Did I Tell You About My Headache?

The other day, I was complaining and feeling sorry for myself because I had a bit of a headache that was encroaching on my carefully laid plan for the day. This headache was inconvenient and a nuisance, so I was having the “woe is me” conversation with myself.

However, I knew that I could take an over-the-counter pain reliever. I could also complete my neck exercises which, if I were clever enough to do them proactively, would likely have prevented or, at least, lessened the headache’s effect and the pain would begin to go away.

That same day, I received an e-mail from one of our incredibly phenomenal elementary school building principals informing me about, Lily, one of her first-grade students. No, Lily did not have a headache, but she is afflicted with extremely serious health issues that immediately rise to an unfathomable level for most of us.

Lily is beset with a multitude of health issues with the most pressing being her restrictive cardiomyopathy. This is an extremely rare, one in a million children a year, heart disease which impacts most other body organs as well.  Long story short, Lily needs a heart transplant as soon as possible. Arrangements are in place for Lily and her family to immediately relocate to Colorado to await the appropriate donor.

Good grief! Lily is six or seven years old. I am seventy-two with significant life experience under my belt, but I can’t imagine facing something of this magnitude. Suddenly, my annoying headache pales, and pales significantly, by comparison and I question how I can help. What can I possibly do?

Lily’s family is seeking prayers. I can pray and I can ask you to join me in praying for Lily and her family.

Our Father and our God, today I am lifting Lily and her family in prayer to you. As you already know, they are facing huge challenges. I ask that you give them strength and perseverance to weather this storm. May your blessed peace, the peace that only you can give, wash over this family. We thank you for the knowledge and skill of the medical professionals who will be caring for Lily. While we mere mortals do not understand these “things”, we know that you are there watching over us. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

Lily and her family are part of the fabric of this Milton community we love and call home. Her classmates and teachers are already lamenting her departure from their daily lives. The sadness and enormity of this issue are palpable. The columnist, Jenny Anderson, has written - “Community is about a series of small choices and everyday actions: how to spend a Saturday, what to do when a neighbor falls ill, how to make time when there is none. Knowing others and being known; investing in somewhere instead of trying to be everywhere. Communities are built, like Legos, one brick at a time. There's no hack.”

Please join me in interlocking the “bricks” we have available to us to become part of Lily's prayer and care team and aid her family in meeting this challenge. After all, WE ARE MILTON!

If you are interested in following Lily's journey by reading blogs and updates from her family, check out this link:

                                             https://cota.org/campaigns/COTAforLilysHeart

Oh, and about that headache. Nevermind! 

#cruzan4milton#WEAREMILTON

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contribute To The Magic

It is no secret that I am a believer in Milton. This community has been very good to me, and it is a great place to live, work, and raise children and grandchildren. I am also a believer in outstanding customer service, a commodity which isn’t always easy to find.

Small communities and the businesses within them face many challenges. I like to think of myself as a community builder. One of the ways I work toward that goal is to shop locally, within the community, as much as possible. Why shop local? Let me share my compelling reasons.

My time is valuable to me so shopping local is a gift to myself as I find it more efficient. Connections are also high on my list, so I like to become acquainted with small business owners and the citizens who work for them.

Milton’s businesses are extremely generous and give back often by sponsoring sports teams, musical groups, and community building events such as the Independence Day run, parade, and fireworks. Spending my shopping dollars here in Milton helps make this happen.

Author Seth Dodin has said, “People do not buy goods and services. They buy relationships, stories, and magic.” Not so long ago I experienced this magic first -hand. It’s time to share the magic with you.

I recently had the misfortune to have my checking account compromised. Not my credit card but my checking account. I didn’t know such a thing could happen but it can and did. I stopped at the bank, explained my concern to an extremely warm, personable receptionist who connected me with a specialist who handled my issue with dispatch. She transformed a “real pain” for me into a smooth transaction. How refreshing, but this story doesn’t stop here.

I have never experienced anything but outstanding service from anyone in this local bank. It’s like visiting old friends when I step into the lobby or go through my usual routine of drive-through. The story continues and builds.

I am a caregiver for an elderly lady who is afflicted with degenerating eyesight. She needed to obtain paper copies of bank statements for several past months. This would have been a significant task for her so I told her I would handle it.  I stopped at the bank and was barely in the door when I was met by a bank employee who chatted with me and asked how he could help. Having worked for a bank, I was quite sure this gentleman was not the “likely” person to help me with this issue, but knowing he could redirect me to the proper area, I told him my story. He asked for the phone number of my lady so that he could ensure that he was authorized to release that information to me. He added that he would handle the issue and let me know when he had what I needed. Within a day he efficiently delivered what he said he would deliver.

Who would have expected that the bank President & CEO would personally and proactively handle what was essentially a bookkeeping, clerical function? On reflection this was no real surprise if you know Brendon Wilkinson. He is clearly customer driven and his leadership sets the tone for the entire organization and our community. He embodies the sentiment expressed by General Colin Powell - “The most important thing I learned is that soldiers watch what their leaders do. You can give them classes and lecture them forever, but it is your personal example that will be followed.” This bank clearly meets and exceeds customer expectations. Why?  Because culture is driven from the top. Thank you, Brendon, for showing us the way.

First Community Bank is featured in this column but it is not alone in Milton. There are far too many outstanding local businesses to mention all who provide this small community shopping experience. Why would I go elsewhere?

This philosophy – Rather than lectures and classes, it is your personal example that changes behavior - holds true for all of us who live here. I invite you to join me in celebrating the great life we enjoy here in Milton. Shop local. Invite others to visit here and experience our magic. Affirm and contribute to our “magic” community culture.  After all, WE ARE MILTON!

#cruzan4milton#WEAREMILTON