Several years ago, I took this picture of footprints in the sand. I wondered who made them. Was it someone just enjoying the Florida beach? Or was it a father carrying his son from his wheelchair down to sit by the waterside. The two of them laughing and enjoying the lapping waves. This is the type day we all would welcome.
In times of distress and sorrow we also come together to support each other. Whether an act of nature or an act of evil. But what about the rest of the time?
Life happens all around us. People get in accidents, babies born with health issues, parents struggling to feed their family. Along with this, a child learns the joy of tying their own shoe. A veteran learns to walk again with the help of a prosthetic leg. A family gives their time to help feed others during an annual Christmas dinner for the homeless.
As a community, as much as we love our independence, we need to be aware of those around us that need help. A homeless child needs clean clothes and school supplies so they can get a great education. A senior citizen may need help grocery shopping or just a kind ear to listen to their great life stories.
As a community we need to hold each other accountable. Enough with the excuses. If I was left to just give excuses for my disability I would be a completely different person than the self confident, motivated person I am now. I would not have had some of the great experiences I have had.
Excuses put the blame on everything and everyone other than the person responsible. We need to learn from the mistakes of our past. We need to adapt our future. We need to help those who don’t have confidence in them self, who can let the negativity around them get the better of them.
Negativity and evil is only powerful if we let it. The news outlets constantly tell us the negative stories because they think it is the only thing we want to hear. Where is the story of a man who paid for another family’s dinner with no motive other than to feed them and be kind? Or the story of a teenager helping an older gentleman to read for the first time? These things and many more positive experiences happen.
When life tries to keep you down remember the community. Even when you are too weak to walk, community can pick you up and carry to until you can get back up on your feet. When you see only one set of footprints, it is not a community walking side by side, but a community carrying one of its own.
What are some of the great positive things you have done for others?
