My brother and I used to set up lemonade stands by the stop sign, on the corner of the block…we never made more than enough to go buy a new coloring book and some stickers.
I was a Girl Scout once, and won a prize for selling the most cookies, only because my extended family is comprised of over 40 people.
But never in my wildest dreams did I think I could write a blog post, nor paint a painting that would have such an impact on so many in one short week…
In just one week, “Avery’s Lion” has reached a world-wide audience, over 400 prints have been sold (meaning over 400 will bring bright smiles to Cancer patient’s faces this Christmas), and raised over $18,000.00 for Cancer research in the name of Avery Young Rademacher.
In the midst of all this, it’s easy to think highly of myself receiving comments like, “Jennie, you are so awesome.” “Jennie, you are so inspiring.” “Jennie, you are famous.” But, I have to be honest for minute, I can’t take credit for any of this, I am just obedient to what comes naturally to me…I love people, I love to paint, and I love to write.
You (yes, you reading this!) are just as gifted, and more than capable of doing something as impactful as anyone else around you.
This week has been one of the most touching and severely humbling weeks of my life. But if I can say anything in response to such an overwhelming week– you are only as impactful as how much you are willing to think of others and do for others. I don’t say this to make myself look good, trust me, if you knew my thoughts you would know I am no perfect person. I say this to help you see, I am a normal person, just like you, but if all of us normal people started to do little things, using the gifts each of us have to help others we can change the world around us.
C.S. Lewis says, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
If I have learned anything from this experience, we give because we have been given to, we love because we have been loved first by the Creator of the universe. No matter how simple or small, our kindness towards others, even just a blog post, goes much further than we may think. I never imagined, nor even slightly anticipated the response I received for such a simple post about an incredible person. Our world is a mess. Everywhere we look we see news stories about terrorist attacks, shootings, and helpless people looking for shelter. I want to encourage you to look around you, and do something, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Just do something to love someone next to you.
Needless to say, thank you. So much. Thank you for your words, thank you for your support, thank you for helping me, and all of us, see the goodness of people and how much we can do together to honor others and help those who are suffering quietly around us.
I say this to you because Avery would, “Way to be born! There is no one in the world, nor ever was, nor ever will be who has the gifting you do to impact the world around you.”
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