Tuesdays With Berto

 

Doing homework and reading before play time

Tuesdays I get the pleasure of going to the Seneca Center of The Bridge with Alberto.  I love it! He is such a great friend, a great person, and he interacts so well with the kids.  They love playing soccer with him.  Today, I was feeling a little tired, so I refereed the game.

Nights like this remind me of how much I want to simplify life.  It seems really important at this point in the college semester, that's for sure.  Whenever I am feeling stressed or upset, Berto always seems to sense it and pays me a visit.  "That's what friends are for!" is my favorite thing to hear from him!  He reminds me of how important it is to care about people, and how you can shine the light and love of Jesus in the simplest of ways. 

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

The littlest things can make a BIG impact.  So, be happy, and share your love :)

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

A Four-Year-Old's Sunshine

I have been very busy with college lately.  I tend to be caught up with the day-to-day of meetings, extracurriculars, class, homework, and studying.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to devote as much time to The Bridge as I would like.  With my schedule, I am able to go to the Seneca Center once a week to spend time with the kids.  Getting caught up and bogged down in my own little world is so easy; I tend to forget about the bigger picture.

Today at Seneca, we celebrated the beautiful weather and played outside. We played duck duck goose, ring around the rosie, played on the swings, and sang songs.  I was singing "You Are My Sunshine" with a particularly adorable 4-year-old.  After we sang it a few times, I asked her, "Who is YOUR sunshine?"  Without hesitating, she proudly stated all 5 of her sisters' and brothers' names, and added, "AND I like my mom."  She then proceeded to tell be about the peanut butter sandwiches from preschool.

I loved her enthusiasm and love for her family.  Such simple things are such important blessings in our lives.  It's nice to slow down and enjoy them once in a while.  God is good. 

What is YOUR sunshine? :)