Be strong. Protect the Weak. Love Everyone. ™

WONDER

kristi hayesComment

My favorite book this year was a children's book, WONDER by RJ Palacio. I read it and then had Holden read it with me. I remember just bawling in the hammock as I read of this sweet boy whose face was deformed, who was brave, and taught others the gift of kindness. When I read this book, my friend Mary Catherine called me and said, "your mission, your message, is what this books is about." We at Be strong Story, celebrate all the cast and crew for bringing such a sweet and compassionate book to life  We can't wait to see the movie that comes to theaters this weekend. Be Strong, Protect the Weak, Love Everyone. #choosekindness 

https://www.bestrongstory.com/shop/handmade-reclaimed-wood-sign-with-signature-phrase?category=Home+Goods+%26amp%3B+Accessories

How to wear a hat.....seems simple enough.

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Seems simple enough. Just put a hat on your head. But when you have a really small head like mine, it's harder than it looks. And how do you wear hats and still look put together and not like you just got straight out of bed? Which is what usually happens when I wear a cap. (Do as I say, not as I do). 

1. Don't be afraid to style your hair and put on a ball cap after...i know that sounds counterproductive, but pulling your hair out around your ears, so your ears aren't sticking out has been a game changer for this small head of mine....before I could only wear kids hats. Some of us aren't blessed with those amazing locks like our model Laura. Now I get to fake it by putting the hat over my ears and hair covering it. 

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2. Dress it up....you don't need to wear a hat with sweats. Wear it with jewelry, cute bestrong tank with some fun earrings and scarf. Don't be afraid to go out of the box. 

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3. Pony it up....Try a side ponytail, instead of putting your ponytail through the hat loop in the back, swing the ponytail to the side. 

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And lastly, add your own spunk and personality. Fun and smiles can pull ANYTHING off!

Get your hats here

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We be STYLING....(Trendy ways to dress up your bestrong gear this fall)

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We want to show you at Bestrong story how you can style an awesome t-shirt or sweatshirt and make it something fashionable and even dressy. Many have asked us, HOW CAN WE DRESS UP our favorite Tee? And we have all the answers, well maybe just some, but we like to think we got it figured out sometimes. 

EXTRA TIP: Lay out all your clothes with all the different shoes, jewelry, accessories that could go with it. Such a great way to pair down your closet. 

HERE ARE SOME SIMPLE TIPS TO STYLE UP YOUR FAVORITE TEE.

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1. DRESS IT UP

Don't be afraid of mixing jewelry, leopard flats, a skirt, heels, or a stylish hat with a t-shirt or sweatshirt. The mix and match is playful, well thought out, and smart. Why is it smart? Because not only are you comfy, you look put together too. Like you actually tried. And as much as I would like to sit in sweats and slippers all day, it feels good to put on some bling or fun accessories and go for it.  Big Earrings, necklace, lots of bangles, leopard flats, scarf, hat, skirt. If ever in doubt always add leopard. 

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2. ALL THE LAYERS

Flannel is my favorite. It layers under and over shirts. You cannot go wrong with a good flannel. POPS of COLOR underneath a sweatshirt is my favorite. Layer with a necklace and some good booties and you are good to go.

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3. WRAP IT UP

Use a shawl, blanket wrap, cardigan, scarf, vest, or lightweight hoodie. There are so many things you can wrap around these cute shirts to stay warm. Add some fall knee high boots or converse and you are golden.

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And lastly, always wear a smile:) It's your best accessory hands down!

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JUST A LITTLE MENDING

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A friend emailed me this about our be strong story bracelet.

She said:

"Yesterday as we were all feeling the rawness of the tragedy in Las Vegas, my first grader found a Be Strong bracelet on the playground. She saw that it was ripped and asked her teacher to help her mend it with a staple or two. Then she brought it home (assuming it was mine) and presented it to me and said,

"I fixed it for you mama, now you can be strong again." Kind of broke my heart all over again. It's like my kiddo helping me heal, helping me feel not feel broken." 

When my friend sent me this, it just gave me chills. I thought how simple, and yet, how very powerful. Kids are in tune to our feelings, their eyes are wide open to others pain. Don't we all just need to take a cue from this little 6-year-old girl. 


Sometimes we just need a little mending, everyone one of us has heart break, and broken dreams,disappointments, and tragedies that come unexpectedly. Things that can break us from the inside out. Many of us need mending right now, and some of us have the ability to mend.

 

The mending doesn't need to be fancy or perfect. Just simple and heart felt. Let's all help be the menders like this 6-year-old was today. 

