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Posts from March 2012
Go Fishing by Scott Steele,posted Mar 28 2012 10:23AM
Thanks to my new friend Jake for stepping out of his comfort zone over the weekend. Jake invited us to go fishing at his family’s lake yesterday. You would think that asking a guy with a couple of kids to go fishing isn’t such a big deal. What Jake didn’t know about our family is what made the invitation so memorable.
For the last two years, our family has been mentoring a young man who lost his daddy a couple of years ago. When Jake extended the invitation to go fishing, a light bulb went off in my head for our usual Tuesday visit with our young friend – we’re going fishing. Jake was right when he said the bass were biting! Our friend’s first cast resulted in his first bass! My son hooked up with one on his first cast as well, so it made for an incredible moment as you can see.
Driving home yesterday, it hit me just how powerful Jake’s invitation was. There was this guy who didn’t know me from Adam inviting us to fish at his family’s lake. Without Jake, the likelihood of our friend catching his first bass without us were pretty high. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to celebrate a first fish, let alone first largemouth bass with a child, it’s a thrill you can’t imagine. The look on his little face when he realized he had one hooked was priceless. I’ll never forget his reaction as long as I live.
My aim this week is to be aware of those opportunities in my life where I can continue to get stretched. Today’s fishing trip reminded me of this verse from Psalm 68:4-5, “Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the LORD. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” Go fishing. Whether you go with a rod and reel isn’t the point. Fish for somebody you can reel in and comfort, defend, and rejoice with. Have a great day!
Thank you for your amazing support of the Mississippi Miracles Radiothon last week. With your help, we were able to raise $381,239 for the Batson Children’s Hospital. My friend Chuck always says, "Nothing we do catches God by surprise." But I do have to admit it was a little surprising to be able to witness TWO separate miracles in the same week.
My friends Al & Catherine Faulk’s 5 year old son Charlie jumped for the first time in the lobby of the hospital last week after having 3 brain surgeries. Charlie was originally diagnosed with a muscle disorder that they thought prevented him from doing things like climbing up on a high-top chair in their house...and jumping. Pretty normal stuff that these two parents had never experienced with Charlie. Charlie's pediatrician, Dr. Sorrey just happened to be standing in the lobby visiting with the Faulk's when Charlie took a leap that left the room in tears.
Then there was Charlotte Lyon, a 1 year old baby who had her second in a series of 5 life saving heart surgeries. Doctors in Birmingham originally told Charlotte’s parents that she was going to die. On Thursday evening, Dr. DiBardino, Charlotte’s heart surgeon said after her 5th surgery in a few years, she’ll be looking at a normal life.
I have to admit, I was a little skeptical going into radiothon this year, I was worried about the fundraising effort because we didn't have a major project to fund like the new pediatric ER we've been working on for the last 2 years. The goal this year was to purchase much-needed equipment and plug some holes in funding for the state's only hospital for children. I have no idea why I was worried because YOU came through in a way that none of us anticipated. $381,239!!! Thank you seems so small. There should be some words that are bigger than that. On behalf of the entire staff at Batson Children's Hospital, countless volunteers, and more than 150,000 families that come through Batson every year, WE LOVE YOU!!
Thanks to my new friend Jake for stepping out of his comfort zone over the weekend. Jake invited us to go fishing at his family’s lake yesterday. You would think that asking a guy with a couple of kids to go fishing isn’t such a big deal. What Jake didn’t know about our family is what made the invitation so memorable.
Then there was Charlotte Lyon, a 1 year old baby who had her second in a series of 5 life saving heart surgeries. Doctors in Birmingham originally told Charlotte’s parents that she was going to die. On Thursday evening, Dr. DiBardino, Charlotte’s heart surgeon said after her 5th surgery in a few years, she’ll be looking at a normal life.