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Making your difference

infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
Some on the HSBBW, less now because I post less, know the story of infieldson, the little known high school recruit who went DIII and then was drafted and had nice success in Milb before injury intervened.
Well, I would now like to tell you the story about the new person in our lives.
About 2 1/2 months ago, infieldmom helped us get involved in mentoring. Our "mentee" is a 9 year old for whom life has not been nearly as kind as it was to our children. He has not been with his father for longer than he can remember. He lives with his grandmother who's home is being foreclosed. In the beginning of September, he was described as depressed, withdrawn, angry...well, you name it.
While this young life struggles with baseball and with life in ways our son never did, it turns out he cherishes and loves each just as much.
While I have a fear of snakes, Jacob is courageous and will pet them. While Jacob has some fear of a baseball, we get to help him be courageous. While Jacob has so many reasons to be fearful of life itself, we get a chance to hug him and nurture that he is special.
While hitting, throwing and fielding came easy to our son, they are a huge challenge for our Jacob.
Despite all of this, after only a few weeks of exposure, Jacob is committed to be ready to play little league in March for the first time in his life. I am committed to coach.
While it will not be my first time, it certainly will be with a different view of what is meaningful in baseball, and our life.

But this isn't about me or infieldmom.
This thread is about the difference every member of the HSBBW does or can make in the life of another.
Before I posted, I received the approval from Julie to start and encourage this thread.
It is all about you and making a difference. It is all about realizing what a difference we can make.
It isn't about "bragging" whether your son had a great day in baseball.
It is about being acknowledged, even bragging, that something you did made a difference in a life, when so many need someone to make some difference. I am asking each of you to reach beyond where you might be comfortable and make a difference, to be powerful, to be kind, to be generous.
What I would propose is that for the next 8 weeks, hopefully longer, we post about making some difference in the life of another, in the life in our community, in life!!.
Whether it involves raising over $23,000 as occurred in our area last summer when a little league shed was raided and every uniform, glove, ball, and piece of equipment was stolen, to telling your son, wife, daughter, husband, family or neighbor they are loved, please make a difference. Please tell us your story and let us acknowledge you for making a difference in a life and in your community.
What I would love to see come January is a thread that reflects the HSBBW in a way that is different, but not so.
Please try make a difference in your community. Please look to create a possibility in the life of another so we can acknowledge your efforts, your love, your generosity, your kindness, your being powerful with your life in making another life better, because you became a part of it.
For the next several months, I intend to post about Jacob, his days in baseball and beyond, and how much his life makes a difference in ours.
Please do not let this be about Jacob, but please let Jacob inspire this thread to be about hundreds, perhaps thousands, of uplifting stories of life, about making that effort, and the power of those who post on the HSBBW to make a difference.
A few years back I posted about the death of our beloved Coach Meccage and his life about living the "Dash." Many were touched by Coach Meccage and his "Dash." Coach touched so many before he died at age 46 because he believed in the Dash. Please share with us what you are doing with your Dash.

The Dash:

"My very last memory of this treasured man is him engulfing my son in his huge arms and hands in a bear hug following the opening game of the 2002 NCAA regional. I later learned that in that hug he told my son how proud he was of him and that it was the best game he had ever seen him play. When I awoke the next morning, May 17, 2002, anxious to be at the field, I was jolted to reality and learned that our treasured friend and coach passed away during the night. As the team sat in the chapel and told stories about Bob, one player confided that through some of his struggles and missteps, Bob gave him a card with a poem about... the dash. With your indulgence, I will include it here. It says everything anyone would ever need to know about this beloved and generous man and his life, and what he meant and means to our son.

"THE DASH I read of a man who stood to speak At a funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone From the beginning...to the end. He noted that first came her date of birth And spoke the following date with tears, But he said what mattered most of all Was the dash between those years. For that dash represents all the time That she spent alive on earth... And now only those who loved her Know what that little line is worth. For it matters not, how much we own The cars...the house...the cash, What matters most is how we live and love And how we spend our dash. So think about this long and hard... Are there things you'd like to change? For you never know how much time is left, That can still be rearranged. If we could just slow down enough To consider what's true and real, And always try to understand The way other people feel. And be less quick to anger, And show appreciation more And love the people in our lives Like we've never loved before. If we treat each other with respect, And more often wear a smile... Remembering that this special dash, Might only last a little while. So, when your eulogy's being read With your life's actions to rehash... Would you be proud of the things they say About how we spend our dash?"

God so very much blessed our son when he provided him the opportunity to be part of the dash in life of Bob Meccage."

'You don't have to be a great player to play in the major leagues, you've got to be a good one every day.'

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Infield08Infield081,000+ posts
Outstanding post and thread, infielddad. I applaud your efforts to impact Jacob's life in ways no one else probably ever has and look forward to reading about your interactions with him in the future.

For a couple of years, my heart has been increasingly drawn to foster kids who "age out" of the sytem at age 18 and basically have no support system to help guide them through the maze of life. I always made excuses -- we're too busy with baseball recruiting, senior year, etc. -- but I'm going to try to push through the intertia and reach out to someone in need in the near future. Thanks for giving me that gentle nudge to do so.
rz1rz15,000+ posts
I applaud the Infieldfamily in their effort. Many will look at them as superheros, and then look in the mirror and say we could never do that. We don't have the resources, the time, or the committment.

But this is not about Infielddads family committment, its about finding the space in "your heart" to make a difference. RZ1 could never do what Infielddad has gotten his hands into. I get too frustrated with the system. I've accepted that, instead I drive for Meals on Wheels 2 hours every other Sat and also drop off my magazines to nursing homes 1 week after I get them. Bottom line, my committment pales compared to many. However, if we all take "baby steps" in "making a diiference", the cumluation of those efforts will not go un-noticed in the long run.

Nice "heads-up" Infielddad,
S spizzlepop1,000+ posts
A beautifully timed post infielddad, and beautifully written. No matter what is happening in or around your life, you can still make a difference. Don't be afraid what others may think; do what your heart tells you. The human spirit can rise up and overcome so much in this world.

I thought of a story in the news a few nights back. This kid made a huge difference, and just imagine what he was going through.
Brenden Foster
Last edited by spizzlepop
playfairplayfair500+ posts
My son befriended a boy in the third grade. As those boys friendships grew at school and in Little League my friendship with his mom grew. She was diagnosed with a terminal cancer and died a few years ago.

Our boys are now 18 and seniors in high school. Rival high schools. They have maintained their friendship throughout. While my son stayed with baseball the friend took up football and now plays for one of the best teams in the country.

My boy mentioned a few weeks back how it was a shame how his friend played football for one the the very best teams and did not get to enjoy the success publically because he did not have a letter jacket and could not afford one.

I sent one small email out to every lady I knew that knew this boys mom asking for a small donation toward the jacket.

What I got in return was a lesson. A lesson in the greatness of community. We got so much we were able to buy the jacket, have it all finished with his patches and stitching, his cap and gown, his senior package and yearbook.

People love to help. They just need to have the opportunity.

Maybe this thread could be used to present some opportunities as well as sharing successes of opportunities.
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
Great post.
The greatest gift that you can give is that of yourself.
My story of my recent dash is rather personal, but I hope that you all have some dash stories and will share. Infielddad I sent you a pm.
My daughter recently was nominated for an award at work, only a few out of many employees. The award is essentially about those that give back to others, whether it is making the workplace a better place for others or spending time working on the many charities that the company supports. Whether she wins the award or not, I am so happy that she understands "the dash".
Looking forward to stories of Jacob and how he has changed your life as well as you changing his.
I am looking forward to some more dash stories.
ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
A story found on the Internet:
quote:
Good Deeds: secretly or publicly? The balanced approach:
In Matthew 6:2-4, the Lord said that when we give to the needy, we should not announce it, “but when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
But in Matthew 5:16 the Lord said, “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

So which is it? Should we do our good deeds in secret, or in public?

Some time ago, a woman in a children’s homeschool group was pregnant. She found out that her baby was anencephalic, meaning that she would not have a formed brain. Babies with anencephaly do not live long after delivery. Some live days, most live hours. Faced with this news, she and her husband leaned upon Jesus and trusted in Him and carried their baby to term despite the fact that most medical professionals urge abortion for anencephalic babies. They had everything planned well in advance of the day of delivery. Their large extended family was there when Abigail was born and during her short 5 hours of life, everyone held her and loved her. They took pictures of her with every family member. One family member made a special hat for her to cover her head, which was open, due to the lack of a skull. During those five hours Abigail was loved more than many children are their entire lives. The whole hospital knew what was happening. Nurses from everywhere came to see the love being poured out on this little baby. Most could not hold back the tears. After she died, the family would not leave her alone. They held her and rocked her even after she had passed because of their love for her. While most parents do not even look at their anencephalic baby as she is aborted, they gazed at her and loved her. The nurses and doctors that day saw a light shining. They saw love and good deeds before their very eyes. And they knew it was because of God’s love that this family could love so much.