ALWAYS LIGHT, ALWAYS BRIGHT

kristi hayesComment

A friend recently told me. Darkness does not live where there is light. Darkness hides from the bright, from the light. It has no place there.

A couple of years ago a few moms and I started an organization called KIDS WHO CARE, giving our kiddos opportunity to engage their compassion and empower their world at a young age.  

As we talked to our kids about going to serve the homeless for our next service opportunity, my son was a little nervous. He has been downtown before and has had no problem hanging out with those who didn't have a home and lived on the streets, but he’s a processor and he remembers one of the guys talking about how at night, he hears gun shots all around him. Holden brought this up last night, A MONTH later.

He said, "mom, I am afraid of the bad guys.”
I said, “what bad guys?"
He said, "The ones they said come at night, in the dark."

 
I didn’t really know what to say, my nature is to say, "suck it up bud, we do uncomfortable and scary things, that’s what we are made to do. That’s what God calls us too.  or Umm...you can't be scared, you need to be an example, mama is organizing this thing, I need you to be a leader."

 (isn't that what we do, put this un-needed pressure on our kids to make us look like good parents.)

But I also wanted to listen and respect his feelings.
 
I asked my friend Cathryn, who runs a non-profit for the homeless, for advice.

She said, "tell him that it is very hard for darkness to come out in the light. The bad people like to sneak out when no one is looking, but when the sun is shining bright, they don’t want to be out, they hide."

 The darkness cannot tolerate the light.
 

I thought how true that is. Even in the Bible it talks about this. John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  

When we bring forth light, the darkness has no place. I want to be a light giver, I want to teach my kids to shut out the darkness by literally letting their light shine it out. Everyday when Holden gets out of my car for school since pre-school, I have said, “let your light shine,” and it means more to me now than ever.
 
What would our world look like with an entire generation of little light givers? Would darkness be able to even exist because they shine so bright?

 
Sometimes we just need to see others. My perspective has changed over the last 10 years. I think in my gut I thought people were a certain way for a reason, I pre-judged, I had my own solutions to fix things. But after being in relationship and standing in other's shoes and on their turf, I see things a lot differently and my heart has burst wide open. We will only ever know our own experiences, thats why it has been so imperative for me to get in other's lives who have an entire different life and perspective. 

 When we were downtown last year, we were honored to meet this little, happy, ball of energy. Her parents were on the streets. 

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"We played "I see you."
And I do. 
I see you. 
I see your smile and the sparkle in your eye, your love of all, and your willingness to let us care for you. You saw us  too. You saw us as friends to play with, and laps to climb up on to be held. There was no hesitation. 
We may look different, where we sleep may look different, our worries and stresses might look different, but we belong to each other.
You and me.
Me and you.
No difference is too big.
We are for each other.
I am for you little one."

A skinned knee and a wet wash cloth....

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Sometimes we forget what it means to "do the right thing." We think if a situation occurs, if someone needs help, we would help them. But would we really, or would we actually even notice them?

 

 

Last week Grant and I were recounting a story of a man who went out of his way in the most simple way to help our family. Something we didn't really think was THAT big a deal at the time, but the more we shared the story with others, and our BE STRONG, PROTECT THE WEAK, LOVE EVERYONE message, people said, "He did that, the man with the wet wash cloth, did that."

 

 

Let me backtrack a bit. One of our favorite things our family likes to do is take an evening bike ride. Nothing fancy, sometimes it is around the sidewalk and this night it happened to be in an abandoned parking lot. We let the kids have 10 minutes of "family ride time." Each person was the leader and we all followed their path. We were laughing and cheering each other’s cool moves.

 

 

It was all going great, we had about 2 minutes left until we headed back to put the kids to bed. Sis was the leader and you know,  she, of course, decided she would pop some curbs with her pink princess bike tires. (because she is her mother’s child).

 

 

She usually handles the curbs like a boss, but she turned a little too quickly, and like a yard sale, her bike flew one way, and her knees and elbows flew another. The pavement did a number to her knees and elbows, Holden was behind her and he was afraid he would hit her, so he braked which meant he wrecked as well. Both kids had helmets and both kids just got some  good scraps, but you could hear the cries and initial screams from miles away it seemed. Grant comforted  Sis, and I held Holden. Holden was more worried he would accidentally run over Sis, and Sis was just screaming because, you know blood. We just held them and let them know it would be ok, like parents do each and every time their kids skin their knees. This wasn't the first and it won't be the last.

 

After what seemed like FOREVER, I look up and there is a man standing beside us, I don't even know where he came from, but he had two washcloths in his hand, one wet, and one dry.  He said, he and his wife were across the street at the hotel, his wife had commented on the "cute family riding their bikes," and then about 10 seconds later they witnessed the crash and crying.

 

We used the wet washcloth to soothe and wipe up bloody knees and elbows. We thanked him, he went on his way and we went on ours. It was a simple gesture. But when we look back, it was a big gesture, one that no one else did. He saw, he heard, and he acted out of kindness. We may never see that man again, but he did what our shirt's message says. He protected the weak in that small moment. His wet washcloth was a loving act. He had to go inside and wet that washcloth. He had to have thought, I bet those knees need a warm cloth to soothe. It was a simple gesture, probably one that inconvenienced him, but he still did it.

 

Thank you to the random wet washcloth man. Thanks for living out a message that we hope others will emulate. Us included.

 

BE. AS ONE

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We couldn't get our thoughts around what happened this weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia . I sat on the floor and said to my husband, "how is this happening in 2017?" This is not the world my children will grow up in, where hate for the pigment of skin is still not only an issue, but a violent one.

 

Nope, not on our watch. I wanted to squeeze every young child and their parents, who may have a different color of skin and say, "this is not us, this is not who we are!"

 

I met this young boy last year, he was a stranger but we played basketball in his neighborhood and we rode his scooter, and we intertwined arms, and my kids watched me do it.

 

And I had joy on my face, no fear, only pure contentment.

 

Because he was my equal, my brother, my friend.

 

Let us as parents seek those out that may feel threatened today. Give an extra smile, hug, intertwine arms together.

 

Let your kids see you do it often and with joy.

 

BE. the people you weren't meant to be.

 

BE. strong when it's unpopular and inconvenient

PROTECT the weak, when they are treated unjustly.

LOVE Everyone, because that's what life is about.

SHOP HERE FOR YOUR BE STRONG GEAR. Wear something that helps you live this message outloud. 

Hello Beautiful

kristi hayesComment
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(As I was writing this article I sat by two young teens, I asked them about the pressures they face at their age, their answers were heartbreaking, they wrote their advice at the bottom of this post to those who want to encourage them. I also just read the news article of the 12 year-old who committed suicide for cyber bullying. This has to stop!)

Every time I look at this picture we took for our Be strong story photo shoot, I see so many things. I see these precious girls, all from different walks of life, and different sets of circumstances. All of them beautiful, and all of them have the whole world in front of them. 

I see potential, and dreams. 

I see light and love. 

I see kindness and curiosity in their eyes. 

What if they believed they were the most beautiful souls as they grew up. 

What if beyond a shadow of a doubt they knew they were made for a purpose for this short time on earth. 

What if their confidence came from the inside, from knowing who they are, and being content in all of their strengths and weaknesses. 

What if they were free to be themselves. With no worries of changing who they are, their appearance, their personality, their ANYTHING to fit into a mold they weren't made for. 

My dream for these girls, is they would be FREE to be themselves. FREE to live with confidence to pursue their dreams. Confidence to be strong when they need to be, to protect those who need protecting, and to not be afraid to let their love shine like a beacon along the way. 

I have a dream for our next generation. A dream that includes standing up for things that aren't popular without a true care of others opinions. I see them making a difference when it means sacrificing popularity and notoriety because they care about others more than themselves. I see them cheering on their fellow girlfriends instead of talking behind their backs and making them feel small and worthless. 

I see a generation in these little faces that can change their world. 

But it takes our generation to teach them how. It takes our generation to model and show them what it means to let their light shine, to love themselves well and others well. It's our job as mother, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends, mentors, to treat these girls for who they really are.

 

Girls who can set this world on fire. 

As I was writing this article I set by two girls on the plane. I asked them what their main pressures were at their age. Their answers floored me. They were beautiful girls, to anyone else they looked like they had everything going for them, but their answers surprised me. They had been rejected, bullied, thought of hurting themselves, switching schools. The negativity from other girls made them sick to their stomach and made them hide their shoulders and arms with their hair as a shield. It broke me. We must stop this behavior. I cannot stand to see one more girl feel pain at the hands of another. I asked them to write an excerpt of how we can help love them well. Here is their excerpt.

 

Written by- Maizey,13 and Hannah,12- unedited so you can hear their voice.

