Category Archives: RIP

Apr 30 2012

Guest Blog: Simple acts of sheer beauty.

In February of 2010, a few months shy of my sixteenth birthday, I came across a twitter account for a little girl named Layla Grace. I’m sure you’ve all heard of Layla by now, the bright blue-eyed, adorable toddler whom was fighting something much bigger than her. I had only been following Layla’s story for about a month before her passing in March. From that moment, not only was my life forever changed, my heart was as well. I had no idea the suffering of children all around me. I thought to myself, how can this be happening to babies? Why isn’t anyone listening? I made it my personal mission to raise awareness for childhood cancer and to help these children, in some way, shape or form. The summer following Layla’s death, I began sending care packages to children across the United States. I wasn’t exactly planning for anything big to come out of it, I was just doing something little to brighten the days of children fighting for their lives. I had no idea just the impact these children and childhood cancer would have on me.

As 2011 rolled around, I knew I wanted to turn my small care packages into something much more. I had no clue how I was going to do it, but I wanted to start an organization. There are two songs that have always been favorites of mine – “Ordinary Miracle” and the beautiful “Amazing Grace.” As I was brain-storming ideas, I once again came across these songs… and from that moment, I knew what my organization would be. It would be called “Ordinary Grace.” Ordinary, such as turning seemingly ordinary actions into something remarkable, and Grace, for the simple acts of sheer beauty that come from our hearts. Around the time my organization was getting started, a little boy I had started following the year before was nearing the end of his battle with Neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of childhood cancer. His name was Ronan Sean Thompson. Ronan captured my heart from the very first time I saw his beautiful, sparkling blue eyes. Ronan fought for eight short months before his body simply stopped responding to the chemotherapy. Ronan inspired me to never give up, to fight with absolutely everything I had in me and to help other kids just like him. Ronan was and is my hero.

Ordinary Grace has done more for me, as a person, than ever anticipated. The difference between who I am now and who I was two years ago is breath taking. I’ve definitely had my fair share of struggles, but out of struggling, comes beauty. I wake up each morning
with a fresh set of eyes – knowing that I have been blessed with another day, another chance, another opportunity to make someone smile and laugh. My goal is simple. It is to make a difference. It is to love others. It is to see children, whom are fighting for their lives, day in, and day out… smile. When I am delivering a care basket to a child, and I see the way their face lights up with joy and excitement and the burden of their cancer is pushed aside for a moment, the world around me just about stops. I silently say a prayer of thankfulness and gratitude to be given this opportunity. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, I would rather be doing – than this.

I will continue on with my journey, forever changed by the children and families I have met. I will continue on with Ronan’s beautiful eyes engraved in my soul.

Lauren Clements

http://ordinarygrace.net

http://twitter.com/lorocoro

Apr 4 2012

How to return the favor? I had no clue.

Since this will be my last post before Easter arrives, I wanted to share my own personal story of grace. I hope that you are able to take something from it, and never forget.

I wasn’t that huge of a Christian just two years or so ago. I would pray on occasion and go to church every once in a while, but God hadn’t quite made His home in my heart at the time. I’ve been battling depression, anxiety, and things alike since about 2007. I just never found faith at my fingertips, even though I will admit to eventually becoming too tired and out of “survival skills” to be able to battle alone for much longer. The ache and will to surrender and accept help grew stronger over time. At last, it turned into pleading. I was waiting. Waiting for something I wasn’t quite sure of. I always have believed that God has me in His heart, but how to return the favor? I had no clue.
In early 2010, I hit a pretty low point. I was barely eating, refused to talk to anyone, and didn’t keep up with school whatsoever. Moving forward to February, I was in for a wake-up call. It changed my life in some heartbreaking ways and in other miraculous ways.
I still wonder if it was the piercing blue eyes, the gorgeous beanie covering her bald head, or the brave smile on her face that captured my attention. I’m not sure if I ever will know. The only thing I’m certain of is that it’s stuck with me until this very day, and is bound to until I’m there in heaven with her.
For the first time in my life, I was praying ever so fervently. I was half way on my bed; both knees on the ground and my head rested on the mattress. The tears simply wouldn’t stop. They were a new kind of tears, though. My head was filling with regret, fear, and sorrowful sympathy.
I just found out that an innocent two year old- only eighteen pounds but full of compassion for the whole world- was losing her fight with cancer before we could even have a chance to think. This girl was as tough as nails and undoubtedly a hero. She paved her own medical path and taught doctors and nurses things they’d never learn in school. How is it that she was so suddenly being taken from her two older sisters and loving parents?
I’m sure you have all seen the commercials for St. Jude’s and maybe participated in a Relay for Life event or two. Once you put a name to the fight… everything turns around and becomes much more real.
I’m sure her parents named her Layla Grace for a reason. It definitely did fit her personality and “sparky” attitude. To me, her name ties together the entire battle she fought for eleven months. She wasn’t your ordinary cancer patient that walks in and out of the clinic. This child captured the attention of millions of people worldwide, teaching everyone lessons through the words that she couldn’t even speak yet. She and her family had a very strong faith that held them together through it all. Her dad was deployed in Iraq a few years before she was born.