Many of our good deeds will by their very nature be in a public forum. When we talk kindly to the clerk at the checkout line, we let our light shine. When we love a dying baby, we let our light shine. When we take a stand for what is right, we let our light shine.

But in Matthew 6, it is written that we should also be intentionally doing our good deeds in secret. A balanced life of good deeds consists of deeds that are done before others by their very nature, and deeds that are done in secret by our design. When we intentionally decide to do a good deed completely in secret, we do so only for God’s praise, not man’s praise....

Not my intention at all to bring religion into this thread. I do know that there are many out there that would never call attention to themselves for the very reasons cited above. As noted correctly above, there is a balance between what we do that is public and those things we do just because we want to do something good and thus never receive any recognition.

I believe this thread demonstrates one of those public times. In the spirit of doing good, infielddad has shared a touching story in hopes that others would be inspired to also do something good.

One story I can share is helping those that I know are personally in need even though they probably wouldn't describe themselves that way. My neighbor is divorced and caring for her two elderly parents at home and alone. Her only son rarely visits and things quickly get out of kilter over at her house. When possible, I/we have helped her with lawn chores and sometimes invite her over for dinner to help with loneliness. My wife has also been a shoulder for her to cry on in times of stress.

I am aware that my son's baseball team is very community oriented. There is not a week that goes by that the whole team is not involved in helping someone in need. They never call attention to themselves but sometimes the grateful person will send a letter to the editor of a newspaper. I am very thankful that my son has been taught these lessons.
Last edited by ClevelandDad
Backstop-17Backstop-17500+ posts
Another story passed on to me, that I thought you would all enjoy. I don't know this couple, but I know people like them and I recognize the same passion and care on this board helping others every day, with good words and with good deeds. I see a lot of Mike's and a lot of Mrs. Mike's on here.

"ENVELOPE

It's just a small white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so.

It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas --oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it -- the overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma -- the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties, and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended.

Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church.

These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.

Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat.

Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, 'I wish just one of them could have won,' he said. 'They have
a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.' Mike loved kids -- all kids -- and he
knew them, having coached little league football, baseball, and lacrosse.

That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition --one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on. The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.

As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope. Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always
be with us."
fanofgamefanofgame5,000+ posts
Backstop 17,

Ive read that story before, but it is an awesome Christmas story. For years I have had health issues so never could do a lot of things that I wanted.So my kids and I adopted three kids from Compassion for Christ. Its a small amt. of money overall but right now we are struggling financially. But I have all three of our adopted children on our refrigerator and keep all their letters. As we have had some tough times, I told my husband its tougher for them. I pray for those children every day and hope the little bit we do helps them and their families in some ways. and as one poster said it is better to not brag about your deeds but store them in your hearts. . Good deeds can be giving single parents kids rides to practice, feeding them, having a single mom and her children over for dinner.
another quick story, when my son was about 5 we took him to swim lessons at this public park. We would see this homeless guy there every day, so I packed up a bunch of food for him and we went to the park. My son was a little afraid of the man. I took my son and we gave the man his food. he was very thankful. It was so funny because about 6 months later and every once in a while we would see him in the streets, my son would say look mom theres our homeless guy OUR homeless guy. It was funny how he remembered that act of kindness and the guy became our own homeless guy. My son is almost 19 and we still bring him up every once in a while. Gods greatest command is to love one another and to love your neighbor .
MN-MomMN-MomHSBaseballWeb Owner
I'm touched by this thread, and by all of your stories. It is sometimes difficult to decide whether to reveal the things that we've been taught to do quietly!

But it made me think of a story that was in our local (Minneapolis) paper shortly before Thanksgiving. For me, this was a lesson about how much a seemingly small gift could mean.

I remember when my boys were in middle school and HS, and their classes would collect gifts to pack in shoe boxes to send to orphans overseas. The shoe box seemed like a small gift that wouldn't mean a whole lot - filled with basics like toothbrush and toothpaste, a small amount of candy, maybe some socks, a yoyo, a small doll. Some years I remembered to send a contribution, while other years I was so busy that I forgot. After all, it was such a little thing - just a shoe box.

Then I learned how much this small act meant to four of our local teens who once received the boxes!

http://www.startribune.com/local/west/34498949.html?elr=KArksUUUU

Four Twin Cities teens who were once orphans in Russia are thrilled they have the opportunity to help with Operation Christmas Child, sending the shoebox gifts that mattered so much to them.