" The girl everyone wants to be is not themselves, they always have something they hate about themselves. The way you can help kids love themselves for who they are is simply complementing them on what they hate the most about themselves. Always be there for them when they need you the most, and never let them hurt anyone else. If they hurt other people don't scold them for it, tell them to take a few steps in their shoes. Ask them how they would feel if someone went up to them and commented on the thing they hate most about themselves. If they get knocked down help them up, then have them help out the person that knocked them down. Have them build a barrier strong enough to withhold the force of others, but also strong enough to carry the weight of broken enemies."

 

 

 

HAPPY BUT ACTUALLY SCARED!

kristi hayesComment

As parents I think one of our greatest teachers are our children. The things they feel so purely, the way they express their raw emotion without filter or cynicism. The way they view the world and experiences with fresh eyes. Eyes that haven’t been clouded by perceptions or cares of the world around them.

Yesterday we took our family to Disney. We had a great time experiencing the beautiful sites of the safari, and the breathtaking views of pretend worlds, that looked magical and real. We also had experiences with new thrilling rides. And on one of these rides Carter Mae, our 5 year old daughter had some profound words to say.

Carter Mae was just able to get on one of the roller coasters in Animal Kingdom, it would be her second roller coaster ever, but her first big one. As we were waiting in line, I could tell she had a nervous energy that was permeating her being. She was hopping from foot to foot, and then she said:

“I am HAPPY, but I am actually SCARED.”

And she repeated it a couple of times in Carter Mae fashion. She was so excited to be doing something new and exciting, but she was nervous of the outcome and of the ride itself.

When she said this I felt her from the bottom of my heart. In life so many times, the things that make us HAPPY are the things that SCARE us the MOST.

And sometimes we miss out on the HAPPY, because we let the being scared part prevent us from trying. We sacrifice the happy for comfort, security, not failing.

I don’t want to live like that. I want to take Carter Mae’s motto. She conquered that roller coaster that day with lots of mixed emotions, but she did it and she was better for it.

When we conquer all those competing voices going on in our head, we will be better for it too.

What are things that make you so happy, but so scared?

 

 

PROTECT THE WEAK (GUEST POST-HEART FOR LEBANON)

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This is a picture of sweet Iraqi family who had lost everything. She was comforting me as my heart was breaking for them.

Going to Beirut, Lebanon last year to work with the teachers who provide much needed schooling for Refugees, broke me wide open. Heart for Lebanon is a non-profit who is truly protecting the weak in the most dire circumstances. I met the men and women who are on the front lines providing love and assistance to those who have fled the war. I met the refugees who have lost their fathers, husbands, mothers, sisters, to a war that shouldn't be waging. I wanted you to hear first hand from those who sacrificing so much to protect and love these precious refugees. All of us can't be in a war torn area protecting, but we can support those who do. Please read Heart for Lebanon's message below.

The facts, unfortunately, are in: every year a billion children experience some type of violence!

It happens in every country, city, and community.  It costs governments trillions of dollars and slows economic growth.  More importantly, it is a violation of the desired plan God has for every child.

In Lebanon we have not come across a child who “wanted” to be involved in violence, but we have seen those who were sold into violent situations by their families, or themselves, out of desperation: a desperation that comes after a prolonged time of hopelessness. With war comes trauma and everlasting scars of a dark and terrifying past. Today, most Syrian refugee children know nothing more than the terror and anxiety of not knowing where the next airstrike, missile, gun shot, bomb or chemical attack will hit. Even after fleeing the country, a petrifying fear follows these Syrian refugee children wherever they go.

It doesn’t have to be this way. There is a way to change what’s happening.  Heart for Lebanon is committed to keeping at-risk children safe. We want to provide them with a loving, caring, Biblically-based education; one that restores hope and dignity to the child and their family.  Restoring hope means giving them an education that will lift them out of poverty and set them on the path to be a difference maker.

At Heart for Lebanon’s H.O.P.E. Educational Program, we provide a safe place for refugee children to learn, express and grow. Maha, an 8-year-old girl who fled the Syrian war with her mother and elderly grandparents, is just one of the many Syrian refugee children suffering from mental and emotional scarring caused by the events of the Syrian war.

Since fleeing to Lebanon, Maha has been attending our H.O.P.E. Educational Program where she learned how to read and write for the very first time. “When Maha was born we were fleeing from place to place so my daughter couldn't go to school and didn't even know what a book was,” said Khadijah, Maha’s mother.

Both Khadija and her daughter suffered great emotional and physical distress during their time in Syria. In the midst of the Syrian conflict Khadijah’s husband abused and threatened her and their daughter. “Maha has psychological and emotional scarring because of the war and also because her biological father abused her and abused me,” said Khadijah.

