Merry Christmas from the Open Hands Midway staff and our Board of Directors. As is my custom, you will see mention of the Charlie Brown Christmas in this column every December. To me there is not a better way to share the true meaning of Christmas than this. I know my friend Kathy Johnson would agree wholeheartedly. With that I invite you to click on the image above of Charlie Brown and Linus Van Pelt to hear Linus share the true meaning of Christmas. Every year I look forward to watching the Charles Schultz classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. The meaning of the show conveys the message of what Christmas is really all about. My favorite character, Linus, recites the true meaning of Christmas in the show. This is a message I feel has gotten lost as we run ourselves ragged making sure everything is just perfect for our holiday gatherings. It is a message I feel gets lost as we try to have the best holiday lights displays, and make all kinds of special foods to eat. Maybe the best thing to do is just take the time to relax, gather with our families and listen to the words Linus shares while truly realizing Christmas is more than 'stuff'. Maybe we just need to keep in mind that God loved us so much that He graciously sent his son to be the Savior of this world. Maybe we need to hear this messages more often, not only at Christmas time, just sayin'...
In 2024 I lost two good friends. Lloyd Sapp and David Bower. Both of these men meant a lot to me in different ways. Both of these men cared deeply about those we call our guests. Both of these men gave far more to others than they took for themselves. Both of these men had true servant hearts. Gone but never forgotten. I do not know about you but often when I think back to the time I heard that someone has died I can tell you exactly where I was and what I was doing. With Lloyd's news I was getting ready for our Produce Distribution here at Open Hands Midway. With David's news I was just getting ready to start my work day here after having been to Sam's Club to purchase food for our meal program. Each one of these calls left me in tears, missing someone I would never see again but knowing I had a wealth of memories to hold on to.
Lloyd Sapp was involved with Open Hands Midway since the inception of the organization. He helped out at the meal programs and served on our Board of Directors. Lloyd's passing was shocking and sudden when he died in an automobile accident on August 28. I can tell you I think of him often, miss his smile and laugh which often were due to some funny thing he clandestinely did. He always wanted to know how things where going here at Open Hands Midway. It is so hard to believe I will not see him around here ever again. While Lloyd was my friend, I do have to honestly say, and I regret this, that we never really talked about anything other than Open Hands Midway. Which sadly leads me to the day of his funeral where I learned more about Lloyd that I ever knew during his life here on earth. I was honored to share a few words about Lloyd at his memorial service and that story brought a laugh and a smile to those who attended. I am grateful to have been chosen to be his friend and will remember him with fondness, just sayin'...
David Bower was involved with Open Hands Midway since 2015. In the spirit of transparency, I got to know David more than I got to know Lloyd. I do not know if I should apologize for that or not. I feel that the way a friendship goes is the way it is supposed to go. David died on April 19. While David had been dealing with health issues for a couple of years, to me his death was sudden and unexpected. When I received the call from his wife telling me he had died I was certain she was only going to tell me to call David at a different time as he would be having therapy or some such thing (we had planned to talk the next day). I was honored to speak at his memorial service and share with others the impact David had in my life. The thing about David that make me proud is how he deeply cared for those we served. During the last year or more of his life we would talk on the phone. David would always ask me about how things were going here at Open Hands Midway and that he prayed for us daily. He did not stop there. He always asked about my family and had a genuine interest in my bike riding adventures. My favorite David question was the day I told him I had taken an 80+ mile bike ride and he said, "Doesn't your butt hurt after that?" and he laughed. Those were words I never thought I would hear him say. David is in my heart, in my thoughts and will never be forgotten. After his death I asked his wife if I could have his Michigan State hat. She told me she, and David, would love for me to have it. David wore that hat often when he volunteered here. Now I wear it when I welcome our guests into the meal program. I actually had a guest tell me that it was a pretty special hat. My reply? Oh, you have no idea how special it is. I am grateful that David chose to be a volunteer here at Open Hands Midway but I am more grateful that David welcomed me into his life as a friend, just sayin'...
Two friends, two lives that touched more than mine, and two lives missed dearly. We were blessed to have had them as a part of the Open Hands Midway family, just sayin'...
I know that many of you have read in this space about my bike riding addiction. I wanted you to know that I have set the ultimate bike mileage milestone. On Saturday, December 7, I reached 5,784 miles! This is equal to a round trip from West Quoddy Head, Maine to Port Arena, California. I cannot believe it. I shake my head when I realize my legs have pedaled 5,784...and counting as I have taken a couple more rides since the milestone day. I kept telling people I needed to hit that mileage mark just to say I did it. One of my friends recently asked me if I was going to now go back toward Port Arena, California (a virtual ride is what I called it as you know I did NOT really bike to those places). I told him of course, I have to get back to Minnesota for Christmas! For a self proclaimed bike-a-holic this is truly something to celebrate. I am pretty sure I will NOT get the necessary miles it would take to get back to Minnesota but I do plan to keep riding even if it is a little snowy, cuz I am addicted, just sayin'...
As 2024 comes to a close I am so grateful for the trust placed in me by our Board of Directors to lead Open Hands Midway. I will begin my 11th year in 2025. Open Hands Midway continues to do some pretty awesome things in our community. We look forward with anticipation and excitement for 2025. On behalf of myself, our Board of Directors, and staff members Steve and John, let me wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. I hope that the true meaning of Christmas will fill your heart and your soul today and every day as you strive to make the world just a little better place in the coming year, just sayin'...
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