A friend of mine, Immediate Past District Governor, Demetress Harrell, recently posted the following message on her wall:
"We often seek to wake up to clear skies & a bright sun, yet our attitudes often reflect a dim and non-compassionate heart 💜." My response is below.
Perfectly said!
I remember taking my son to his destination 2 hours away. It was a hot Georgia day and my AC was not working. We passed a lady on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere waving a hankie trying to wave down some help.
As we passed her by, my son said we should stop and help her. I said something like someone else would stop by and help her. He then tried to appeal to the father he knew and said, if we help her you'll feel good about yourself for helping others. I gave some other excuse and then he retorted to his ACE in the hole. He then said, "Aren't you a Rotarian?"
Needless to say, I turned around and we helped that lady. I had a gas can in my truck and we took her to a gas station so she could fill it up. We then drove back and filled her tank up so she could get to her destination.
At my next Rotary meeting, I asked to speak and told my club that I had failed as a Rotarian, but that I had made amends. I proceeded to tell the story.
I was quite ashamed yet grateful for the lesson I learned that day at the hands of my son. We must live a life consistent with how we walk every day. Rain or shine, no matter how we are feeling, no matter what, we need to be that light we say we are. Don't confuse folks about who you are. If you are kind and compassionate, then always be kind and compassionate.
Let's always have an Attitude of Gratitude and make this world a better place. Rotary International
