This is Ron with your Motivational Message:
I was recently reminded of how easy it is to pass judgment on our fellow man. I think that too often we place ourselves above others, even if it isn’t a conscious act. However, as the Good Book says, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.”
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Gracie has really enjoyed riding her bike this summer, so I took her to a nearby park to ride the trail and practice turning and balancing. As soon as I turned my attention away, I heard a noise. Sure enough, the chain on her bike had popped off and she was now riding without brakes. Luckily, she was in the grass and quickly figured out how to come to a safe stop. Later that night, Gracie and I were in the garage so I could teach her how to loosen bolts and adjust the chain by herself. 40 minutes later, with a lot of patience on her part (i.e., finding the correct size wrench, holding the tires, putting in the bolts) the chain was back in place.
The next day we returned to the park to put her mechanical abilities to the test. The chain remained firmly in place, making it a successful repair job. One our way back, we walked past a park bench where a woman, who appeared to be homeless, sat. Her eyes were black and blue and her face was covered by an allergy mask. She looked so very sad and lonely. Something in my spirit told me to stop and say ‘hi,’ but my mind thought better of it and instead I rolled on by.
Not long after, I began to regret what I had done. I had passed judgment unjustly and even worse, had set a bad example for my daughter. Realizing my mistake, I told Gracie the right thing would have been to at least say ‘hello.’ We all need and want companionship and approval from others, and yet we don’t take a few seconds out of our crazy life to show someone that we care. My avoidance of this woman was based solely on an unfair judgment. She was of no threat to Gracie or myself, I just didn’t want to take the time to acknowledge her.
Although I taught my daughter how to fix her bike, I missed an opportunity to teach her a lesson in compassion.
May we be quick to love and take time to brighten another person’s day.
Speaking of sharing compassion…
Looks like I will be returning to the Los Angeles area for another outreach opportunity in mid-October and am hoping to fill a few more days with speeches elsewhere. So, to all of my friends in Southern California, if you or someone you know happens to be looking for an encouraging presentation that is sure to change lives please let me know! Whether it be a school assembly, a corporate get-together, or any other event I guarantee that my story will make an impact. I have a wide range of topics that I can cover and can cater to all age groups and all backgrounds, secular or religious.
Please contact the Never Give Up office at heagyoffice@gmail.com if you are interested. Please let me know the name of your organization or group and what days you may have available.
I hope to see you in October!
To your inspiration,
Ron