EARTH DAY - SURVIVAL

Taking care of our earth requires something of us all.  Taking care of the inhabitants of  this planet does as well. These are the faces of those who do just that.

I asked a soldier a couple of weeks ago why everytime I thank a OIF/OEF veteran for his or her sacrifice and service they always say "Oh no ma'am thank you!" They continue by telling me that what I do is far more important than what they do. I didn't get it.  It makes me feel odd, embarrassed, humbled, and, if possible, more grateful for their service and sacrifice than before.

This soldier told me that without 'us' back here in the states, supporting them in a myriad of ways, they could not do their job.  That helped.  It finally was making sense.  If they know those of us waiting at home 'have their backs' 100% they can do anything.  If we are here letting them know we are appreciative, supportive, grateful, and thankful that they are where they are, doing what they are doing, then in some sense their job is made a little easier.

What a lesson to be learned.  So today I honor not only this earth we inhabit, but also the inhabitants of this earth who are in 'harm's way' protecting this great nation, and those who volunteer their time to support those who need us the most.

Two days ago Penny's From Heaven Foundation, Inc. graduated six new certified therapy dog teams - Buddy, Maggie, Daphne, Peaches, Xena and Mocha. They and their owners worked hard, very hard, to reach this goal.  They spent hours training, studying, working, and refining their skills to go out into the world and make a difference one patient, child, client, or soldier at a time.  This takes commitment and responsibility to honor this promise and pledge to assist in improving the quality of someone's life.  It is an assurance that "I will be there for you."  It is based on caring for our fellow man.  It is based on compassion and passion.  And it is fundamentally based on love.

A new 'crop' of future therapy dogs is already hard at work preparing for a future of service to others.  What more can anyone ask of another than to put their ego aside and work for the betterment of mankind. 

Donating our time, volunteering our time and giving of our time is a gift.  W.H. Auden hit the nail on the head when he said, "We are all on earth to help others, what the others are here for I do not know." 

Our selfless commitment to our fellow humans is paramount to survival.

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"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."

~Abraham Lincoln~