The story made me look at those shoeboxes differently. So don't think that your act of kindness is so small that it doesn't matter much. You may be just one insignificant person to the rest of the world. But to one person, your kindness might make a world of difference.

Julie
Last edited by MN-Mom
justbaseballjustbaseball10,000+ posts
While I have volunteered many hours in our community to build a better youth baseball league, work with the church and local HS, I really don't think I've done anything worthy of this thread. But my wife (Gloria) is a saint and absolutely a role model to our children and to me. I will tell you about just one of the many things she has done.

About 7-8 years ago, shortly after we moved into our new neighborhood, the life squad raced to the house across the street late one night. Scared the heck out of me...Gloria sprang out the door and over to see if she could help. The elderly husband had collapsed and was being rushed to the hospital. Gloria, not knowing either of them, went with the elderly wife to the emergency room. She sat with her all night. No one else came.

Eventually he recovered (some) and was released back home.

Over the next months, Gloria crossed the street time-and-time again to visit with this couple. Asked if they needed help, shopped for them, made them dinners, sent our kids over to mow the lawn, trim hedges, etc..., but more important than anything, sat in their living room and just became a friend. Talking. Companionship. Turned out this couple was estranged from their kids and had almost no friends alive anymore, except for the wife's elderly sister in the area.

Eventually the husband turned seriously ill. Gloria spent more time there. She stayed with the wife one night, in their home as her husband passed. Our daughter was with them too. At the funeral, attended only by 5 or 6 people, our (very young) daughter sang "God Bless America" at the grave site which helped the wife immensely as her husband had a long military career.

But Gloria's work was not finished. She continued to visit this elderly lady, now on her own. Weekly, sometimes daily. Helping her and and offering her friendship all of the time. (I couldn't have done it).

Eventually, about 2 years ago, the life squad returned one morning. The wife had passed in her sleep. Her elderly sister found her when she didn't answer phone calls. Again, Gloria sprang into action, not knowing the sister. She stayed with her all that day, brought her into our house for a good part of the afternoon. Helped arrange the funeral...again was one of only a few attendees...with our 7-year old daughter who repeated her rendition of "God Bless America."

It hasn't stopped there. Its been 2 years. But every Friday, my wife takes this elderly sister to lunch...or has her over to our house for lunch. Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthdays too. My wife goes to the doctor with her. Brings her food. She's just her friend. My wife is all she has left of her "family" in the world now. Hardly knows anyone but her/us.

Yes, my wife Gloria has been a blessing in that family's life...but in turn, she has brought our children and me a blessing too. She has set a wonderful example to our children of how to befriend someone in need and how to respect and treat our more senior friends and family. And my wife continues to show me over and over all of the reasons I fell deeply in love with her nearly 30 years ago and love her more than ever today.

Thats about it for my story. I'm so proud of her I think I'll buy her a powered lawnmower for Christmas this year even though it will make noise. I'm tired of watching her struggle to push that old un-powered one around the yard. Big Grin (JUST KIDDING - of course!).
Last edited by justbaseball
infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
I am so thankful for your posts. Each is beautiful. I am also deeply appreciative to those who sent a PM.
It can be hard to be acknowledged for making your difference.

Please let me acknowledge each one of you. Most of what we are posting would not be front page news on any newspaper. Your efforts, and I know the efforts of many still to post and some who won't, are a reflection of kindness and generosity that brings spirit to so many lives.
Every post belongs here and each rings equal in my world. I am so proud and grateful to read them. I look forward to reading many, many more.
I would also like to acknowledge justbaseball for making a difference with infieldson. Just about one year ago, without ever having met him, justbb asked our son to help him coach a few winter ball tournaments. Since then, justbb has been so supportive in helping and encouraging a former player, who has a passion for baseball, transition from injured player to college coach. That kindness and generosity has helped our son in so many ways and in ways that are still evolving. Justbb is making a difference, for many in addition to infieldson.
AcademyDadAcademyDad500+ posts
.

Just one more perfect example of, no matter how hard we try.... that we just don't deserve these wonderful women, that some of us are blessed to be partnered with... It's why, when I get teased about knowing who the father of my wonderful two sons might be... I just look over at cadMOM and know that they really take after her...

cadDAD


A little boy went up to his father and asked: "Dad, where did my intelligence come from?"

The father replied. "Well son, you must have got it from your mother, 'cause I still have mine."

