For generosity and support.

This past Saturday, our team, Rx for the Soul, joined many others in the St. Jude 5K Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer. The turnout was fantastic, and I was so happy to see so many people take part in support of such a great cause.

I wholeheartedly thank each of you who donated to help our team not just meet, but surpass, our fundraising goal. And I thank also my firm, White & Case, for its matching donation.

To those of you who joined our team and walked with us: You rock, well done! It was an early start to a very hot day, but we had a great time filled with satisfaction knowing that we came together to make a difference in the lives of St. Jude children and their families.

Special thanks go out to my T-Shirt Committee: Ray, who drove me around town for the lowest-priced t-shirts; and Danny, Lauren, and Lauren, who designed our logo and printed our shirts. Kids, the three of you did an awesome job! Also, thank you to John and Roxy from my firm, and Vanessa from the Morgan Lewis firm, who had a hand in printing the images. And Gabe, who went with me to pick up the team packets. As you see, this was certainly a team effort from beginning to end. For your generosity and support, today and always, I am thankful.

Looking forward to future fundraising events. In the meantime, if you would like to become a monthly donor for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, click here.

On a separate and more personal note, I dedicate today’s post to Dalila Maestre, whose untimely passing on Tuesday has deeply touched us. May she rest in peace and be in God’s glory. Kevin: your angel is watching over you now. ♥

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

“No child should die in the dawn of life….Someday, God willing, we are going to beat all the odds and make childhood cancer a thing of the past.”
-Danny Thomas, Founder of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

“My father said there were two kinds of people in the world: givers and takers. The takers may eat better, but the givers sleep better.”
-Marlo Thomas

“Give thanks for the healthy children in your life. Support those who are not.”
-Marlo Thomas

“Let all that you do be done in love.”
-1 Corinthians 16:14

For prayer and surrender.

It may seem like God is not listening because we are not seeing results fast enough. And so at times, praying may not satisfy us. Does that happen to you? Could it be that we’re praying for what we need or want, and that’s it? What if we prayed for what we need or want and then say “not my will but Yours be done”? Not easy, I know. Because it takes patience to wait on Him, and it takes courage to let go. Patience I don’t always want to have, and courage I can’t always muster, so yeah, it’s difficult to surrender, period. Yet, I have found this to be the very act that fortifies my faith and calms my restlessness. When I just throw my hands up in the air and say, “Okay, Lord, whatever, You do your thing,” then inner peace takes over. It’s pretty cool.

Guys, I say, pray. Pray like heck. And hand it over to Him. There is tremendous power in prayer and there is immense strength in surrender. For the patience and courage to do both, today and always, I am thankful.

I dedicate today’s post to the folks in the path of hurricane Florence. Let’s pray for them. May God protect them and help them.

What are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

“Take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done”
-Luke 22:42

“Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.”
– St. Ignatius Loyola

“What is the difference
Between your experience of Existence
And that of a saint?

The saint knows
That the spiritual path
Is a sublime chess game with God

And that the Beloved
Has just made such a Fantastic Move

That the saint is now continually
Tripping over Joy
And bursting out in Laughter
And saying, “I Surrender!”

Whereas, my dear,
I am afraid you still think
You have a thousand serious moves.”
-Hafez

For words that save.

Have you thought about the words you use the most? I think most of us just blah, blah, blah for the most part, not really giving it much thought. At least not until later. But, some words are lifting, while others are sinking, and whether alone or linked together, their meaning and effect can make us or break us. Because they have great power, no word is ever inconsequential. So words matter, undoubtedly, and our vocabulary speaks volumes about our mindset, as it echoes the good, the bad, and the ugly inside us.

While putting this post together, I was reminded of words that have the power to save and transform, and I am thankful the most for those. Here’s a bunch of them:

I believe in you.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Thy will be done.
Nunca ha llovido que no haya escampado.
You got this.
I’m sorry.
Let go and let God.
I’m proud of you.
I Love you.

What words do you bank in your vocabulary? What kind of statements do they make? Family and friends, may God always give us the clarity to think the right words, and the wisdom to choose the right time to use them.

What are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

“Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts.”
-P. Rothfuss

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
-John 1:1

“Be careful of the words you say,
Keep them short and sweet.
You never know, from day to day,
Which ones you’ll have to eat.”
– Anonymous

For personal safety.

Things are so crazy nowadays that it feels like we’re not safe anywhere, no matter how cautious we are. The uncertainty of our daily safety can drive one crazy, if we let it, mainly if it’s the well-being of our kids that we are mostly concerned about. They, of course, feel invincible, bless their hearts, but really, it’s just nerve-wracking. Attached to my every “goodbye” and “see you later” is a “be careful,” which sometimes just makes me more anxious.

But, other than to continue to stay alert and be careful, what are we to do? For starters, place our lives, and the lives of those we love, in God’s hands and repeat (as necessary) “heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee.”

Let’s not take for granted when nothing’s happened to us, and be thankful for every day we’re alive and well.

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

[Note: In case you’re not Spanglish-speaking, “si Dios quiere” means God-willing. Mom finished most of her sentences with that, so I’ve added it to my sendoff in her memory].

What are you thankful for today?

“It is the Lord who goes before you.  He will be with you and will not fail you or forsake you.  Do not fear or be dismayed.”
-Deuteronomy 31:8

“Don’t talk to strangers. Don’t do drugs. Don’t smoke. Don’t drink and drive. Don’t have sex. Wear a condom. Wear sunblock. Wear a seat belt. Wear a helmet. If you see something, say something. Just say no. Stop, drop, and roll. Stop, look, and listen. Look both ways before you cross the street…. Bad things can happen to anyone at any time, whether you follow the rules or not. You can check left, check right, check left again before you step off the curb and into the crosswalk, but that won’t stop an anonymous asshole in his shitty pickup from putting you in intensive care…”
-M. McCafferty

Dare to make a difference. Join the RxfortheSoul team on September 22nd for the Miami St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and supporters from across the nation will come together to raise money for the kids of St. Jude. You can walk or run the 5k (3.1 miles) and feel good every step of the way.

Click on St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer to register and join the RxfortheSoul team, and/or to donate. Please invite your friends and family to join us in support of this great cause. Share our page.

In advance of your participation, support, and willingness to make a difference, today and always, I am thankful.

Event Details:
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Fair Expo Center
Tamiami Park
10901 SW 24th Street
Miami, FL 33165
5K Walk: $10
5K Run: $20
Event Page Link

“For it is in giving that we receive.”
-Francis of Assisi

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
-Charles Dickens

“If you want to discover the true character of a person, you have only to observe what they are passionate about.”
-S.L. Alder

“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.”
-R.T. Bennet