Hey all! I hope you all are enjoying your summer!! As you know, Michigan summers come and go quickly, so I hope you are taking advantage of the beautiful days we’ve been having.
Recently, I got the list of school supplies from my kids’ school. And at this point, I don’t care what the teachers ask for, I’ll buy it. You want some new dishes? Done ✔. You need some curtains? Done ✔. I’ll get you whatever you need as long as you take these kids back!!
Now when reviewing the lists with my kids, my oldest came in the room, who is now entering the 8th grade. So his list doesn’t look like his younger siblings’ lists, with the markers, pencils, Kleenex, etc. He goes in talking about he needs new Air Force Ones (fresh white Nike’s if you’re not familiar)… and that we need to order them NOW so that they arrive before school starts. He’s been working all summer with his uncle Jermaine cutting grass, so he’s actually got a nice stash for a 13 year old. He could definitely put in on these shoes himself.
As he sat next to me, I was scrolling through my phone looking at the devastation surrounding the people of Hawaii… my favorite vacation destination. Me, traveling to these people’s homeland for fun and sun, and seeing the apocalyptic scenes from the fires was devastating. And as awful as I felt “knowing” the island… I didn’t live there. It wasn’t my home. My feelings couldn’t compare to those who LIVE and BREATHE each day on that beautiful island. And to my son, I showed the pictures and said to him, “Your Air Force Ones don’t matter Vin.” There are children whose homes have recently burnt down in these fires, children who may have lost their parents in these fires, and that even if we do not order these shoes, that you have ENOUGH, you have shoes on your feet, and that even if you don’t get one more thing in life, you’ve had ENOUGH! God has blessed our family abundantly, and that can change in an instance.
My sister-in-love recently reached out to me regarding a young male who she’s been mentoring. This young man comes from a strained family, with a parent living at Mel Trotter Ministries, and this young man is learning to live on his own. He’s never been to Chipotle, which he’s recently experienced, he’s had his first hotel stay recently, and he’s unaware of what typical 18 year old’s are doing and experiencing at this time. Now, he’s been given the opportunity to attend Davenport University… but he has nothing. This young man doesn’t have a sheet for his bed, a pillow, a spoon, or even a computer to do his collegiate work on. I remember being a very privileged kid preparing for college, wanting all my stuff to match. My TV even had to match my trash can !! How blessed are we! In discussing this with Vinny, I need to remind him what God says about giving:
Acts 20:35
35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Hebrews 13:16
16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
I want my son to remember that each and every good thing that we have comes from the Lord. What we have is meant to be shared with those in need. What a good good God we serve that blesses us abundantly to be able to share and give back. Not as a charity case, but from the heart. As I write this, my eyes are welling up with tears thinking of the abundance that I have in my pantry, my refrigerator, my closet, etc. Who am I to think I should not or cannot give?
Vinny and I are creating our first SoulfulMOTION GIVE BACK, to help the young man obtain the things that he needs to be a successful first generation college student. Funds obtained from the GIVE BACK will go DIRECTLY TO him to purchase the necessities. If you are willing to GIVE BACK to support this young man and his dream of attending college, please donate below.
ZERO DOLLARS will go toward funding Vinny’s Air Force Ones 😂. Vinny will however be supporting this GIVE BACK financially with some of his funds earned over the summer, and he will help with the administrative duties of this GIVE BACK.
I’m grateful for you all, and how you continue to support our ministry, those in need, and our dream of making SoulfulMOTION a space to connect ALL people to God through this praise, worship, and fitness community. I’m also praying that if you’re transitioning to sending your children back to school, going back to work, or making any transition as this new season slowly rolls in… I pray that God’s peace will lead the way.
Blessings to you all, and I hope to see you all very, very soon!
