laughter « fandango

The power of a run. It’s illustrated by the connection I have with Sheretta.

Sheretta is a shy woman, almost 26, single mom and just moved out of a homeless shelter. Sheretta is also a Member of Back on My Feet. Yes, the kickass organization I work for.

In March 2011, I went for my first run with Sheretta. We literally got stuck running together because we’re the same height, same pace, same sense of humor. Starting out for a two mile run, I would ask Sheretta about life… no response. About her kids… one word answer. I have vivid memories of running through the streets of downtown Dallas in utter silence, not because I didn’t have anything to say (HA!), but because I knew I didn’t need to.

Today, we can’t stop talking. She knows my heart, she knows my love for laughter and she definitely knows I’m not the best babysitter.

I’m not writing all of this today to ask for money (that’s my day job). I am writing this today - and you can see what D Magazine wrote about Sheretta - because we need to turn her new house into a home.

In December 2011, Sheretta moved into a three bedroom townhome. Today, she is still sleeping on an air mattress with her angels, Taylor and Tylor. With two kids under the age of five, Sheretta’s family needs a whole lot of everything!

Two twin size beds
One full/queen size bed
Dining room table and chairs
Dressers, one for each member of the family
Two desks
Lamps
Shelves
Curtains
Rugs
Chairs

I am personally renting a truck on Saturday, January 28th to help pick up donated, low-cost items. If you have an item which you would like to donate to Sheretta, Taylor (five year-old girl) and Tylor (two year-old boy). Please email me at kristenkouk@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

After re-listening to last week’s message, I’ve decided I quite possibly, may have overreacted in my determination of JP’s saying: dress attractively, not to attract.

Two verses which calm my outrage yet pique my interest.

1 Peter 3:3-4 “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

I’m all about a verse that places inner beauty as paramount, especially when I decide to skip the last minute on the bike at 24 Hour Fitness. However. I AM NOT OF QUIET SPIRIT. I understand that women’s role in society has drastically altered over the centuries of social evolution. But with today’s expectations of American women, this point is huge. “Unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.” Do I possess or reflect neverending grace? And if I don’t, is it because I believe my circle of influencers expect me to be steadfast, capable, opinionated and autonomous? Or because those characteristics are coping mechanisms left over from an abusive relationship?

“Grace is compassion, gratitude, surrender, faith, forgiveness, good manners, reverence, and the list goes on. It’s something money can’t buy and credentials rarely produce. Being the smartest, the prettiest, the most talented, the richest, or even the poorest, can’t help. Being a humble person can and being a helpful person can guide you through your days with grace and gratitude.”

That, ladies and gentlemen, is from a bottle of body wash in my shower. The copywriting lackey who penned this passage obviously understands grace. Now I just need to write a letter to my cool new creative writing idol and request a definition for “gentle and quiet spirit.” I would like to think that they would shoot back with something like this…

Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

This is my verse girlfriend. Some words I can relate to, strength, dignity and laughter.

Sheretta

Boy Meets Girl: Copywriting Lackey

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