Be Where Your Feet Are #5

Messaging matters. It matters as a Leader and Manager. It matters as a Parent. It matters as a Coach. It matters as a Spouse. When a message is meaningful and consistent, it influences our subconscious, reinforces our aspirations, reminds us what matters most and acts as a reminder that we are not traveling alone in this journey we call life. These past few months, pacing through my house on endless conference calls, I’ve become acutely aware that messages we placed throughout our home to encourage our children have, in fact, been inspiring and uplifting me. Today, I share a message that is bound closely to our family’s philanthropic identity: “Never Be Weary of Good Works.” This applies at home and at work. What messaging is in your kitchen?

Many of you are thinking: “Is this a scripture?” Others of you are thinking, “Oh, a scripture!” But regardless of its origin, no philanthropy or religion has cornered the market or trademarked “good works.” “Doing good” is an equal opportunity employer. And I am never more inspired by a good deed than when its genesis is from the mind of a child – it brings me hope, it brings me peace. It was 2005, Hurricane Katrina had ravaged New Orleans to the tune of $100 billion in damages and, worse, more than 1,800 human lives - I will never forget the gasp from my eight-year old daughter Alexa (now 20) as she beheld images of flooded neighborhoods, schools and towns on television. “Where are their clothes? Where are their things? Where are their toys?” she asked, as she watched footage of young children and families walking through flooded streets or huddling in FEMA shelters. “Well honey, their toys are gone, they’ve lost their homes and their schools are closed because the storm was very, very bad,” I responded gingerly, watching the sweet naivety drain from her eyes. “Well, I blew it,” I thought, as she sprinted away and up the stairs. But a moment later, I heard the sweet, hurried thud of her feet racing back down the steps. Piggy bank in hand, she demanded we bring her immediately to the Red Cross to donate her earnest savings. This young lady would later serve orphans in Zambia and Syrian refugees in Athens. And while she struggles daily with the task of making her bed :) (sorry Lex, couldn’t resist),she is never weary of good works and putting her time, heart and enthusiasm where it really matters. In doing so, she inspires me daily. 

Today we are isolated. We work from home, home-school our children, watch our sports on TV, and attend our place of worship over Zoom. I dearly miss HBSE’s monthly “Day of Service” and the simple, satisfying act of rolling up our sleeves as an HBSE family and painting an inner-city school, packaging food for the military, renovating an outdoor basketball court in Philadelphia or hockey rink in New Jersey. I miss sweating and serving and doing good. But there is more good to do – even at home, even isolated, and especially while wearing a mask. 

There are so many good works yet to be done, so many good voices yet to be heard. Even in isolation, let us continue to find ways to do good, share good, serve, love, listen, learn and act. So, as you go out into the week and through Labor Day Weekend, my hope is that you will engage in some good works: a note of thanks, helping a neighbor, posting a positive and uplifting message or volunteering where you are most needed. The world needs more of this and so do I.

SMO