thank you cards

As part of our Thanksgiving celebration my friend had the brilliant idea of purchasing some thank you cards and having each person in the family write at least one to some body in their life that they are grateful for. 

I wrote more than one as there is no way I would be who I am today without the investment of many others.

Some of those who received them told me how much they meant. You don't have to wait for the Thanksgiving  holiday to roll around again before showing your gratitude to those who have given to you...I recommend you tell them immediately. Why later? Why not now?

Just Sheri, grateful...simply grateful

Everyday Heroes: The Giving Pledge

This warms my heart.

The richest in America are encouraging others to give. It is called the giving pledge. Essentially, they are asking the billionaires in America to give away the majority of their wealth to charitable causes.

You can read more about it here: www.thegivingpledge.org

Props to Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet for leading this effort.

The wealthiest individuals or families have the resources to make a HUGE impact. Imagine what would happen if they continued to give generously...imagine.

NOTE: the Everyday Heroes series on this blog is an idea to share stories of normal people engaging in acts of kindness. I want to draw attention to kindness because I believe it is what changes the world.

Just Sheri, encouraged by the generosity of wealthy Americans

Everyday Heroes: giving a homeless man diginity

Over a year ago I had an idea to share stories of normal people engaging in acts of kindness. I called it "Everyday Heroes."  I wanted to draw attention to kindness because I believe that is what changes the world. I haven't been on the lookout for such kindness lately. But, a story was shared with me last week that reminded me how important this is. So, I am resuming the blog series and here is the second installment. If you experience random acts of kindness in your life, do share. I'd love to highlight them here.

Monday I was leaving work and a tall black homeless man was walking down the street. I recognized him from the Homeless Veterans Stand Down. Last time I seen him he was not homeless. This time he looked very down and out. He admitted that he was kicked out of his home and returned to using drugs (crack) and alcohol. He did not look good, his skin was really dark, his hands were rough and tathered from living out doors. He even said he felt like his hands were monkey hands and he could not look at him self in the mirror. I offered to give him a ride to a NA or AA meeting but he refused because of his appearance and smell. He said "look at me, I look terrible and have'nt bathed in two months." He turned around and the butt of his pants were completely ripped out and stained with mud and grime. I told him he could not be walking around looking like that even if he was homeless. So I convinced him to get in my car and I took him shopping at my favorite thrift store. He was in tears and could not understand why I was helping him. We found two pair of jeans, a new coat and a light jacket for warmer days. All for $20.00 bucks. It was a wonderful experience for both of us. Not just anyone would of picked this man up off the streets and even the store clerk and off-duty officer asked if everything was OK. We both walked in, me in my dress clothes from work and he in his torn up street clothes. He talked about how ashamed he was and I just encouraged him to be proud to be alive and to be given a fresh opportunity. Nothing really matters from the past but you can change today and if tomorrow comes you can do something different then as well. I still could not convince him to go to a meeting but he did tell me he had a treatment bed on Monday. I dropped him off at the local Quick Trip gave him $10.00 to last the weekend for food. With his dumpster diving and $10.00 he should make it. I made him promise not to spend my money on drugs and alcohol. Before he departed I asked him if we could pray together. I grabbed and held his callused hands and we prayed and we cried. He said I was an angel. "No Joseph, I am no angel but I beleive God put us together today for a reason and I am grateful." is all I said. I admitted to him my share of mistakes and he was quite surprised. We had something in common, family and personal battles with alcohol. I left him at Quick Trip on the steps in tears. He blew me a kiss and said he loved me and I just waved and said be safe out here.


I love this story. A simple act of kindness - a $30 and 40-minute investment in the life of another. And not just any other, but one who we encounter daily and usually just walk past trying not to make eye contact.

Will you help me be on the lookout for random acts of kindness? If you experience one. I'd love to know about it.

Just Sheri, inspired by someones willingness to serve another

a smile is universal

There is something I've noticed in all my travels around the world. Hand gestures may mean something different from one place to another. What is innocent in one place may be rude in another. But a smile...a smile is universally understood as a friendly expression between people.

Smile at someone, and you often receive a smile back. It is positive non-verbal communication, which is necessary when one does not speak the language well.

Just a reminder, that as humans we share a lot of commonalities regardless of the color of our skin, language we speak, or geographic region we are from. Also, there are simple ways to show kindness. I'd encourage you to share a smile with someone today.

abounding kindness

My mom once told me the best marriage advice she ever received was to "out do one another with kindness." I think love is best exhibited through kindness. I say this realizing how hard it is to practice - in reality, it takes a tremendous amount of energy and intentionality to live this out.

Acts of kindness do not come naturally to me. A few years ago, when I was early in my humanitarian aid career I took my dad with me to India. We spent the time with orphans, widows, families ravaged by AIDS or poverty, and with people groups that are discriminated against simply because of the family they were born in to (caste system in India, but, every civilization has their prejudices). I spent a lot of time playing with kids, holding the hands of women and crying with them, and generally trying to figure out what I could possibly do to help. At the end of one of these days my dad said with tears in his eyes, "when you were younger, I would have never imagined you doing this kind of work." We both knew what he meant. I started off life very ambitious and focused on what I could get out of situations. I'd been hurt deeply and my heart had grown a hard protective barrier, it was cold, but not dead. Over the years, God has worked a miracle on me. He healed hurts, he restored hope, he inspired me to share this love with others in need. I am still ambitious, but now I try to pursue eternal causes rather than selfish ones.

My inspiration scripture for this year is, Proverbs 14:31. It says:

Whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

I want to do both these things - be kind to the needy and honor God. I believe the definition of needy is broad. Yes, it includes those suffering in poverty or difficult circumstances. But, we all need attention. We all need someone to listen. We need kindness.

Mark Twain has a quote about kindness being a universal language - "kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." I think kindness is key to help tear down cultural barriers, which is important since I now live in a foreign country where I don't speak the language and make errors in custom and communication daily.

Since I believe in authenticity, I will also be practicing this at home. It is my intention that Kenyon, also, be the recipient of abounding kindness.

What is your new year's resolution or theme for 2010?