It’s the legacy that keeps her memory alive that really stands out, though. During her celebration of life in March 2010, hundreds came from across the country to gather. The lessons I continue to learn through her bringing me closer to God continues to guide me through life. It’s hard to understand, even for me, how such a small person and little interaction could completely define who I am today. It all pulls together when I realize that she was brought into my heart for a reason. She touched my life, through God’s grace. I will always believe that she was an angel on earth, and being part of her story will always be the greatest honor. She brought to me what I begged for years to have in my life. And now that it’s here, it will never be gone.
Now, I want to give you something to remember from Layla’s legacy. Her father gave me an entirely new way to look at society and our power as I watched her celebration of life program. Picture all of humanity standing on a beach, each of us holding a shovel and pail in our hands. Some of us are closer to the water, and others have different advantages. It is entirely up to us as to what to spend our time doing. Some people will try to impress with huge mounds of sand, while others will sculpt a masterpiece or lend a hand to another person. Layla, though, would drop all of the tools she was given and run across the shorelines of the beach. She would tap every person she could reach and offer an encouraging word and a drop of pure grace to brighten a day.
I believe that all of us can do the same. We have the ability to think outside the box and do greater things, things that are unheard of. The smallest actions can make a huge impact if we choose the right ones. All it takes is a little start to give an opportunity to change your life. Never miss a chance. Always remember that you have something in your hands to work with. We are never left empty-handed.

Mar 28 2012

We’ve always believed that music has a way of bringing people together. Maybe strangers that are just singing the same song, or maybe a friend that starts singing a song exactly when you need it. That’s what happened to me one day, and she didn’t even realize it.

It was September 29, 2010. The second anniversary of my cousin’s suicide, but I had kept it to myself. We were standing in the school auditorium because it was raining too hard to have marching band practice outside. The whole room was quiet just as we finished one of our songs, and my best friend started singing “You Be the Anchor that Keeps My Feet on the Ground, I’ll be the Wings that Keep Your Heart in the Clouds” out of nowhere. I had never heard her listen to anything like that before, so I was amazed. I just looked at her and started bawling because that song had always reminded me of him. We stood there in the middle of the auditorium and she just let me cry for a little while. With that little line of that song, I was able to completely open up to her about what I was feeling at that very moment. Music has a way of doing that. You don’t even have to talk to convey thoughts or feelings. It’s really amazing.

Feb 8 2012

This Is Community

Last week, a police officer in my hometown of Mobile, Alabama was killed in the line of duty. Today was his funeral.

All around the city, drivers had their headlights on all day and flags were flown at half mast out of respect for fallen Officer Steven Green. His funeral procession went on as far as you could see, with both fellow officers and civilians who had never even met him. Officers traveled from as far as Chicago and New York for the service. The service itself was so packed that the building was overflowing. Complete strangers have filled up a notebook with signatures and messages for his family. All of these people had all gathered because this man was doing something great for his community and they wanted to thank him. This is a community. Friends, family, and strangers who are coming together in a time of need to share sorrow and encouragement. We couldn’t make it without our communities.

RIP Officer Steven Green. Thank you for your incredible service. You will be missed.

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Dec 4 2011

Bullying not just “harmless teasing”

The good nature of humanity is something I would like to believe in, but at this point my faith is faltering.
Ten-year-old Ashlynn Conner earned a spot on the honor roll and was looking forward to her upcoming birthday on December 2nd. A good student with a happy demeanor, Ashlynn did her homework without being asked and aspired to become a veterinarian. The fifth-grader enjoyed being a cheerleader for youth football and she also played the trumpet.
Unfortunately, this is where the positivity ends. Not even old enough to be considered a pre-teen, the presumed innocence of her age group didn’t stop Ashlynn from being bullied at school. Although she adored her teacher, she was upset by how some of the girls would tease her. Ashlynn was called a slut, fat, ugly, and who knows what other awful names she had whipped at her. What on God’s green Earth would possess fifth-graders to call one of their own a slut?  This kind of foul language is never acceptable, but unfortunately it is rather prevalent in teens. The fact that students in grade school are already talking this way to each other is disheartening. If children talk like this now, what will they be saying when they enter high school? That’s a terrifying thought.
Bullying is disgusting and degrading. As much as I would love to say that we live in a world where everyone loves each other and we all fly around on unicorns while eating cotton candy, I am simply not that ignorant. Bullying happens all the time and bullying happens to everyone. The familiarity of such cruel treatment is all too real for many people.
People often forget that what they say can significantly impact the recipient. Just because you say “no offense” or “just kidding” does NOT make the insult hurt less. I truly believe that bullies feed off things they dislike about themselves in addition to their victims’ insecurities. Some people feel better about themselves once they have made another feel inferior. It is an upsetting and inconsiderate behavior, and we have all witnessed it happening. I want you to promise me right now that you will not tolerate bullying. Think before you speak.  Words do hurt. You are an intelligent, thoughtful person. If you have been demeaning to people in the past, consider this your wake-up call. Don’t let rude remarks define your character. You are better than that and the people you are mistreating are hurting more than you may realize. Also, being bullied sucks. It is the worst, most degrading feeling. If you are being bullied, do NOT hesitate to talk to someone. You deserve to be happy and you are not defined by the names you are called. You are a genuine, remarkable person. Reach out to a parent, friend, counselor, or someone from church. Do not be afraid to let people help you.
Ashlynn committed suicide on Friday. While officials have not made any final assessments, bullying is believed to have played a role in this tragedy.
Remember the impact words can have. Do not speak poorly of someone else to make yourself feel better. Treat others how you want to be treated. If someone is bullying you, do not be afraid to ask for help. It doesn’t make you a tattletale. It actually makes you a strong, confident human being. If you witness someone else being bullied, I trust you to not join in on the harassment but instead to alert a parent or teacher.
Ashlynn’s story, like many others, ended much too soon. Suicide claimed the life of another beautiful person. 4 out 5 people who attempt suicide give clear warning signs. It’s time for us to Open Our Eyes. Bullying is not just “harmless teasing.” It can destroy a person, and we all need to make a conscious effort to treat others with kindness and respect. Let’s help spread Ashlynn’s story so that other lives can be saved. Who’s with me?

Rest in Peace Ashlynn. You are missed.