.
MN-MomMN-MomHSBaseballWeb Owner
justbaseball,

Your post is one of the most touching ones I've ever read in these forums. What a blessing Gloria has been in the lives of these elderly folks! It made me think of my widowed mom, age 75, and wonder what in the world her life would be like without the friendship, love, and support of her children. Your wife truly is a special angel to be there in such a time of need for these neighbors and now your neighbor's sister.

Maybe we can all watch for the chance to help an elderly person, whether it's a relative or neighbor who needs a helping hand or a smile, or just an old lady in a wheel chair in the checkout line at the local K-Mart, doling out pennies and nickles from a plastic ziploc bag to pay for a can of tuna and some cheap bread to make it through to the next disability check.

Blessings to Gloria and your family, for being a blessing when it mattered so much.

Julie
L lafmom5,000+ posts
Infielddad - thanks for sharing "The Dash". I use to keep that up at work and when I changed jobs last year, I lost it. I'll have to print it out again!

Your story of your and your wife demonstrates the greatest lessons we can teach our children and those children around us. The gifts of empathy, compassion, and caring. I'm proud that you, Jacob, and your family are a part of our HSBBW family.
observer44observer441,000+ posts
.

This thread is simply the best. Heartfelt. Honest. Real stories about real people, and real situations. People we "know" from this forum doing extraordinary things. Beyond sport. Beyond ego. Beyond status. Beyond expectation of return. People helping and caring because it is the right thing to do, because we are all in this thing (life)together. Some would say that there is not there is enough love, or compassion to go around...I would disagree, there is....but only if we share/spread it. Many of us do. On behalf of humanity, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to those of you who do so.

Comittment levels? In the end it is not only about how much we offer, is about if we do. There are no small good deeds, only good deeds. Lord knows at this point in time we can use every every ounce we can get.

Religon? Fine with me. At the heart of every religon/spiritual experience is compassion, caring, and a connection with a part of our existence that is beyond the day to day. Such connections give us perspective and hope and bring us back to the very real values we ought to hold and practice. Preach to me and I turn off, show me how compassion, love and faith work first hand and I learn.

Baseball? No separating baseball from life, or life from baseball. It is through baseball and by baseball that we at the HSBBW choose to teach our sons such life lessons. We can only hope for, work towards and celebrate that/those days when our sons take on the kind of role that the Infield family,the Justbaseball family and others have, for in the end that is the larger goal and higher calling of sport and of humanity.

Cool
.
Last edited by observer44
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
JBB,
Yes, you should let her see your post!
I have found a strong correlation between kids that turn into giving and helping adults due to good parental role models.

I saw something on CNN the other day. Someone asked a question, should he spend money or save it this holiday season. The reply was that if you had money to spend, please do so on organizations that help the disadvantaged. Or, help others who cannot help themselves right now.
Backstop-17Backstop-17500+ posts
2 Corinthians 9:6-11 (New International Version)

Sowing Generously

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

As it is written: 'He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.'

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”



In August, I lost my job due to cutbacks in our division. It came after 23 years with the same company and was somewhat unforeseen. I do believe I have good chances of landing a similar position elsewhere, and luckily we have saved properly to make it through a year or so. My desire is to stay in the area to watch 17 play some college ball.

Well, this last weekend I am thinking about how Christmas will be different. Both of our kids have come to us separately and said they do not expect anything in gifts except for our trip to see my wife’s parents/family in Iowa. I had lost both my parents in the last 3 years and know how important seeing family is over any material gift.

Inspired by the stories on here, the one I posted on “the envelope,” and a news article on Secret Santa I read a few days ago, I thought that this may be the last time for a while that I could do something like this until I get back in the earning mode and find another job.

I went to Target, Publix (Grocery store,) Home Depot and a local restaurant and bought 3 sets of gift cards from each. I bought 3 Christmas cards and wrote on the inside “Please enjoy this, and in the future when you can, please help another and pay this forward. God Bless, Signed - Secret Santa.” I wrote on the outside of each envelope “Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.” On the To: line on the gift cards I wrote “Loving Parents,” or “God’s Children,” or “Friends of Jesus.”

Then I drove to our local Boys and Girls Club, and talked with the Program Director, telling him the story of my kids and the stories on here. I asked him if he knew of three families that could use something this time of year, and of course we all know that there are several families in need all times of the year. He indicated he knew exactly what to do.

