Volume XX, Number 35 (Issue 987) August 29, 2022
The August 2022 Making a Difference Award
A few weeks ago (July 18, 2022, to be precise) I offered up a couple of stories of individuals who had taken it upon themselves to do something nice for another individual without thought or expectation of any recognition or reward. Thus, they chose to perform an unselfish act on behalf of another merely because they understood it to be the right thing to do. Personally, I like to think they felt called to meet a clear need of one of their fellow sojourners.
At the conclusion of that issue of Musings I asked you and your fellow readers to submit similar stories of sacrifice, thoughtfulness, and kindness. Many of you were kind enough to drop me a note in response. Hopefully, more will decide to share a similar story or two in the days ahead. After all, we need a bit of positive news amidst the barrage of bad and unsettling news we are subjected to in the twenty- four-hour news cycle. With your input we can make this a monthly feature. In any event, this month’s story comes to us from Lora H. in Longview, TX.
As Lora tells it, a few years back when her son, Brayden, was in 8th grade he was an average student (he sounds a lot like yours truly when I was his age) in that he didn’t care to spend his hours outside the class doing homework – especially when there were so many other more appealing ways to spend the time. So, one day, when one of Brayden’s teachers called Lora what she expected to hear was a complaint about her son’s work habits and its effect on his grades. To her surprise, what the teacher called to tell her brought tears of a different kind to this mother’s eyes. Brayden, it seems, had taken it upon himself to befriend a fellow student who was autistic. Specifically, he was assisting the young man navigate the halls between classes, focus on his studies, and provide whatever other assistance that might be called for in the moment.
As the teacher explained it, several teachers had observed Brayden’s selfless acts and they wanted to acknowledge his “servant’s heart.” Thus, they created the school’s first “My Brother’s Keeper Award” which they presented to Brayden at the conclusion of the school year.
As a fellow parent, I can easily imagine the pride Brayden’s parents had to feel in that moment. Knowing your child will help another individual in need without prompting or expectation of reward is a marvelous thing. So, congrats to Brayden for his good deed and to his parents for raising him, and his brother per Lora, to have a true servant’s heart.
Come September, barring feedback that tells me otherwise, you can look for another story of someone who chose to make a difference.
Soli Deo Gloria
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love,
any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippians 2:1-3
Keith Hughey
Mobile: (210)260-0955
E-mail: keith@jkeithhughey.com
Web site: www.jkeithhughey.com
Transforming Potential into Unmatched Performance
Copyright 2022 by J. Keith Hughey. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for reproduction and redistribution of this essay as provided under the copyright laws of the United States of America. The entire early library of Monday Morning Musings issues may be found at www.jkeithhughey.com. Your comments are welcome and encouraged.