Many years ago now, my daughter Emily got into making small clay animals. They were really cool – and she was able to sell them for a dollar apiece to friends, family, and neighbors. Over the course of about a year, she accumulated a hundred dollars – including some money she got at Christmas time. That was a lot of money for a nine-year-old!

At that time my sister was working in a shelter for women and children who are escaping abusive relationships. At some point, Emily got to thinking about the kids in this shelter who might be about her age – and about how they might be missing their toys and clothes and homes. So, Emily decided that she wanted to give some of her money to help. I’d been talking to her about tithing – giving away 10 percent of her money – but she hadn’t quite bought into that. In fact, in her mind, that wasn’t going to be enough to help. So, when she finally reached the $100 mark, she gave me the whole waded up ball of money – mostly crumpled one-dollar bills – and she said, “Here, Daddy. I want to give all of this to the Oasis shelter.”

It’s crazy, I actually tried to talk her into keeping some of it for herself – but she wasn’t having any of that. She said, “No Daddy. I want to give it all.”

It is a beautiful thing to be inspired by a child. Reflecting on her compassion makes me want to be more compassionate. Her generosity, makes me want to be more generous. Her willingness to sacrifice what she could have for the sake of others reminds me of how sacrificial giving toward a worthy cause touches something deep in the soul.

Thank you, Emily, for inspiring your Dad!

Let us pray: Loving God, on this Memorial Day we thank you also for the men and women who have served this country in the military over the years, for their families, and for all those who sacrificed for the sake of others. We pray especially today for our veterans, those who need your love and our support. Bring healing and mercy where it is needed. And hasten the day on Earth when wars will cease and your peace will reign.

Above all, we thank you for the sacrificial love you shower on us in the gift of your Son – who gave his life for us. In response to all our blessings – as individuals and as a nation – show us ways that we can be a blessing to others; for we remember today that you bless us to be a blessing! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

There is a legend about a king who decided to set aside a special day to honor his greatest subject. Four people, each in turn, were presented to the king for consideration. First was a wealthy philanthropist. The king was told that this man was highly deserving of the honor because he had given much of his wealth to help the poor.

The second person was a celebrated physician. The king was told that this doctor was highly deserving of the honor because he had provided faithful and dedicated service to the sick for many years.

The third person was a distinguished judge. The king was told that the judge was worthy because he was noted for his wisdom, his fairness, and his brilliant decisions.

The fourth person presented was an elderly woman. Everyone was quite surprised to see her there because she was quite humble – in attitude and dress. People wondered whether she even had a chance at winning when compared to the other three? Even so, there was something about her. She had the look of love in her face, understanding in her eyes, and a quiet confidence.

The king was puzzled by her presence, and he asked who she was. The presenter responded: “You see the philanthropist, the doctor, and the judge? Well, she was their teacher…”

You might guess who the king chose.

In life, good teachers make a big difference. And the truth is, we all need role models. We need good leaders, mentors, people who have traveled the roads we wish to take.

No matter what stage of life you are in right now, I hope there are people whom you admire and from whom you are still learning.

Let us pray: Gracious God, we thank you for great teachers – for all those who have helped us along the journey of life. Give us humble and open spirits that we may continue to learn and to grow. And, grant us generous hearts that we share our own wisdom and experience with others. Amen.

In his book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, Steven Covey writes about how we can lose sight of our main goals in life. He conveys very pertinently how that can play out in our family life.

Covey wrote, “I value my children. I love them, I want to help them. I value my role as their father. But I don’t always see those values. I get caught up in the ‘thick of thin things.’ What matters most gets buried under layers of pressing problems, immediate concerns, and outward behaviors. I become reactive. And the way I interact with my children every day often bears little resemblance to the way I deeply feel about them.”

Today I invite you to think again about the people you love in your own life. Reflect on how you feel about them. How can you keep from getting caught up in the “thick of thin things?” How might you interact with them in a way that bears deep resemblance to the way you feel about them? That is a challenge for you and me – a challenge for today and for a lifetime.

Let us pray: Loving and Gracious God, we want to live in light of your love and grace, and we want to live in light of our deepest values. Show us concrete ways that we can demonstrate our love to those closest to us. Help us make time for them. Grant us patience and forgiveness and listening ears. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pastor Richard Fairchild once told about a story about an artist. This artist was seeking to somehow convey the meaning of the Christian faith amid the storms of life, so he painted a storm at sea. Black clouds filled the sky. Illuminated by a flash of lightning, a little boat could be seen breaking apart under the pounding of the ocean. People were struggling in the swirling waters, their anguished faces crying out for help. The only glimmer of hope appeared in the foreground of the painting, where a large rock protruded out of the water. There, clutching desperately with both hands, was one lone seaman.

Fairchild remarked that it was a moving scene. Amid the storm, the only hope of salvation was “the Rock of Ages,” a shelter in the tempest. But as the artist reflected upon his work, he realized that the painting did not accurately portray his subject. So he threw out the canvas and painted another. It was very similar to the first: the black clouds, the flashing lightning, the angry waters, the little boat crushed by the pounding waves, and the crew vainly struggling in the water. In the foreground, the seaman was clutching the large rock for salvation. But the artist made one change: the survivor was holding on with only one hand, and with the other hand he was reaching down to pull up a drowning friend.

Reflecting on that story, it is clear that the second painting is the one that really captures the essence of the Christian life and message. We have been saved for a reason. We have been blessed for a purpose larger than ourselves. We have been blessed in order to be a blessing to others.

The question remains: who might you reach out to – with a hand of love and grace – today?

Let us pray: God of Hope, help us to find a way to be a blessing to at least one person this very day. Amen.

Friend of Dial Hope, I have a small calculator on my desk which I use to figure my finances and store personal data for ready reference. It’s amazing how much information can be typed into the memory factors of this mechanical brain. On the left side of the keyboard is a powerful button. It is called the clear button. When I make a mistake, a touch on the clear button and is eliminated immediately. Each time I use this calculator I am reminded of how much it’s like the brain. It has the capacity to store good and bad memories. How often I wish I had a clear button to press to immediately correct my mistakes, or that I had the capacity to bring up old memories that disturb me and have them taken away, never to be thought about again. Then, as I contemplate how wonderful that would be, I am reminded how the Lord has built into us a “clear” button. It’s called forgiveness. When we accept his forgiveness, we can forgive ourselves, and then, out of the assurance of that grace, forgive others. Today, friend of Dial Hope, press the forgiveness button – now!

Let us pray: Into the clutter of our everyday lives, O Lord, you come with your heavenly order: into the weakness, you come with your strength; into the sin, you come with your holiness. Give us the grace to receive you now, to open the doors of our beings and invite you in, not just over the threshold but into the innermost parts, the upper rooms and lower rooms, the nooks and crannies, and closets. Dwell in us, O Lord, that we may glow this day with your light and pulsate with your presence. Help us to make this day a masterpiece as we rejoice in hope, in Jesus’ name. Amen.