I plan on telling my family on Christmas day this story and that they moved me to do it with their unselfishness (luckily they don’t get on here and read my posts.) I think it will be one of the best holiday season’s ever.

God bless all of you and I post only to keep the ideas coming, thanks to infielddad for starting this, I have been blessed and am trying to pay it forward.
Last edited by Backstop-17
MN-MomMN-MomHSBaseballWeb Owner
Backstop,

Thank you for sharing your story. That is truly an inspiration for all of us.

My brother also lost his job in August when his employer unexpectedly shut down the small company, and he has 5 children from grade school age through HS. Tough times right now. Very best wishes to you for the new job opportunity!

Julie
infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
Backstop-17,
Thank you for providing this glimpse into your kindness and generosity, into a part of your spirit.

You have also made the difference in the lives of your children and in the lives of others who will know you by your kindness.
I am so touched, moved, and inspired in reading your post.

You have truly made your difference.
Infield08Infield081,000+ posts
What beautiful stories!

I think of the people I know who have given so generously in the past:

* The military family who for years rose at 4:30 a.m. each Christmas morning to make homemade cinammon rolls and delivered them to the guards on base who had to work on Christmas day
* The woman who drove 30 minutes the opposite way each week in order to pick up a woman who had no way to get to church
* The couple who lent us one of their cars when my husband quit his job because of ethical/moral reasons and lost his company car
* The woman in her 50's who ministered to a new divorcee without a college degree. The young woman's only job option that would allow her to stay at home with her 3 young children was to run a day-care out of her home -- Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. This 50-something woman traveled to the exhausted young woman's house twice a week to care for the kids while the younger woman took a much-needed nap, paid bills, etc. She also brought over a home-cooked dinner each time she visited.

Hearing of the selfless giving of others motivates me to be kinder, more generous, more aware of the needs around me. I appreciate each example that is being shared on this wonderful thread!
infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
"Bill is more athletic than he looks." Eek Mad Roll Eyes Wink Big Grin

So, today infieldmom organized a skating fieldtrip for all the mentors and Jacob's class mates in the Building Futures program.
Turns out Jacob isn't a huge fan of ice skating. Despite that we skated together and had a blast.
Toward the end of the function, his teacher asked him to skate, without Bill. The discussion included some discussion that Ms. Laurel could skate as well as Bill.
At that point, Jacob described me as being more "athletic than he looks."
My first thought was Yogi Berra.. he doesn't look good but he produces??????
What a day with mentoring Jacob.
Building trust.
Building my "reputation" such as it is.
More "athletic than I look." Most of my coaches thought I looked more athletic than I was.
I hope none of you tell him the real truth.
Gosh I love being mentor with my, now, 10 year old Jacob.
Last edited by infielddad
infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by fanofgame:
If anyone had a chance to watch 60 minutes tonight, Pete Carroll coach from USC was interviewed. I really enjoyed it. Good man.Giving back to his community.


fan, great call. Not only is he giving back, he is trying to change the community. His efforts are changing his community and the efforts of that police officer who had lost his hope and belief.
Yesterday, I attended a program where one of the presenters started a project to collect and ship books to an African State. He ran into problems with the collection and the costs.
His community stepped in and now they are collecting more books than they ever imagined.
And a very generous donor stepped forward with the funding. Now there will be United States Peace Corp teachers in Africa who will have more books than, perhaps, they will have students. But the number of students will surely fit that surplus I am sure.
These are all stories similar to the kindness and effort of Backstop-17, rz1, justbb's wife, TPM, and her family, Infield 08, and just so many.
What powerful results and I know there are so many others.
I sure hope we can have others tell us how they are making their difference. I know they are here.
Last edited by infielddad
SS SOUTHPAW SON10+ posts
these are great stories and you folks are some wonderful people!

I am glad I found this site!

Anyway- we are doing our small part here at work by deciding as a staff we would forgo the usual Christmas office gifts amongst each other and instead we set up a bucket for the staff to donate what they would have spent into the bucket. Once we get together for our pot-luck Christmas gathering, we will total it and send a check to a local soup kithcen on behalf of the whole staff. One of our staff members volunteers there on Sundays and tells me of the great work they do on behalf of the folks that need it.

I am thinking we may do this quarterly and let one employee each month pick the recipient charity. They will have to explain why they chose it and I believe these explanations will be reminders to all of us of how minor our complaints are in light of others sufferings.

The whole staff was enthusiastic about this endevour and helping the needy in our own backyard.

And isnt that really what this holiday (and everyday) should be?!!!

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

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