"Do something each day that scares you." -Eleanor Roosevelt
The Roosevelt's changed everything in America - and the world. You can learn more about the impact of three of them if you are wise enough to tune into Ken Burns' series "The Roosevelts" running all this week on PBS.
Each of the three was courageous enough to take chances. That is how you benefit others - by moving out of your comfort zone to do things that may scare you - but will help others.
My younger sister, Martha, does that every day. She regularly leaves the comfort zone of her retirement to help autistic children through the charity, Agility Angels. She also volunteers at the Furniture Ministry sponsored by her church. Maybe (but not likely) it even took a little courage for her to stand next to her big, football playing grand nephew!
Martha does not volunteer because it is easy. She makes hard choices because she is a woman of compassion.
Loving caregivers do this. The way we know their choices can be scary is because of how the rest of the world reacts to caregiving.
Every hospice nurse, neonatal intensive care doctor and charity worker has heard friends say, "I could never do what you do." The implication may be that these people think they are too sensitive to do what the caregiver is doing. Yet, it is the sensitivity & courage of caregivers that enables Radical Loving Care in this world.
Listen to Eleanor. Do something that scares you today & find yourself becoming more alive - & more in love with life.
-Erie Chapman
