day by grace: Fill Your Bucket

Have you filled your bucket today? If not, what's stopping you?

So we're all aware of the ALS #IceBucketChallenge. I've laughed at some of the more creative interpretations of it and shed a tear at some of the all-too-real testimonial from individuals actually living with ALS and seeing how it affects them and their families (I mentioned a couple in my #FiveGoodThings post). This campaign is pretty incredible.

That said, what it's really about it raising funds to help find treatments and a cure to improve the quality of life and longevity for those living with ALS. It's a terrifying and tragic disease that slowly takes away one's autonomy and independence. I remember being so touched the first time I read Tuesdays with Morrie and learning from someone who could accept this fate with such grace and dignity. So E and I will be making our own small contribution.

And I have to say I've been cringing a bit at seeing all this water dumped onto concrete patios and the like---we can't deny this drought! Thank you to those CA friends who completed the challenge standing on your brown grass ;) Not to mention that it's a reminder of how we take clean water for granted.... Although it's in much different ways than ALS, a lack of water has the power to strip away opportunities, dignity, health and independence.

So I'm also making a small contribution to Charity: Water in gratitude for my hot showers, drinking water, pool to swim in, and in hope that it can help change a community by improving health, sanitation, opportunities for girls to attend school, and for families to create an income. I really encourage you to learn more about the life-giving power of clean water here.

And really, water is life, right? It is fluid and constantly changing, it allows us to create and to fix mistakes and to grow food and support communities and to cleanse what needs cleaning. It's hard to think of a resource more life-affirming than water. I'm proud to be a small part in support of these great causes. Please consider donating if you can: