One person’s kindness can truly make a difference

Alicia Boisson
South Peace News

Of course, there are those huge non-profit organizations that work to help great causes like the Breast Cancer Society of Canada, the Christian Children’s Foundation, and many others like them. But I think the real people who make the biggest differences are the people who find unique ways to impact someone’s life tangibly. In High Prairie we have a number of people who are always willing to lend a helping hand. They include numerous volunteers you see at almost every community event and little societies like Prairie Animal Rescue Society who choose to save animals lives and many others. At the beginning of the month, I started working part time at the High Prairie and District Regional Aquatic Centre. I have met a lot of different people who are just naturally good-natured people, above and beyond the ones I meet each day reporting. However, there is one person who just stood out more than anyone else. This person farms in the area. His wife works at Tolko putting in 12-hour days. Even though they are both hardworking and live a very modest lifestyle, they still find it in their hearts to touch the lives of others. They do this to simply spread the message of love, and encourage people to make a difference whether it is changing their lifestyles or following suit. I have had the pleasure to watch this man, whose name is Keith Parke, bring in anywhere from 20-40 kids every other weekend to the pool. He pays for them to swim and enjoy a facility they may not usually have access to because their parents cannot afford it. These are children that Parke started approaching because they were walking around town on a weekend with nothing to do. These are the children who are usually stereotyped as the trouble makers in the community. However, Parke sees beyond these farces. He sees children who he can teach and tells them there are people out there who want to give them a chance. He can show them the love of God they each have the opportunity to embrace, if they want to. These are children who have come to respect Parke, and appreciate his actions. Why? Because he respects them, he sees them for the individuals they are. Whether it is taking them swimming or out for a hamburger, these children know what Parke is doing is something that takes a special kind of person to do. Parke says he believes if people lived their lives the way Jesus would perhaps the world would be a better place because everyone would be helping each other. A simple thought like that could be the answer the community is looking for to help deal with a lot of crime, drugs and societal divides that are rampant within it. If everyone could try a little bit every week to stop judging, or condemning, and work toward lending a helping hand, maybe we could really make a difference. It’s simple. If you see someone who is hungry, by them a sandwich. If you see someone crying take the time to ask if they need help. If you see someone struggling to come up with the $3 to purchase something in the grocery store, offer to spot them the money. And in return, ask them to “Pay it forward”; that if they ever see someone who needs a hand, ask them to lend iit.

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