Local or Long Distance, Love Works!

It’s so easy to get caught up in our own little bubble, isn’t it? It’s also easy to feel overwhelmed by negativity, especially in current affairs, and to feel helpless, like nothing we as individuals do can really make a difference. It’s times like these that I feel drawn to focusing again on Love Works. It reminds me that little deeds really do have an impact, and that love is the only way to overcome tremendous adversity. It brings to mind one of my favorite songs by David Meece, “Amor Conquista Todo” – Love Conquers All.

It really does.

Love Works can impact people around us, friends or strangers, or even people around the world. My sister donated to the One Girl foundation, in memory of Vivienne’s birthday this year. Her donation is helping transform the lives of girls in Sierra Leone and Uganda. Enabling a girl to receive an education is to give her a life-changing opportunity. For every year she can stay in school, her income will increase between 10 and 25%. And for every dollar she earns, she’ll reinvest 90% of it back into her family. She can marry later (rather than being forced into marriage as a child) and choose to have fewer children. And as those children grow, she can educate them too. 

My eldest, then 4, playing dress up.

Have you heard of the butterfly effect? My goal is to be that butterfly of love works – small actions that will amplify and spread love around the world. 

Pass it on.

Love Works Stories

Over the years many people have shared their stories of Love Works with us. Here are just a few to begin:

On Vivienne’s sixth birthday, my friend Gillian volunteered at the local Ronald McDonald House to make dinner for the families staying there. She wrote:

Happy Birthday Vivienne!

While doing my act of kindness today, I met a little girl named Vivienne Isabella. Today is her 6th birthday too. I am amazed and so grateful to have met Vivienne Isabella while honoring Vivienne Isabel.

Happy Birthday, girls.

 

 

Wow, right?

Gillian tells me her plans this year are to leave quarters in every crank machine they see, pass out ice cream tokens at the park, and buy 6 little girls happy meals.

My sister also had a cool story about her Love Works for Vivienne’s 5th birthday. She went to her favorite coffee shop and paid for five additional coffees in Vivienne’s name. “Brendon, the cafe owner, said that it took over an hour to use up the credit because when people were told why they were getting a free coffee they passed it on as well,” she said. I just love that.

Leanne recently wrote to tell me: “In memory of Vivienne, our random act of kindness was to raise money for the Springville league for the handicapped preschool learning center. I collected money from several ppl to sponsor Joanna in the 5K. God bless your angel baby.”

Last year Joy posted to my timeline: “In honor of Vivienne I start volunteering with Saint Giannas pregnancy center here in the falls tomorrow morning”.

And Love Works can get the whole family involved! A friend, Andrea, wrote that her children have been excited to go out each day and add some love in the world, even coming up with Love Works ideas themselves! Just the other day, they chose to pick out a toy from a store they like and then they were going to hide it on the playground with a tag that says pay it forward.

I am so lucky to be able to hear about these wonderful deeds and stories. I appreciate each and every one! If you would like to share your story here too, please use the contact us form at the bottom of the page. We’d love to hear from you.

Happy Birthday Vivienne!