Thank You, Lions

 

“The Pride We Build”

I do not remember every project.

I do not remember every meeting.

Time has carried many of those details away.

But I remember the feeling.

I remember what it meant

to gather with others

simply because we wanted to help.

Back then, I was a Leo.

Young. Hopeful.

Learning that service could bring people together.

Years later, life circled back around.

A passing moment.

A familiar jacket.

A conversation in a store.

And somehow, the path opened again.

The Lions I know now

are older than I once imagined myself becoming.

Yet many still carry the same desire:

to serve, to uplift,

to leave their community better than they found it.

Even now, I still feel something

when standing for the flag,

when hearing the prayers,

and when seeing people gather

not for themselves, but for others.

Not because the world is perfect,

not because our country is without flaw,

but because there are still people

trying to make things better.

And I want to be one of them.

So thank you

to the Lions and Leos who gave their time,

their energy and their hearts, now and in the past

Thank you for reminding me that service matters.

I am a Lion once again, but

may I continue growing into someone

who helps bridge generations,

who helps people reconnect,

and who remembers that even small acts of care

can strengthen the pride of humankind. 🦁

[Expanded Thoughts Below]

Soil:

I was in high school then, or possibly middle school, when I joined the Leo's Club. It was a community service organization that allowed us to get together and help out the community. I don't remember what we did at all whatsoever. That was many, many years ago. But I definitely do remember that I really loved to serve. They were a helpful group that allowed me to meet a new best friend and give back. And that stuck with me.

Many, many years, if not decades after I graduated, I did end up joining the Lions Club. It was by happenchance. I was out in a department store and I saw somebody wearing the Lion's jacket. And I mentioned that I was a Leo previously and that it was really cool. We parted, but this person eventually found me again and asked if I wanted to join again. And I said, sure. I even called my friend that first got me involved with the Leos to see if she wanted to join or at least come by a meeting as well. Life happened. Things changed. I haven't been able to go to meetings as much.

I've never forgotten how much I really like to support my community.

It was here with the Lions where I was able to salute the flag. It's something that I truly did like when I was in school. It made me believe we were all a part of something and that we all were at least for this country. I know that the country isn't the best that it can be, but I am still in it and I still do love it. I love the promise of it. I love the America that I am going to help make. And the lion's prayer is special to me. "Where lions meet, be present, Lord..." and there's more to it. I completely forgot what it is, but it just basically goes on to talk about aiding the weak and righting the wrong.

Many of the lions that I know are elders who just want to make a difference in their community and they don't know how to connect or reach out to younger people to help make a difference. And I truly believe that I can help bridge that gap. But even though I can try to help, I really do want to thank the Lions Club and thank the many Lions and Leos that I have known over my years for their dedication and their wish to make a difference, even if they don't know exactly how to do so in new ways.

Their will is impeccable and I really love that I have been a part of it. May God grant me the strength to help them. May God grant me the strength to help people. May God grant me the strength to accept where I am and to see the path to move forward towards a brighter day, the larger pride of mankind.