A Brother’s Helper

I find myself doing a lot of correcting, and much less praising of my children- I focus on more of the negative, and less of the positive. So, in an effort to be more positive with my children, I have decided to start a Benevolence Journal. Here I will post about benevolent acts my children have done. This will serve as a record of all the wonderful things that do happen within our family- so many times, the good things go forgotten. And I hope that by recording these acts, it will encourage more of the same behavior, in them and in myself.

A Brother’s Helper

My oldest son has weekly drum lessons, and dreads carrying his drum case because it is so heavy. It is otherwise known as the “bomb case”- a name given by his classmates. Usually, I pick him up from school on these days, but this past week, I told him that I would not be there, because we would be out until 12:30, and by the time I got the little ones down for a nap, I would be waking them shortly thereafter to pick him up.

So, home bound he was on the school bus, which he was not thrilled about since it is hard to maneuver, and find a place to put the drum case on the bus. My oldest, Sean, was the first to burst through the door after they were dropped off, and he did not have his drum in hand. So, I asked where it was. He told me that Brian, our second oldest, was carrying it for him, and he would not let Sean carry it.

I thought that this was wonderful! So, I grabbed the camera, and took Brian’s picture as he walked through the door. He gave me the come-on-mom look, but I think that he was happy that his act of benevolence was not going unnoticed.

This is the kind of behavior that I want to see more of from my kids! Great job Brian!!

1000 Gift List- #1

I went to my monthly prenatal visit yesterday, and I was thinking how grateful I am to have such great medical care. Not only do I have great care, I have choices as well- I have a list of doctors to choose from, I can deliver in a hospital, in a birth center with a midwife, or even at home. Sadly, there are many women throughout the world, who do not have the same kind of care as you or I.

Maternity Care- What Would it Be Like Without It?

In impoverished countries, some women are giving birth out in the bush- could you imagine having to do that?

I am so proud to be involved with a company that is providing a safe, clean environment, with doctors, to care for women throughout their pregnancy, during and after birth.

Maternity ward: The Trivani Foundation, Coastal Development Fund (CDF), and Koins for Kenya have funded a women’s center designed to assist new and future mothers with their children. Trivani has already donated over $60,000 worth of leveraged supplies to the clinic. The center is currently in the engineering phase of construction.

#1 I am thankful for my doctors, hospital, nurses, and all of the people who care for me before, during, and after delivery, as well as all of the technology, supplies, and equipment available to the medical professionals.

1000 Gift List

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:2

I am very excited to say, that I have decided to participate in the 1000 Gifts List. On this blog I will begin making a list of gifts, not necessarily gifts I want or have given, but of the gifts He bestows upon me out of His infinite love and grace, because everything from Him is a gift.

Let your roots grow deep into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.”

Colossians 2:7 (NLT)

I feel as Mama Whitney does:

“I think of all the gifts I have not recorded. All the gifts I am fearful to record. All the gifts I have not been aware of. All the gifts I have taken for granted. All the gifts I’ve tried in vain to take credit for.

Lord, increase my vision for Your hand in my life, Your hand that upholds me, Your hand that created me. Help me to be ever-growing in seeing Your goodness and giving You praise. May I see, hear, taste, smell, and feel You more and sing Your praises more as a result. As Matt Redman says, “Worship starts with seeing You.” I want to see You more. I want to recognize You more as I experience all these undeserved gifts.”

Won’t you join me, and begin your list of a Thousand Gifts?

Gratitude Campaign

The Benevolence Community

I found this great website today that I wanted to share, The Benevolence Community. Their mission focuses on The Benevolence Plan, an easy-to-follow system that encourages people to stick to a schedule of random acts of benevolence, or otherwise known as, “Benevolence Missions.” The plan is to commit one random act of benevolence every day, a bigger one every week, and an even bigger one every month.

To make things easier and more fun, they also developed Benevolence Cards that you can print right from your computer.

Benevolence Cards are very easy to make. All you need is access to a printer and some scissors, and then follow these easy steps:

1.) Click here to download the file. [PDF] If you’re having trouble opening the file, you may need to download the latest version of Adobe Reader.

2.) Print them out.

3.) Cut them out on the solid Grey lines. Be careful! Children must only operate scissors under adult supervision.

And there you have it! You should now have ten (10) Benevolence Cards all together.
Now that you’ve got your Benevolence Cards, carry them around with you everywhere you go. Then when an opportunity strikes, use them! But wait, how do we “use them?”

That’s an excellent question! I’m glad you asked!!

Well the front of the Benevolence Card shows the recipient what is going on, and it’s up to you to make sure that they know what the Benevolence Mission is! So if it’s not something that you can tell them, perhaps because you may want to be discreet about it, simply write it down on the back of the card.

Here’s an example of what someone would put on the back of their Benevolence Card when buying a movie ticket for the third person in line behind them at the movie theater. They would give the Benevolence Card, and the amount for the movie, to the ticket person, explaining to give the card and movie ticket to the third person in line behind them without mentioning who it’s from.

Another example of what you can do as one of your daily Benevolence Missions is to write a compliment about someone in a crowded restaurant on the back of the Benevolence Card, and have a waiter or waitress give it to the recipient without mentioning who it’s from. It’s fun, easy, and free!

Enjoy performing random acts of benevolence- start today with your own family!