Both Khadija and her daughter suffered great emotional and physical distress during their time in Syria. In the midst of the Syrian conflict Khadijah’s husband abused and threatened her and their daughter. “Maha has psychological and emotional scarring because of the war and also because her biological father abused her and abused me,” said Khadijah.

Today, both mother and daughter have found a safe haven in our Heart for Lebanon staff who listen, advise, care and love on them unconditionally. Thanks to Heart for Lebanon’s support and encouragement Khadijah and her daughter are willingly listening to the Word of God and praying with our staff. Khadijah has also dedicated her life to Jesus and asks that we pray for her daughter’s full recovery. With the help of others Heart for Lebanon can care for children just like Maha. Please check out Heart for Lebanon and consider supporting them as they live out the

Be Strong

Protect the Weak

Love Everyone message.

 

 

Be STRONG SERIES guest post (Mollie Ryan)

be strong serieskristi hayesComment

Everyone has a moment, or rather a collection of moments, where everything changes. For better or for worse, no life is stagnant. My first moment came when I was just thirteen, and it sent me down a path of self-destruction. Without going into too much detail, I began to feel mounting pressure about my size, and after watching a movie in my home economics class about a girl with anorexia nervosa, I decided that was the route I would take to get those I craved love and acceptance from to do just that. In my mind, their approval of me as a person laid solely in the number on the scale. 

Fast forward 18 months. Now fifteen years old, I was hooked up to IVs and heart monitors in a hospital after experiencing heart palpitations and an electrolyte imbalance from severe dehydration and self-starvation. Another moment. A moment that brought me low enough to admit that I wasn't strong. I was weak. And I needed help. 

In college, they cycle would reprise itself in my first semester, sending me home from a lifelong dream to begin seeking recovery and restoration. Another moment. 

Through solid, aggressive, Biblical counseling and with the support of my then boyfriend, now husband, and family I was able to regain what was lost to me through depression and my eating disorder. 

In motherhood, I have found myself faced with these demons yet again. Depression. Destructive eating habits. And now anxiety. The cycle of relapse, recovery and restoration continues to play out in my life at various, often times monumental transitional stages. Every time it looks a little different. Every time it changes just enough that my game plan for tackling the mountain has to adjust. The devil is sneaky, huh? 

When I was asked to contribute my story for this Be Strong series, I was terrified. How am I going to convey the message of being strong when I am so clearly weak? Weak enough that this same "thing" this same "thorn" keeps pushing me deeper and deeper into despair. Keeps rearing it's ugly head. Keeps stealing my joy. 

I determined that in my own struggle, there is always strength in Him. In Jesus I have victory! That admitting weakness, seeking help, pursuing the light is just as much an indicator of strength as being able to tackle something "on your own." Perhaps even more so!

Struggle, pain, fear, despair. These things do not mean you are weak. They mean there is a great Strength inside of you! And the first step in becoming strong is acknowledging and confessing these burdens, and committing to the fight! Because it's worth it. Because you're worth it. 

Fight. Don't give up. Be strong. Abundant life awaits, I promise. 

Mollie Ryan is a native Oklahoman, a wife to her wonderful husband of nearly five years Dustin, and a mother to three wonderful children: Pierce (4 y), Iris (2 yr), and Everett (1 yr). She loves to decorate, dance around with her littles, drink wine, and discuss real life struggles and triumphs over almond milk lattes. And in case you haven’t noticed, she has an affinity for alliteration. She was an elementary school teacher in a former life. Join Mollie, Mom of Three as she shares ideas, DIY projects, recipes, and her journey in faith and family.

To read more from Mollie check out her blog

Be STRONG series

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We say Be Strong to our kids daily. It's followed up with the rest of our quote from the Bestrongstory protect the weak, love Everyone. 

But Be Strong. What does that even mean? When is it necessary? Do we need it daily? Can we still be full of fear and be strong? 

Yesterday this was played out in the smallest of ways. But something Holden will remember for a long time as a defining moment, that he was strong when every part of his body felt weak. 

You know when you literally get weak in the knees because something terrifies you? That was him. 

Yesterday we went to a friends with a zip line. Holden wanted to do it so bad. He stood up at the zip line several times, doing everything he could to will himself to jump, but he just couldn't. I told him, "you can do it, I know you can, I have all the faith in the world. I know it is so scary, we can do hard things."

