Dad

I was fortunate to have a Dad who set a fine example to his kids and others about what being a servant and steward is all about. He saw the needs of people and he met them. There were so many people that related stories to me these past several days week how Dad touched their lives from providing food for them, teaching them about God, holding their hand in their times of struggle, finding them employment, coaching them, mentoring them,…One man told me, with tears running down his face, that my Dad ALWAYS took the time to listen to his troubles without judging him. To this man, the gift of time from my Dad was precious. He saw his need and he met it. He never waited to be asked to help. Rather, he saw a need and just did it.  He was a champion for kids; especially handicapped kids.  He was a driverof the movement for the inclusion of moderately and severely handicapped kids to be in their home schools and not in a centralized building.  He saw that need and he met it.  He spent so much time serving as a comforter to families whose loved one was undergoing heart surgery.  He explained the processes to them, he comforted them. He prayed with them. He saw a need and he met it.  He served in so many roles leading youth activities from Little League to Youth Commissions to Cub Scouts. Why? Because there was a need and he met it. He served as a school board member for 32 years with a working slogan of “Kids Come First.” He got it. He lived it. He loved it.  I was blessed to be his son.  I met over 2,000 people last Sunday who are the beneficiaries of his genuine love and care who now want to pass that on to others. He left a big imprint.  He saw needs and he met them.

There are many needs that kids come to us with.  There are cognitive issues that require a great skill set to remediate.  There are issues of emotion that come from kids on the cusp of being that young adult in a less than mature physicality.  There are physical needs of those who are hungry, cold, and  malnourished.  There are  love needs of those who never get tucked in at night by any parent; some here have never had the advantage of being properly “Fathered.”  The list of needs could go on forever.  Just remember this – take the time to get to know your students.  Take the time to listen to their heart.  You will hear it if you listen.  Find that need and meet it. There is so much more to this than reading, writing, and arithmetic. There is so much more than wasn’t in the book. Find the needs of those kids. In return, you will become exactly what you wanted to be all along –a difference maker. Thank you for what you do.

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The Browns play this Sunday in round two of “The Battle of Ohio” against the Cincinnati Bengals.  Moreover, we are playing for first place in the division!  Be still…