A Great Way to Smile

By: Robert Stedman

    Before I start banging away on these keys, I want to make it crystal clear that I'm no saint. As a matter of fact, when the day finds me standing at the "Pearly Gates"--I'm probably gonna sound a lot like Ricky Ricardo and have some "splainin' to do." My mom is a very amazing, holy lady and she has to go into over time to pray for me. To say I'm a lucky guy is easily an understatement!

    Now that I've gotten that out, let me begin to elaborate on the point of this article. GET YOUR LAZY BEHIND OUT THERE AND HELP SOMEBODY!!! Let me discuss some of your possibilities.

    I've written about Hospice Ministries before, but I feel led to throw it out again. Recently, I finished a short training and have begun visiting with the patients (they're hanging on to precious time). Words cannot describe how touched these people are just to have someone sit by their bed and listen. It totally makes there day--the feeling is mutual. I've begun seeing this man by the name of James. During our first visit, he made this heart wrenching statement: "loneliness can kill a man and I'm scared that may happen." I about feel out of my chair with guilt. To think I had just gotten frustrated with a traffic light! His daughter lives out of town, so she only gets to make Saturday visits. Not to mention, this man is great. He entertains me with W.W.II stories, life in the fifties (my dream decade), shaved-ice Muscadine juice and other mouthwatering recipes. His illness has recently left him blind, so he enjoys my descriptions of the new things in his room, such as flowers and food. This man has become a hero in my eyes!

    Another way to practice your selflessness is to feed the homeless. There's millions of programs in this fine nation that give you that opportunity. Its so simple and so rewarding.     I can’t stand getting long winded with articles, so I'm gonna conclude. Don't forget about Habitat for Humanity, March of Dimes, Leukemia Society and blood donation (it doesn't hurt). These all offer excellent ways to give back to your community, which always has open arms for help.

    I wrote a column a while back about my favorite actress, Audrey Hepburn. It would be very appropriate to close with the poem she read to her children during there last Christmas together. Soak this in:

    "For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone....People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed and redeemed and redeemed. Never throw out anybody. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others." AMEN