PROPER PERSPECTIVE
There are a few conditions in this life that have a way of changing your focus and perspective immediately. They’re the type of scenarios that instantly put this delicate life in its proper perspective.
I’ve written about these kinds of soul rattling awakenings more than a few times here. Some years back in the days my mind was consumed with coaching, I was pulling out of my street, deep in thought about that day’s game and strategy, when movement snatched my eyes.
It was a blind girl on her way to school tapping curbs with her stick… her dad was about twenty feet behind her. He was trying to prepare his beloved for a vicious world that one day she’d have to navigate without him. My spirit was crushed and my perspective corrected.
I’ve also shared about the little girl named Danielle whose dad had left her and her mom. She was living at her grandparents humble home with her mom. One Christmas we went to pay them a visit and do some personalized Christmas caroling, despite the fact that I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.
Danielle had cancer… and I’ll never forget the look of the youngster that wasn’t but a few years past being a toddler. She was close to the same age as my youngest. Seeing a beautiful little princess with no hair from chemotherapy side effects has a way of changing a person’s perspective… no matter how calloused.
That was Danielle’s last Christmas… I think of Danielle often – usually around Christmas. I consider her mom’s life now… I ponder our fallen world along with the pain that accompanies it.
I spotted the little girl toward the back of the coffee shop before anything else when I walked through the door. I quickly glanced making sure not to stare. She had a knee length thin white with a light patterned pink dress on – tennis shoes to match. She was beautiful despite only short light brown hairs that circled the back of her scalp, bald on top.
That’s a hairstyle for old men that have lived long lives, not seven or eight-year-old little girls.
I’ve donated my hair seven times now, this next one will be number eight, which means I will have donated around eight feet of hair to companies that make wigs for kids with cancer.
Make no mistake; this cost me nothing… Hair grows, but usually only for awhile. I don’t share this for personal accolades, I didn’t make my hair grow. I have no authority over it, God does, but it’s coming to an end.
If your hair grows, I’ll be the first to tell that it’s easy to give a gift that costs you nothing… but it can make a small difference in the life of a child and a mom and dad who are suffering in silence.
If you can’t wrap your arms around a young child of God… your hair is the next best thing.
Sunday, May 17, 2015 @ 5:26 pm
I always think, “it could have been one of my kids.” Each of my children has a physical problem of some sort, but minor in comparison to these girls you mention. My mother had hair down to her waist that she braided and criss crossed on top of her head. I am not sure if her hair was donated but it probably was when she had it cut into a modern stylish length. That is an excellent suggestion for those with long locks to donate to make wigs for those who need to cover their head. Thanks for sharing this touching story with us here at “Tell me a Story.” http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
Sunday, May 17, 2015 @ 5:59 pm
The holy spirit has made you tender toward these not-so-fortunate through the years. Sometimes those of us who know, need to help educate and stir those who haven’t a clue. It’s by example. Our son-in-law donates his hair to Locks of Love. Each of us can do more that something that costs us nothing, but hair is a start if that is how a person is directed! Thanks Floyd, for you heart!
Sunday, May 17, 2015 @ 6:11 pm
Oh, Floyd! Your words brought me to tears! You are SO right. We are so blessed, and each time we start to forget that fact, God is faithful to allow us to experience a wake-up call. Dear Lord, help us not to take the good things in our lives for granted! That is so commendable of you to donate your hair…I know you never want thanks or applause, but I applaud you, just the same. 🙂 Your writing is so moving and God-inspired. So thankful for this visit. God bless you.
Sunday, May 17, 2015 @ 10:28 pm
God help me see things as You do
Sunday, May 17, 2015 @ 11:02 pm
♥ That is all. Just ♥
Monday, May 18, 2015 @ 2:08 am
Those things can break your heart, it’s good when there’s something we can do that will bring some sort of comfort. In my experience, it’s those small things that really can go a long way. When our one year old was going through chemo I shaved my head when his hair fell out. He’s a boy, so a wig didn’t really mean much to him.
Monday, May 18, 2015 @ 3:55 am
Many times there seems to be nothing we can do to help relieve another’s suffering. Isn’t it a blessing to be able to translate a need that we see into an action on our part? Good for you, Floyd!
