Happy Friday Friends!
I hope & trust this post finds you having had a great day on this beautiful Thursday evening.
This week we have a special guest blogger, my Beautiful Bride Kathy. With this, we are posting Happy Friday a few hours early. I have not even read this Happy Friday yet however I know you are gonna love it because I know the heart of the woman who wrote it! Enjoy!
A beautiful story was written on the corner of Meadows Blvd and Louisiana here in Texas last Friday. Two young boys with big hearts and myself, big pitchers of lemonade, and even bigger signs that read, "HOPE for Harvey Families," set up a lemonade stand. This story started at 10:00 am and ended at 6:00 pm. We all had one mission. We all had one goal: to reach the hearts and souls of Harvey families with a simple lemonade sale.
People on bikes, people in golf carts, people in construction trucks, people on walks, all stopped. It was beautiful to see every race, every denomination, every background, and every age stop by. We met so many wonderful people, all with huge hearts. We cried together, we laughed together, we hugged, we shook hands, we shared stories. We offered words of encouragement, we smiled, and we truly felt a bond that I just can't explain in words. It was a lemonade sale, but it was more than just lemonade. It was about making a DIFFERENCE!
This day has a left a lasting impression that we will truly hold close in our hearts and souls forever. My son even said, "Mom, this is so fun and so much better that anything else that I could be doing today." Proud Mom moment...truly a Tender Warrior! Even with sticky hands, sunburned faces, messy floors inside from spills, running in and out of the house, and a "lemonade headache," this day will go down as one of our happiest moments. You see, Friends, it wasn't about the money...it was about the hearts and souls of people. It was about coming together no matter what race, age, or background. Stuff is just stuff and items can be replaced, but lives are ETERNAL. Touching others and being touched by them.
Let me highlight just two of our special friends who took the time out of their day to be a part of this lemonade sale. I wish I could share more. Maybe on another Happy Friday!
My friend's mom from down the street pulled into our driveway with her daughter, got out of their truck, walked over to the lemonade stand and handed Landry a donation. She said, "A lemonade sounds so good right now."
You see, her husband at that moment was at home, lying in a hospital bed on Hospice. She needed a break. She sat in our yard, cheered people on, encouraged those that drove by, and truly enjoyed the moment. Even in the midst of her own "storm," she took the time to open her heart. Even with her heart breaking she chose to give HOPE for Harvey families. The very next day her husband entered the gates of Heaven.
Now let me tell you about our last customer. She is a mom on our street with two beautiful little girls. She showed up late, but Landry was still outside cleaning up. She walked up and asked if we had any more lemonade. Of course, Landry said, "Yes!" He ran inside and yelled, "Mom, we need three more drinks!" "Right on it," I answered.
I walked outside with the lemonade. As I walked up our eyes met, we shared a smile and we tenderly hug. I introduced myself, shared a little about ourselves, and then the dreaded question, "Did your house flood?" "Yes," she replied.
My heart ached at that very moment. I offered words of encouragement and we hugged again. You see, even though her house flooded right down the street from ours, she came to our corner to make a difference in others lives.
My heart rejoiced. She was the epitome of selflessness. The epitome of reaching out to others. She opened up her heart even though her heart has ached the past week. A beautiful spirit. A beautiful soul. Lord, I pray that I may live my life this way. A beautiful soul is never forgotten.
So as I end this "Happy Friday," I hope and pray you can all experience a beautiful story on the corner of your street. It will change your life forever. LIKE MINE IS!
BTW...we raised $1273.00! BOOM! HAPPY FRIDAY!
Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.blogspot.com.
Have a great evening, an awesome Friday and please cherish your precious families.
Kev
No comments:
Post a Comment