Introduction:

How many of you make investments? How many of you ever thought about investing in something. Personally, I prefer investment property. Why?  People are always gonnaneed a place to live.  Regardless towhat we choose to invest in it is because WE WANT A RETURN! What about investing in America.  Howmany of you all ever thought about investing in another person’s life? I’m not just talking about just monetary, but in other ways. I’m sure that this will yield a return as well.

Tragedy:

I wouldlike to bring your attention to a recent tragedy we all experienced as asociety.  It is the one of the 6-yr.old Flint, MI boy that fatally shot another 6 yr. old. Also, I would like to recall your attention to the Columbine High Schoolshootings where many teenagers were wounded and/or murdered by other teenagers. No doubt both of these were tragedies here in America. However, I would like to ask you, how tragic were they to you?  Were they tragic enough for you to say, “we don’t wantthis happening again in our society”?  Werethey tragic enough for you to say, “I will take measures in an attempt toprevent this from happening to another one of our children? What will it take to stop this madness? Well, I believe we can help.  Ibelieve we can stop this madness.

Cause:

Ihave followed these cases and pondered why they happened, what could have beendone to prevent them, and who’s was fault, as well as I’m sure many of youhave.  I’ve looked at thenationality, culture, and economic status of all of the families involved andcan find no one answer to pinpoint the reasoning behind such an acts ofviolence.  On one hand, you have a 6yr. old urban African American boy from a low income, single parent family. And on the other, we have some Caucasian American boys from what we wouldconsider an ideal, middle-income family.  Iam not here today to discuss the family situations of either of these children,or to argue how much input their lifestyles and upbringing had to do with this. However, I do believe that all of these are factors to consider. What I am here today to say is, “In order for us to see a brightertomorrow, I believe that we must invest in others and our generationtomorrow”.  I believe that if wecontinue to live as we have been that not only tragedies such as our childrenmurdering one another will continue, but that it will worsen. Why do I say such awful things?  Ibelieve that these tragedies happened for a reason. Although, I’m not a Psychologist or expert, I do know that people justdon’t do things for nought.  Usually,they do them for a reason.  Even ourchildren, they do things for reasons.  Ifa child throws a temper tantrum, usually he’s doing it for a reason.  Whether it’s to get something from you such as a piece ofcandy, or cookie, or if it’s the result of a medical condition, it stillstemmed from a reason.

Effect:

Itruly believe that if we as Americans would be a little bit more caring aboutthe well-being of others and spend a little bit more time with someone else,then we can make a difference in someone’s life that will make this world abetter and safer place.  We havebeen blessed with much.  AMERICA,THE BREADBASKET TO THE WORLD!  However,there are many children that go hungry everyday right here in our own backyards,so to speak.  We have the means toprovide a child with a bicycle or toy, yet we choose to spend it on a new toyfor ourselves (such as a computer game or what have you). Don’t get me wrong, these things are all well and good but what aboutinvesting in a child such as spending time with a child. listening to the woesof a teenagers’ biggest fears only to find out that they are terrified ofgrowing up and gaining adult responsibilities. What about stopping to listen to a co-worker answer your question whenyou ask how they are doing oppose to asking in passing. Maybe if someone would have asked that little 6-yr. old kid how he wasdoing he may would have told him or her, “Well, I’m mad as Susie todaybecause she wouldn’t let me go on the slide first”. Or maybe if the school counselor would have been walking the halls ofColumbine High School because he had built a rapport with the students maybe oneof the shooters could quite possibly have told him, “man, I just feel likekilling somebody today just for the rush!” I believe that if someone had shown a little bit of interest and concernfor those children they would have know that the feelings that they wereexperiencing could possibly have been talked out and intervention made toeliminate those violent acts.  Justmaybe!  I’m not saying that thiswill solve all problems but it’s a start.

Summer ‘98:

Iwould like to share an incident that occurred about 2 yrs. Ago. My son and I were on our way home one day when we noticed two littlegirls on the corner fiddling with a bicycle. It was pouring down raining and they looked like they could use somehelp.  I stopped and asked them whatwas going on.  The older girl(around 10 – 12) said that the bicycle chain had come off and that she washaving a hard time getting it back on.  Iasked if they would like for me to take them home. The older girl said that she could probably get the bike fixed, becausethe chain had come off before, but wanted to know if I could take her littlesister home.  I hesitantly said,“sure” and asked where they lived.  Shesaid that they were visiting an aunt and only knew the street name. So here I am with this little 4 – 5 yr. old asking her “What color isthe house?” “Is that it?” We found the house, or at least what the littleyoungster thought was the house.  Luckily it was it.  Iexplained to the aunt what had happened, she thanked me, and we went on our way.

The Gift:

Later thatevening, I received a phone call from the aunt stating that the children had agift for me to thank me for helping them. I didn’t go over right away because I was busy cooking dinner. However, when I arrived, the aunt said that I had just missed the girlsbut that they had left the gift. She began to tell me about the girls and their unstable lives. The auntsaid that she would spend time with them whenever possible to help out.

Reunion:

About two weeks ago I saw the aunt (at Wal-Mart). She is now doing full-time foster care. I asked her about the girls.  Shesaid that they were doing really well.  Theolder had provision made for her to attend a local Christian Academy. This was something that she always wanted.  The youngest girl was doing fine also.  It made me feel good to know that they were doing well. I was getting emotional and these weren’t even my children. But thinking about the situation of the family that the aunt had sharedwith me just a couple of years earlier made me think, what if someone hadn’ttaken the time to show these girls that they cared. Where would they be? The gift, it wasn’t much, a little book thatsomeone had probably given them but it was from their heart.  They saw that someone cared enough to stop and see if theyneeded help.  They wanted to givesomething that showed that they cared.  I believe that I made an investment that day.

Closing:

Iencourage you all today to take the time out to listen to children, spend alittle time mentoring those neighborhood teens who always seem to know it all. Give to someone in need.  Itdoesn’t have to be much. A little concern it all it takes. One word of encouragement might just change somebody’s life forever. What may seem insignificant to you may be a treasure to someone else. You don’t know how you affect other people. You don’t know what is going on with the child. I know a lot of people would say, “We’ll I just don’t want to getinvolved”.  Hey, take the risk, what’s the worst thing that can happento a person that is genuinely showing concern or offering assistance? I could have gone about my business and went home and left those littlegirls out in the rain that day.  Iprobably would have never seen or heard of them again. But what if one day they see someone in need of help and they offerassistance because someone helped them.  Younever know.