Monday, May 18, 2015 @ 6:57 am
God, help me to watch for those perspective-changing moments in my life, as well!
Monday, May 18, 2015 @ 8:21 am
If I had hair I would be more than willing to do that. But I don’t. What I can give them is my attention and love.
Monday, May 18, 2015 @ 11:59 am
Somehow I am not surprised that you grow and donate your hair brother to help others. Helping others in need always changes our perspective which is why God said it is more blessed to give then receive. Thanks for the challenge this morning Floyd to on purpose help others and to look for different ways. There is a would of broken hurting people out there longing for a touch of kindness, God help us to be those ones who give out kindness.
Monday, May 18, 2015 @ 6:05 pm
Wonderful. It really is all in our perspective which sometimes needs some fine tuning.
Monday, May 18, 2015 @ 8:31 pm
That’s neat that you donate your hair Floyd. My girls have each donated theirs several times too.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015 @ 6:21 am
Floyd, you have such a tender and giving heart, and certainly the right perspective on so much of life. Your love and care for others always reminds me of our Lord’s heart. I’m so glad to call you Brother! Thank you for your visit and comment. After being away from blogging for so long, it’s hard to start over again. Thanks for your prayers!!
Tuesday, May 19, 2015 @ 10:43 am
Floyd,
What a gift…to let God touch your heart with another person’s pain and to donate your hair to help another…your tender heart blesses me and many others…Glad God blessed you with long healthy hair 🙂
Tuesday, May 19, 2015 @ 11:26 am
My wife and daughter have both donated before. I think it’s awesome. Anything to love someone else, especially someone going through something so terrible and terrifying, is a beautiful thing. Good work, Floyd! Thank you.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015 @ 11:33 am
Such a touching and convicting post, Floyd. I am moved by people like yourself who selflessly give to others. Hair donation is such a meaningful gesture. But, even if we don’t do that, there are countless other ways to reach out to those who are less fortunate and in need. The problem is that we all too often get caught up in our own lives, our own selves, and blind ourselves to the neediness. Sometimes I think we walk past the person who metaphorically *lies in the ditch* like in the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Jesus calls us to something greater, and something humbler.
Might He make us increasingly more aware of what breaks His heart, so that we can be broken for others, too. And…DO something about it.
GOD BLESS!
Tuesday, May 19, 2015 @ 6:45 pm
That’s a neat idea, Floyd. My nieces do that too.
Have a great week,
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Tuesday, May 19, 2015 @ 7:36 pm
I’m all choked up; but your writing does that for me. I praise Father God for His creative ways. He places the broken in our lives and then shows us what to do. “If you can’t wrap your arms around a young child of God… your hair is the next best thing.” Beautiful.
Now I’ll make your day:
1. My doctor is in remission. Still overwhelmed by the love of people praying for him, He gives the credit to Jesus and said his pain led him to the Lord. Melanoma tumors all over his body, he had a hard time with the treatments and thought he would die. He has gained half his weight back!
2. My friend, Brian, (who got stuck in the mud at my house) just had a Pet Scan last week. Tumor in his liver is gone. Cancer free. I saw him at Walmart today. A walking miracle.
3. Renie told me during our walk that lately she feels new and can now wake up in the morning and face the day without the painful sting of her loss. This is HUGE, brother. So huge.
Thank you for helping me pray for them. I am so humbled to be in the army of God. Psalm 66:5, NLT
Wednesday, May 20, 2015 @ 8:22 am
I can’t donate hair, but I have donated a little money from time to time. A friend at work just lost his daughter Elise to cancer about three weeks ago. She was only 11. These things always change my perspective.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015 @ 8:43 pm
Been through this one way or another many times. Thank you for sharing. As usual, you are a treat to me, Brother. Bless you.
Friday, May 22, 2015 @ 3:20 pm
You have such a beautiful heart. What a wonderful gift to give to ease a families suffering. I used to do hair {in another life}, we had many come into the salon and donate. It’s a great thing to witness and starts many conversations.
Note: People should research who they donate to so the hair is used and not thrown away. I’ve heard some throw out more than they donate.