Featured – Lumin Story

Letting Go of Baggage

Lumin Story — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 00:21:55 +0000

This starts my 22nd year of teaching middle school. Yesterday was quite possibly one of the most impactful days I have ever had.

I tried a new activity called “The Baggage Activity”. I asked the kids what it meant to have baggage and they mostly said it was hurtful stuff you carry around on your shoulders.

I asked them to write down on a piece of paper what was bothering them, what was heavy on their heart, what was hurting them, etc. No names were to be on a paper. They wadded the paper up, and threw it across the room.

They picked up a piece of paper and took turns reading out loud what their classmate wrote. After a student read a paper, I asked who wrote that, and if they cared to share.

I’m here to tell you, I have never been so moved to tears as what these kids opened up and about and shared with the class.

Things like suicide, parents in prison, drugs in their family, being left by their parents, death, cancer, losing pets (one said their gerbil died cause it was fat, we giggled) and on and on.

The kids who read the papers would cry because what they were reading was tough. The person who shared (if they chose to tell us it was them) would cry sometimes too. It was an emotionally draining day, but I firmly believe my kids will judge a little less, love a little more, and forgive a little faster.

This bag hangs by my door to remind them that we all have baggage. We will leave it at the door. As they left I told them, they are not alone, they are loved, and we have each other’s back.

I am honored to be their teacher.

Credit: Karen Wunderlich Loewe

Fixing a Tire

Lumin Story — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:20:53 +0000

I pulled up to the hardware store and watched this take place right in front of me. This guy sees two kids walking in the pouring rain while one is pushing his broken bicycle and he stops everything he is doing and spends 5 minutes getting drenched with rain while he fixes this little boy’s bike. These kids rode off so happy and he left with a smile on his face from ear to ear. As a matter of fact, he put a smile on my face too. This is the America that I know. High five to you good sir!

Source: Rich Walters / Facebook

A Birthday in the Hospital

Lumin Story — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 03:20:40 +0000

Hospital visits may be limited these days, but childhood cancer warrior Shimmy still had a 10th birthday celebration to remember thanks to our dedicated Achim B’yachad volunteers. Chai Lifeline gives children, families, and communities the tools they need to meet the challenges of living with pediatric illness or loss.

New Friends

Lumin Story — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 02:41:51 +0000

I’m not sure who this man is and I’m sure he just wanted to eat his meal in peace but Brekken had other plans. We took all 6 kids to eat at Fernandos and all Brekken wanted was to eat with him. He was continuously crying and as I got up to take him to the car this man asked to get him. Brekken instantly stopped crying and sat and ate chips and salsa and had conversation with him until he was ready to go. Brekken was completely content and told him bye like he had known him his whole life. It’s the small things! So, if you know him, please tell him again I said thank you. He didn’t have to do what he did but completely made Brekken’s whole day

Edit: His name is Darius West

Source: Amy Wadford / Facebook

Covering a Patient’s Co-Pay

Lumin Story — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 00:34:03 +0000

My 58 y/o patient has colon cancer and part of her treatment is an oral chemotherapy.

At her recent visit she asked me how many months she’ll need, since the monthly copay for her chemo pills is $80.

I told her that our “office has funding” and can we help her with her copays?

She nodded quickly, and I told her I will call the pharmacy to swap out her credit card for the “office” (aka Patreon) credit card.

I notified our in-house pharmacist, who communicates with the mail delivery pharmacy and asked him to email them.

He came back to my desk later.

“I spoke to Jasmine* at the pharmacy to change credit cards. She said she never heard of an office paying for a patient’s medications before.”

I shrugged.

He continued. “She was so moved, she said she’ll ask her boss if the pharmacy can absorb the cost.”

We high-fived.

Source: Facebook / Blimi Marcus

Swinging with Compassion

Lumin Story — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 00:12:30 +0000

A year ago, in a park in London, Ontario, Greg Horton heard a man scream. When he looked around, he could see a man sitting on a swing, and it looked as though he was hitting himself. And there was a lot of yelling going on.

Greg immediately called 911 and told the dispatcher there was a man at the park having a mental crisis. What happened next really surprised him.

An officer walked up to the swingset at the park, sat in a swing near the man, and began to calmly talk to him. After about 30 minutes, the man got up and walked away with the police officer.

Said Greg: “I thought it was a compassionate and beautiful thing with the officer sitting down at a swing beside the person, rather than confronting him. It was really nice to see, especially with all the media that’s kind of negative toward the police.”

Photo courtesy: Greg Horton

Paying for Dinner

Lumin Story — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 23:49:22 +0000

This handsome young man is Jeremiah. Friday was a long day at work, I didn’t get a lunch. After leaving the barn around 9 I stopped by the McDonalds in Reading, Oh to grab some dinner. I ordered my food but realized as I got to the window to pay, I had left my wallet at work.

I told this young man to cancel my order. His response was ”it’s ok ma’m I got you “ he then took his wallet out and paid for my meal. What an amazing young man! We hear so much about what’s wrong with the world I had to share a little of what is right. I am just now posting this because I wanted his permission and I wanted to repay him for his kindness.

I asked him if I could hug him and told him to keep being who he is because he is an amazing person. He didn’t know how tired I was or that I hadn’t eaten or even if he would be repaid but he didn’t even bat an eye and just acted.

Credit: Aundrea Duncan

A Gift in Place of a Punishment

Lumin Story — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 23:45:21 +0000

A kid had an old bike with no brakes and dented a stranger’s car. A few days later the car owner surprised the boy with a new bike. Have you ever wondered how the world can be improved? Person to person, one kindness at a time! Whoever you are, sir, – I applaud you!

Source: Karen Carnes / Facebook

A Gift from the Repairman

Lumin Story — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 18:44:22 +0000

Dear Spectrum Internet,

Today your technician Robert came to our home to upgrade our internet and help us start up TV streaming. He walked into a mess. My son, Sailor, is three years old. He was born with two rare brain defects and he is blind. He is unable to communicate his needs, and today has been rough for him. He has been crying all morning. I’ve been trying to soothe him while also meeting the needs of my two year old daughter, cleaning, washing dishes, and doing laundry while my husband works. It’s just been a tough day. When Robert walked in and started talking, Sailor ran to him and reached up. Robert didn’t seem bothered at all and, instead, held my son off and on for the whole 45 minutes he was in our home. He snuggled him close while I folded laundry. It was a huge relief to this tired momma. Robert could have walked in, rushed, and left but instead he saw a need greater than internet and met it. That’s beyond customer service- it’s humanity at its best. Robert deserves a raise… a promotion… something! He’s an asset to your company and I will never forget his kindness.

Sincerely,

Jessica

Credit: Jessica Nash Donnahoo

Leaving Payment Under the Door

Lumin Story — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 18:16:46 +0000

Bonnie Valdez in San Antonio, Texas went into work today to check up on her store… people there had taken all the bottled water she had stacked outside. “Understandably, everyone needs water to drink”, she said; she had almost 150 cases set outside.

When she looked into the store, she found the money and notes…they had all left her the cash… $620.00. Most had over paid…