HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!
It’s a season of thanksgiving for many in America and my
team and I are carrying that same spirit in this season. I am thankful for so
much in my life. But two people stick out. Two people that I love dearly, that live
selflessly, humbly, and are filled with love. Two people that have supported me
my whole life and don’t ever get enough thanks. Two people that I have learned
so much from. Two people that have helped shape me into who I am today. Two
people that are a blessing in my life and two people that I love dearly…..
MOM and DAD……
THANK YOU!
Thank you for teaching me how to love others.
Thank you for modeling how to humbly serve.
Thank you for teaching me how to put others first.
Thank you for teaching me how to see needs that others may miss.
You both modeled love and service all throughout my life.
Growing up I saw you continually putting others first. I saw how you care for
others in need never expecting recognition in return. I saw many projects at
church, school, or in the community be “anonymously completed.� I saw a heart that I wanted to model. I saw a
love that came so naturally and was just a part of who you are.
Dad some of my favorite moments are watching you love and
serve others. It comes so naturally and it was something I saw in action during
our Saturday morning breakfasts down at St. Michaels. Watching you interact
with the homeless community and see you treat them with such dignity and
character was seeing Christ in action. You never looked at them differently, you
served them, sat and talked with them, and simply loved them as they were. You
viewed everyone we served with and serving as family and just wanted everyone
to feel significant. Thank you for being an example of Christ’s love. Thank you
for serving others with dignity and for fostering my love for strangers. Thank
you for taking this part of your character and living it out in everyday life.
Thank you.
Mom you taught me that everyone deserves to feel special and
cared for. The love and care for your students and family did not go unnoticed,
rather it became ingrained in me. You had many students that were overlooked at
home but you made sure they felt special and noticed at school. You showed me
that no matter your position you can always find a way to meet some ones needs.
Whether you had a student or not in her class if you heard of a need, you would
find a way to meet it with love and care. Some of my favorite moments are when you
would come home and tell me of a student that was around my size (I was a
special size growing up and clothes were harder to find) and asked me, “what
clothes should we give her?� There wasn’t a question of if we could provide, it was what
could we gift her with. You had that same love for the brothers and sisters of
your students. When I would go to school with you I loved watching you interact
with your students. It was always
incredible to watch you teach/talk with them encouraging them and building them
up for success — she was a speech pathologist so she had smaller class sizes. You
connected with the students and without words you would communicate to them how
important, significant, and intelligent they were. You made me want to be a
teacher…..BUT we both know God didn’t make me to be one….but thank you for the
inspiration. 🙂
AND thank you for also breeding the love for strangers
within me. You view everyone as a friend yet to be made. And as much as it
would drive me crazy in the check-out lines, I see it as unique and a
characteristic I cherish and now….emulate. 🙂
You both have a way of connecting with others. This is something
others point out in me more and more on the race and something I am so grateful
for. It’s funny as I go through this trip I see more and more moments that
remind me you two. So thank you. Thank
you for your warm, loving, and giving hearts that have rubbed off on me. Thank
you for showing me the love of Christ in action. Thank you for being at every
dance recital, every soccer game, every band concert, every award ceremony,
every dance team performance, every important event in my life. Thank you for
your support and for being a part of this race and a part of the work God is
doing in my life. I’m truly blessed to have you both as my parents, as my
models. I know I don’t say it enough, so today from Malawi I say….
THANK YOU.
Thank you mom and dad.
I LOVE YOU and wish you a very happy Thanksgiving!
