September 17, 2025
Morning Reflections
Helping Checkers…
This morning, my heart was set on one thing: helping Checkers. I saw her yesterday, tangled in string, and it broke my heart to walk away. I had somewhere to be and couldn’t help her then—but I promised myself I’d try again. It’s funny how nervous I was the first time I caught a pigeon. But once you do it, once you feel that trust and know you’re helping, something shifts. You gain confidence. You learn how to hold them gently, how to calm your own heart so theirs can settle too. Today, with the help of a kind fisherman, I held Checkers while he cut the string from her feet. There was a hook at the end—sharp, dangerous, and so close to causing real harm. We got it off. She was safe. And she was grateful. I do my best to pick up fishing line and string whenever I’m at the pier. It only takes one moment, one careless toss, to change a bird’s life forever. So, if you see string, please pick it up. You might be saving a life—or a foot. Moments like this remind me why we’re here: to help each other. To show up. To care. Everyone who witnessed it felt the goodness ripple through the morning. And I’m so grateful.
Morning Gratitude Thought:
Grateful for the chance to help Checkers, for the fisherman’s kindness, and for the reminder that small actions can save lives. Grateful for courage, compassion, and the quiet joy of doing good.
