Pay it forward

Everyone has that special someone that made a difference in the person you are today. That one special person in your heart, in a very special place who took an interest in you and where you were going in life. For some, it’s an aunt or an uncle, a teacher or a coach, a pastor, or maybe a friend of the family. Everyone has one. If you take just a second, that person pops up in your mind… yep, that person. You never wanted to let that someone down. Many times you used their words of encouragement, their efforts, and their support to keep you going when times got tough.

Sometimes those people are no longer in our lives due to a number of different things, some have passed away while others have moved. While they might not be a part of our daily lives anymore, they will live in your heart forever. You would almost give anything to have one more chance to say thank you and to try to figure out how you could ever pay them back for all that they did for you. The truth is you can’t. So pay it forward.

My great Uncle Jack was an incredible man. While in high school, he set the shot put distance record that stood for years until someone named Derland Moore broke it, his still stands today. After high school he went to play college football at Ole’ Miss, leaving to serve his country in the Navy where he was a Golden Gloves Boxing Champ. He was an incredible father raising three girls and two boys. I idolized his sons in high school. I wanted to be a Conference Champion wrestler like “Duke” and I wore the same jersey number as Richard for football, and I could only dream of being as smart as my cousin Kathy. Locally, people know “Duke” as Dr. Jack Rushin, who has emulated his Dad’s wonderful way with people and as a leader in our community.

When I was a kid and Uncle Jack came to town, he would pick us up and take us to one of his favorite places, The Cow Shed. Along with my cousins, we would enjoy a “Purple Cow” milkshake and catch up on what we were up to. I will never forget how when Uncle Jack spoke to me, it was like I was the only concern of his in the entire world and how special that made me feel. After high school, he and Aunt Pat invited me into their home in Jackson so that I could afford to attend Southeast Missouri State University. Uncle Jack, Aunt Pat, and his daughters Kim and Stephanie sacrificed for my benefit and made me feel right at home. Remember, I was blessed with incredible, hard-working parents who raised great kids, but I would learn so many valuable life lessons in my two years with Uncle Jack and his family.

One of the biggest regrets in my life is that I didn’t get to see Uncle Jack one last time before he passed away. I have a love for what I do with kids and young people. It’s a fire that makes me want to get out of bed every day because I know through my actions I can make a difference in a child’s life. I owe a large part of that desire to my Uncle Jack.

I can never repay Uncle Jack for all the things he did for me, but every day if I can be just half the influence he was on me to kids I know and to those I will never meet, I will have paid it forward. I invite you to repay that special someone that made a difference in your life by paying it forward. There are young people throughout our area that would benefit from your time, talent, or treasure. Consider paying it forward with BGCH, Foster Adopt Connect, Scouting, Park League Sports, church youth groups and many other places where you can become THAT person for a kid.

Chris Rushin in the chief executive officer of Boys and Girls Club of the Heartland, which currently serves Poplar Bluff and Neelyville school districts. Both are also served by the College Kids Program, as are students of the Doniphan School District.