Sunday Thought, February 15, 2015: The Power of Love

The Power of Love

Last night at the store, after a long day with hubby at the doctors, there was a little boy we ran into in Walmart.  He fell in love with Lilly (hubby's service animal, yes, shes a cat). The little boy was in tears.  When I asked him if he was ok he broke down and cried. He said he was there with grandma, and grandpa normally gets her roses for Valentine's Day but he's in heaven now and this is the first time grandpa won't be able to give her flowers in forty years.  He also told me, since his mommy didn't have a husband, he could only afford to buy one of them roses. He asked me who Lilly and I, since we were girls, thought he should buy roses for.

I introduced his mother and grandma to Lilly and my husband and ask them if they would sit with my husband and Lilly while I quickly grabbed the things we needed and that I would be right back.  The young man had already showed me their favorite flowers so I grabbed them and snuck up to the service desk. I explained to the people there what I was doing and they let me purchase the bunch of flowers and arrange them in two sets at the counter. As I walked back to hubby and the family, I motioned to the boy to come over so he could sign their cards.  He gave me a huge hug.  I told him he had a great grandpa and his grandma needed the flowers also.

We walked over to the benches and he proudly presented both his mom and grandmother the flowers. He was a lovely boy and was raised to respect the ladies in his life. The grandmother and I spoke for a while.  She needed an ear, yet was so use to being the strong one. It was such a blessing to see a young man care about and treat the ladies in his life with love and respect.

May we all, as ministers, lead by example.  Is there someone around you that you know may be lonely and down with the Hallmark holiday that a quick note or a small "in the budget" gift will uplift their spirits?  It doesn't have to be a marriage proposal, or even a date.  It can be a "just because you are another human being" gesture.

GYPSY - February 13, 2015

I asked Gypsy if I could reprint her post from the Truth Dreamer website for this week's Sunday Thought, as I thought it has relevance for all of us.  She agreed.  Gypsy follows a pagan path and is a fellow interfaith minister.  Her and her husband both suffer from various physical and emotional issues due to his military service and her life events.  At times these ailments are debilitating, and yet, she finds the strength and the love to be the person we see above.  And my point is what?

It takes so little, from even those whom themselves are in need, to give a little kindness that can make a difference in another's life.  Through her kindness these ladies see they do not walk their path alone, there are others there to lend a hand, or an ear.  The sweet young man learns there are angels that enter our lives in moments of sorrow and need.  I would not be surprised to see this kindness paid forward in his future.

Take a moment out this Valentine's Day, and Sunday, and reach out to another; to buy a single flower for and elderly woman, whose husband may have passed on, or simply to sit and talk for a brief moment.  A random act of kindness should always be in the forefront of our thoughts.  It takes so very little from us to make a moment greater for others.

Besides, a smile is a terrible thing to waste.

Editor's Note:  

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion.  It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other.  An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth.  After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human.  God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.
  

Pastor Frank Anthony Villari

Pastor Tony is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of "The Path," the Congregation's official blogsite.