“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10
The end of high school is a wonderful time for any senior. It marks the end of a 12-year journey of education. The arrival of graduation is often marked by celebration. Often, seniors will throw a big party with friends and family to celebrate the successful end of this long journey.
Leanne Carrasco was just as excited as any other senior to graduate and start a new chapter of life. However, she did not want to mark the end of high school with the usual party. Instead, Leanne decided to throw a big pizza party at a homeless shelter for children and women in Houston, Texas.
With just a month to go before graduation, Leanne Carrasco began to organize her friends to help her host this party. They began to collect money for pizza. They also collected hygiene products such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant to package and distribute. When the day for the party arrived, Leanne and her friends arrived at the shelter with 95 pizzas, the hygiene packages and a lot of love to share with the residents and staff.
That day, Leanne and her friends served just over 200 people. They gave them food and the much-needed personal items. They also offered so much more. Leanne saw these residents as someone to honor and to be cared for. She gave her time and energy to make sure that they too had reason to celebrate, after all, these residents had obviously been on a long and difficult journey, as well. Leanne’s efforts helped to make it a special day for so many.
We all have the ability to bless the lives of others. When we choose actions that will lift up people around us, we provide hope. For most people, pizza and deodorant do not make for an exciting party, but when shared with love and hope to those in need, it becomes a picture of God’s kingdom on earth, a kingdom where love is for all and our neighbors are honored above ourselves.
Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
