My beautiful daughter volunteered to be an MDA counselor this summer. This is the little boy she was assigned to be with all week. He is totally and completely adorable. My daughter, knowing his fate, does all she can to help him enjoy ... everything. A few moments after shooting this photo I happened to film them as he tried to fix her hair. I could tell he really felt safe around her and wanted to reciprocate her loving kindness.
There is something magical about service. I have a deep suspicion that most of what troubles the world today could be solved if we all stopped and took time to serve one another. Not necessarily because the act of service will change the life of the recipients as much as it changes the life of the giver. The more we give the more we change. It seems to me that the world has it all backwards: we do not change the world by trying to change it. We can only change the world by changing ourselves, from within. The world is merely an outward reflection of our inward convictions; and the fastest way to change us from within is to serve others.
A friend of mine started a project that I've grown to love for many, many reasons. At the heart of her project is time: both how and where we spend it.
Ever since I lost little Mitch, I began to think about how and where I spent my time. When I stop to think about it, my most rewarding (and healing) memories have come from putting my time into things that mattered most to me.
Nothing is so abused or misused as time ... yet, with that same time, nothing can be so powerful and life-altering. Time is life's greatest currency; and we cannot save, borrow or steal it. We can only spend it, waste it or invest it.
So, when this Mitchell's Journey follower-turned-friend introduced me to her project about putting time into things that matter, I was excited because her effort aligns with everything I know about life and what's most important. For, its the true value of time and what we do with it that's at the very heart of Mitchell's Journey and the subject of my professional pursuits.
Take a look at this project www.timemachine.do or you can visit www.facebook.com/Thetimemachine2015/timeline
Put your time into one of their time challenges and you'll find you get more out of it than you ever put into it. Her program doesn't cost any money and the only thing they ask you to do are the very things we so often say to ourselves, "Oh, yeah, I'll get to that." The challenges ask us to do things that make life fun, meaningful and worth living.
There is Mitchell's Journey challenge embedded in the app, too.
At the end of the day isn't everything really about time? I hope to always put my time to things that matter most.
Today we had an opportunity to visit with the President and CEO of Associated General Contractors of Utah along with some of his leadership team. Having been touched by Mitchell’s Journey, he and his board of directors offered a generous financial donation to help us meet our goals to serve local DMD families. Their CEO (standing next to Natalie) attended our Miles for Mitchell 5K and demonstrated strong support and deep compassion.
So, today we discussed some families we aim to help. We couldn't be more excited to work with AGC of Utah to make a difference in the lives of others. Stay tuned. We’ll be sharing more in the coming weeks and months.
To the generous leadership of Associated General Contractors of Utah, thank you. Your logo speaks of skill, integrity, and responsibility … you are all of that and so much more.
I admit, tears have come easily today: not of sorrow, but gratitude.
It is interesting how grief is made easier when you set aside your own sorrows to help another. Somehow, some way, it hurts a little less. Oh, don't get me wrong; grief is the heaviest burden I know ... it wrenches soul, springs the deepest of tears and makes for the blackest of nights - but I have found service is a candle in all that darkness. Though I weep for Mitch, my heart is full to think that others may be helped a little. Though grief isn't gone, it is a little easier to bear.
We're learning as we go. Though, early on, just after my son's passing, I had high hopes to do more and raise money for this cause faster. What I had hoped to happen didn't. I think my Father is teaching me something ... and I'm trying to listen. In the meantime, we won't stop trying to find our path and help others along the way.
Natalie's heart was so full this morning. She cries quietly every day for Mitch - so I was glad to see her find joy in serving others. Seen also in this photo [on the right] are two of Natalie's dearest friends who have been an integral part of our charity run. We owe them, and our other committee members, a debt of gratitude.
We're excited to make our first announcement that we will be supporting MDA of Utah's Summer Camp this year. Because of your generous donations and involvement with Miles for Mitchell, we were able to donate $2,000 to MDA of Utah this year so young children can go swimming and fishing (two of Mitchie's favorite things to do).
While it may not sound like much, these boys don't have much time to be children. Before they know it, these young boys (and some girls) will find themselves unable to walk, use their arms or neck and will find their world of possibilities rapidly shrinking.
While others organizations are racing to find a cure (which we fully support), we are racing to give these children a life before it gets taken away.
We hope that the children who attend this year's activity will have warm memories to lift their hearts when life gets difficult for them.
We'll be announcing more of what we're doing this year with the proceeds of the run to help Parent Project MD and other DMD families in the coming weeks.
Because your involvement has empowered us to help others, you have helped in our own grieving process - because as we serve, we heal. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for loving. Thank you for caring.
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