Inspired

Everyone has a story; it’s true!  We met a humble, ordinary couple on Wednesday evening via our daughter winning a local scholarship.  These folks each come from diverse, melting-pot heritages and are hard- working, middle class Americans. 
What brought us together was ultimately their grandson’s death, but was initially a need he had while in high school.  He wasn’t fitting into the system of public school.  “He was too smart and havin’ trouble there,” his grandmother reported.  She agreed to home school him for his last two high school years, though she felt inadequate.  With the help of an on-line program accredited by the same organization that accredits Indiana’s public schools, they were successful.   Unfortunately he died in a car wreck a short time after high school. 

Healing for this couple is on-going and includes the memorial scholarship fund they initiated and maintain in their grandson’s name.  Four scholarships are awarded:  two for local high school students, one for a local home schooled student and one for a local young adult who is pursuing higher education.  So far the community has strongly supported this fund with donations to the fund and/or to the annual fund-raiser hog roast.

I am further inspired by this couples’ story to seek out ways to benefit everyone with whom I come in contact and to seek out ways to help others especially in personal areas of pain and grief.  What are you doing and/or what ideas do you have for ways to benefit your community and people with whom you come in contact each day?