He would hold his hands tight on the handles of the rope for dear life, then wipe his sweaty hands, and then wipe his tear stained face. 

I said, "bubba you don't have to do it."

He said, "I'm so scared!" as he wiped his eyes
But I want to so bad!" That was the key phrase. 

He knew that conquering that fear was gonna outweigh the fear itself. He just had to figure out how to get there. 

He got down without conquering his fear. But 30 minutes later. I peer out the window and see him up there again with his sister, she's coaching him up, there's not a soul in site, I see him wipe his tears, she keeps talking to him. 

"You can do it, bubby." his 5 year-old sister says, over and over. 

Holden called me outside, he said, "I am just so scared."

Sis said, "I am just so sad for Holden." Feeling his pain.

I said, "I know you can do this, but you don't have to do it, but I know you can." 

It's the thinking about making that first step that is scariest. Not even the actual leap. Just THINKING ABOUT THE LEAP. I know this feeling well. 

He looks at me and he leaps, he flies, he does it, and he does it over and over again. 

It was a zip line, a small thing, but something that helped him define one more thing he faced head on when he was petrified. 

One more thing he can take out of his memory brave memory box for when he faces something else.

This week we want to hi-light what it means to really be STRONG. Real life stories of those who will inspire us to be strong. STAY TUNED for our BE STRONG series this week, PROTECT THE WEAK series the next, and LOVE EVERYONE. 

be.

kristi hayesComment

 

 

We love the simplicity of the word be. It's action. A verb.

be.

be. who you were created to be.

be. in the moment with others, with eyes wide open, seeing those who need to be seen, and reaching out to those who need some extra care.

be yourself. Not wanting to be anyone other than who you are.

be.

It's one of the most powerful words. When lived out loud, be can change everything.

be. you.

be. for others.

be. for all.

A napkin note we put in our son’s lunchbox turned into a family motto, and we want to share it with others. The quotes, “be strong, protect the weak, love everyone,” can apply to anyone and everyone. We want to inspire others to live this message out loud, and we would love for you to join us. Go to www.bestrongstory.com to hear the rest of the story.

 

How others examples help us be who we were meant to be...

kristi hayes

Cathryn Shaw, Founder of ALL AMONG US, INC, an organization that serves the downtown homeless shares how her friends, Andy and Stephanie Hedgecock. Inspire her to continue to do the important work she is doing.

“When I first met Stephanie, she was a single mom of three and going to school to receive her Master's in counseling.  Stephanie is a Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC, NCC.  Jack, Stephanie's youngest, was diagnosed with ADHD as a young child.  

Stephanie quickly realized that ADHD is a stressful disorder not just for the individual, but for their parents, siblings, teachers, and peers.  As such, she has become the St. Louis expert on ADHD, and serves not only the child, but everyone involved.  

Her strength comes out when she sits in a meeting with me at my daughter's school, and it is her voice that is heard.  She has the ability to listen, to provide action items, shows compassion and understanding for the teachers, while also fighting for the support the child needs and is legally entitled to.  

On occasions when I've been up against the wall with Cat, my daughter's disability, Stephanie makes herself available to me the same day, and talks me down from the ledge.  We're laughing by the time we hang up the phone.

Andy's support of Steph melts my heart.  Andy is a brilliant scientist.  He encourages Stephanie in all areas of life.  He is her biggest cheerleader.  As a result of their marriage and blended families, Andy has had to learn about ADHD and the hard emotions that come with ADHD in order to be a good step-dad to Jack.  He's been a great student.  

Andy is as calm as a man can be, which provides great safety for Jack.  Andy is trustworthy, which allows Jack to rest into their relationship.

How do they use their passions to inspire others?

A gift Stephanie gives is her parent class, for the parents of kids who have ADHD.  It's a place we can come together and realize we are not alone, where we can laugh and cry, where we find hope seeing a family a few years farther down the road, where we know Stephanie does not judge our kids, but adores them.  

When I was diagnosed with cancer, I was simply social friends with Stephanie, and didn't yet know Andy. I had only met him once or twice.  I received communication from Stephanie suggesting Cat would benefit from counseling as I went through cancer.  She and Andy offered to pick Cat up from school on Fridays, spend an hour or so with her.  Then Stephanie included Cat in a small girls group.  All for free.  

My relationship with Stephanie and Andy makes me brave.  

They lead by example.  

They stand up to injustice.  

It's who they are.

In watching them speak up, I'm able to find words to support the homeless.  In a world that has gone silent on many horrific issues, they stand up in a meaningful way.”