The sidewalk gave off tremendous amounts of heat on that late summer day in northeast Philadelphia in 2014. No one seemed to mind though because the joy, laughter and fun that everyone was having made them not even realize they were hot – or poor for that matter. My wife and two youngest daughters volunteered, along with countless others, to run kids games at a carnival at hosted by Urban Hope, which is a training center and community church who caters to their surrounding neighborhood.
I was stationed at the goldfish toss. Glass bowls were placed on concrete steps leading up to one of the buildings owned by Urban Hope. For the better part of 4 hours, everyone who threw a Ping-Pong bowl was a winner. Sometime during the afternoon, Jimmy (not his real name) won two goldfish. After this 11 year old received his new pets, he asked if I would walk with him to his house – a mere block and half away – so that he could put his new friends into a fishbowl. He wanted a man to walk with him because he needed to feel safe, even though it was broad daylight. As we started on our short journey, my 8-year old daughter Gabbie joined me. When we arrived at Jimmy’s house, Gabbie noticed how small his townhouse was compared to our house. His front porch was a concrete slab. The front windows were dingy. The air conditioner, sticking out of a second floor bedroom, dripped condensation on us as we waited for him outside baking on the sidewalk. As we walked back to the carnival, Jimmy talked about how he went door to door around his neighborhood inviting anyone who would answer the door to come to the free carnival. He also talked about how he is trying to lead his mom and her boyfriend to having a relationship with Jesus. I told him that it took great courage to share his faith. He just smiled. When we made our way back to the carnival, held on two crisscrossing streets, Jimmy took off toward the light blue cotton candy stand …
…the light blue frosted cupcakes were arranged neatly on a tray that only mom could arrange. Close by, some girls were playing pin the horn on the narwhal. While Gabbie’s birthday party in early March of this year was not held outdoors in a city street, it did, at times, resemble a carnival, considering the 14-second graders that were dancing around the room. Balloons were strategically placed. The Chick-fil-A nuggets looked delicious, even to the few adults who were in the room. It was perfect. Friends. Family. Food. This party was what heaven probably looks like to an 8-year old girl. After two hours since their arrival, Gabbie’s guests began to leave, each one having their goodie bag in hand. Upon cleanup, we began to pack Gabbie’s unopened presents in the car for the drive home. At home, the presents were placed downstairs where they stayed for a month, undisturbed, until two weeks ago. Along with her family, Gabbie and her unopened birthday presents made the one and half hour trip to Urban Hope in Philly, where they were to be given to children like Jimmy. We were greeted at Urban Hope by one of the counselors and two children who attend their Kingdom Kids program. Gabbie’s words to them went like this: “I want to give my presents to kids like me who don’t have a lot.” After receiving the presents from Gabbie, one of the children thanked he for her act of kindness to people she doesn't even know…
...Gabbie also exhibited great courage in asking those coming to her birthday to buy presents for someone that they didn’t know. Jimmy also showed kindness to his neighbors for extending an invitation to a carnival. I’ve learned through these two stories that one can be courageous and kind at the same time. It’s time that our politicians and others in leadership - from churches to service organizations - to start leading on principles rather than their interests. If kids can lead by example, why can’t they?
Believe.Act.Serve-like He did.
Team Tim
I was stationed at the goldfish toss. Glass bowls were placed on concrete steps leading up to one of the buildings owned by Urban Hope. For the better part of 4 hours, everyone who threw a Ping-Pong bowl was a winner. Sometime during the afternoon, Jimmy (not his real name) won two goldfish. After this 11 year old received his new pets, he asked if I would walk with him to his house – a mere block and half away – so that he could put his new friends into a fishbowl. He wanted a man to walk with him because he needed to feel safe, even though it was broad daylight. As we started on our short journey, my 8-year old daughter Gabbie joined me. When we arrived at Jimmy’s house, Gabbie noticed how small his townhouse was compared to our house. His front porch was a concrete slab. The front windows were dingy. The air conditioner, sticking out of a second floor bedroom, dripped condensation on us as we waited for him outside baking on the sidewalk. As we walked back to the carnival, Jimmy talked about how he went door to door around his neighborhood inviting anyone who would answer the door to come to the free carnival. He also talked about how he is trying to lead his mom and her boyfriend to having a relationship with Jesus. I told him that it took great courage to share his faith. He just smiled. When we made our way back to the carnival, held on two crisscrossing streets, Jimmy took off toward the light blue cotton candy stand …
…the light blue frosted cupcakes were arranged neatly on a tray that only mom could arrange. Close by, some girls were playing pin the horn on the narwhal. While Gabbie’s birthday party in early March of this year was not held outdoors in a city street, it did, at times, resemble a carnival, considering the 14-second graders that were dancing around the room. Balloons were strategically placed. The Chick-fil-A nuggets looked delicious, even to the few adults who were in the room. It was perfect. Friends. Family. Food. This party was what heaven probably looks like to an 8-year old girl. After two hours since their arrival, Gabbie’s guests began to leave, each one having their goodie bag in hand. Upon cleanup, we began to pack Gabbie’s unopened presents in the car for the drive home. At home, the presents were placed downstairs where they stayed for a month, undisturbed, until two weeks ago. Along with her family, Gabbie and her unopened birthday presents made the one and half hour trip to Urban Hope in Philly, where they were to be given to children like Jimmy. We were greeted at Urban Hope by one of the counselors and two children who attend their Kingdom Kids program. Gabbie’s words to them went like this: “I want to give my presents to kids like me who don’t have a lot.” After receiving the presents from Gabbie, one of the children thanked he for her act of kindness to people she doesn't even know…
...Gabbie also exhibited great courage in asking those coming to her birthday to buy presents for someone that they didn’t know. Jimmy also showed kindness to his neighbors for extending an invitation to a carnival. I’ve learned through these two stories that one can be courageous and kind at the same time. It’s time that our politicians and others in leadership - from churches to service organizations - to start leading on principles rather than their interests. If kids can lead by example, why can’t they?
Believe.Act.Serve-like He did.
Team Tim
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