Phil Parham (36 page)

Think about how you can help those around you in your neighborhood or school. Enlist the help of your teachers or parents to give you some ideas. You'll be blessed when you use your time to make a difference.

1. What does it mean to be a good citizen?

2. Is there an organization you would like to serve?

3. In what ways do you think helping your community can also help you?

Picking up trash around your neighborhood is a good way to start helping your community. Grab a couple of your friends and do it today.

A Word from Amy

The Bible is filled with verses that tell us to be thankful. Several passages talk about prayer and thanksgiving in the same sentence. Thanking God for things He has done or has given us shows Him how grateful we are. It's funny, but the more thankful we become, the more things we find to be thankful for.

I'll be honest. Some things in my life I am not thankful for. I am not thankful for bills that come every month. I am not thankful for dishwashers that don't work. I am not thankful for fingerprints on glass or for family members who don't always get along. However, I am thankful for the house I live in that creates the bills. I am thankful that I have food that makes our dishes dirty. I am thankful for my kids, the ones who make the dirty fingerprints. And I am thankful for the family that I love.

Focus on being grateful for big things and little things, such as food and shelter, nice teachers at school, a loving family, good friends, and even the toys you have. Nothing is too little to appreciate.

What do you have to be thankful for? Start thinking about that question. Having a thankful attitude also makes your light shine brighter to those around you and helps them have a better day.

1. Name three things you are thankful for.

2. How does being thankful make your day better?

3. Do you thank God every day? How about your parents?

Singing praise and worship songs is a great way to thank God for what He has done for us. We can always be grateful to Him for saving us and giving us the gift of His only Son.

A Word from Amy

My dad has a creepy obsession with touring graveyards and reading tombstones. He has convinced me a few times to go with him on these adventures. Although I'm not as excited about this hobby as he is, I am interested in reading the tombstones. It's amazing that a life is minimized to the dates of birth and death and maybe a few words, such as “loving mother” or “caring brother,” on a piece of stone. Every time I have visited these places with my dad, it made me think about what I want people to remember about me when I die.

What do you want people to remember about you? What do you want to leave behind? You will make a mark on this world if you made a difference in the lives of others. Whether good or bad, people are remembered by how their lives influenced those around them.

I want my life to be one that has helped people be better. I want to have helped my kids to be the best they can be. I want my friends to be able to say I was there for them when they needed me. I want my husband to know I loved him with all my heart. I want to help others have the best life they can have by sharing with them the blessings I've been given. I want you to be inspired to know that you can be the best you can be.

Make it your mission to help others, and you will leave a rich legacy.

1. What would you like your tombstone to say about you?

2. What can you do to make an impact on your family or friends?

3. What kind of legacy are you leaving right now?

Sit down with a grandparent and ask them to tell you about their life. You might learn something about them that surprises you.

A Word from Amy

Have you ever had someone tell you that you inspired them to do something? Do you know what that means? To inspire someone means to breathe hope into them. It's a wonderful gift to be able to give someone hope. If you have a friend who is discouraged and you say something to make them feel better, you are inspiring them.

You can also be an inspiration by setting a good example. When you do the right things and are kind and helpful, people take notice. You can inspire other people just by being the best you can be. Giving to others, thinking of others before yourself, and simply living out the Golden Rule are great ways to be an inspiration. When you do these things, your friends can see Christ through your actions.

When it comes to your health, people are watching you too. People notice when you eat right and are active. You can inspire your friends to make the right choices just by leading a healthy lifestyle. When you go to school and eat an apple instead of chips or drink water instead of soda, your friends will notice. My kids have watched how I have changed my eating habits and started exercising more, and they have decided to do the same thing. And this happened not because of what I said to them, but because I was modeling the right actions.

Do you want to inspire other people? Then do the right things, and others will surely follow your lead.

1. What does it mean to be an inspiration?

2. How can you set a good example for your friends?

3. What things can you do to inspire people to be healthier?

Call a friend today and encourage them.

A Word from Amy

I was involved in a community organization that gave food and gift baskets to needy families over the holidays. I had lived a fairly comfortable life growing up. I didn't have the latest fashions or the newest toys, but I wasn't poor by any means. My perspective of poverty completely changed when we were delivering the gift baskets to these families.