Sometimes, making a difference does not require a large project, a big budget, or months of planning. Sometimes, service is simply seeing a need and choosing to do something about it.
Rotarian Scott Hughes, a member of the Rotary E-Club of Central Texas who lives in Vicksburg, Mississippi, recently demonstrated that spirit of service alongside his daughter. Together, they spent time cleaning up their neighborhood playground, picking up the trash they could find and helping make the area cleaner and more welcoming for the families and children who use it.
It may seem like a small act, but small acts of service matter.
Every piece of litter picked up made their neighborhood a little better. More importantly, Scott gave his daughter an opportunity to experience firsthand what it means to serve others. Children learn from what they see us do. When we invite them to serve alongside us, we teach them that caring for their community is not simply someone else's responsibility. It is something each of us can take part in.
That lesson is at the heart of Rotary's ideal of Service Above Self.
As Rotarians, we have a wonderful opportunity to pass the spirit of service to the next generation. Whether it is cleaning a playground, helping a neighbor, volunteering at a food pantry, supporting a community project, or simply lending a hand when one is needed, we can show young people that service can become a way of life.
We often think about the impact our service has on the people and communities around us, but there is another impact that is just as important: the example we set for those who come after us.
Scott and his daughter remind us that we do not have to travel far to make a difference. Sometimes the opportunity to serve is right outside our front door.
And when we bring our children and grandchildren along, we are doing more than serving our communities today. We are helping create the servant leaders of tomorrow.
That is how Service Above Self continues from one generation to the next.