I hadn't even mentioned my idea to the teacher. But in the end, doing right always feels right and I'm glad I followed through with that idea.

Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? James 2:14-17 (The Message Bible)