Saturday, January 16, 2010

Molly Hightower a Shining Light

Molly Hightower died in the earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12th. She has lived in Haiti for the last 7 months. She is a person I probably would never have heard of if this tragedy had not happened. Molly was quietly working in a very unglamorous job in an orphanage which housed many handicapped children. One of her principle duties was to teach these children to swim but from her blog she is seen doing physical therapy in a variety of other areas.
I was motivated to write about her for two reasons. I have a daughter who did a similar work several years ago and I can remember the fears I faced as a father the many months she was away. I can only try to imaging the pain Mr. and Mrs. Hightower are feeling this morning as I write this piece.
My primary reason for this writing is so Molly’s shinning light of a life might be seen by a few others and they might be encouraged by how, good, people can be in a world where hate seems to fill the news headlines.
Molly’s life of love stands in stark contrast to the hate filled lives of today’s Muslim extremist. The difference is more dramatic than the brightest day compared to the darkest night. This 22 year old girl has inspired me and I want to live better because of her story. I hope it will inspire you in the same way.
Molly has a blog called 525,600 Minutes. The title says a lot about Molly and how she lived life. The blog title came from a song that asks the question, what would you do if you only had a year to live (525,600 minutes). Molly did not get all those minutes but she knew what she was about and she knew what the main point was. May her life galvanize us to focus on the main point and live life with purpose.
May God bless and comfort the Hightower family in this very sad week and the weeks to come.
Here is a link to Molly’s blog. She tells her own story much better than I could.
http://mollyinhaiti.blogspot.com/

39 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Thank you so much for posting this! I'm having a little trouble typing due to the tears. My heart goes out to her parents. She is such a shining example of what we can do with love and caring instead of hating. Thank you again.

Sylvia

Lucy said...

Putting names and stories to the faces we are seeing on the news. Good for you. It is a horrid tragedy!

Grayquill said...

Sylvia: Your comment is complete with compassion and love.
I appreciate you!

The Lucy and Dick Show: I need names and faces also. Thanks for your nice comment.

Asif said...

I've always believed that "God is Goodness"...
The services of Molly Hightower, reflected it once again.
I’ve come across so many people talking many things about god but doing nothing in the name of humanity and goodness. I call them hollow people. There is nothing as pathetic as fighting or making friendship in the name of God. I call it inhuman.
Yes it is high time now to see Real Good people in this world.
May Molly Hightower’s Soul rest in peace…

Asif said...

It is time for all the religious preachers of this world to stop preaching their hollow theories about god or religion. Instead they need to preach about goodness or humanity. At present this world needs those two things more than the development of religion or faith. Only through goodness and humanity can we achieve the spirituality or the path to God if ever there is one.
I started to hate all the religious preachers now because of such hollow preachers who preach about religion completely leaving the concept of humanity or Goodness.
We really need people like Molly Hightower in this world who show the real service to god is through service to human.

Sylvia K said...

I have put a tag about Molly in the side bar of my blog - hoping to get the word out to as many people as I can regarding her selfless service to others. What this sad world needs is more beautiful human beings like her.

Sylvia

Hilary said...

What a heartbreaker. Yes to what The Lucy and Dick Show said. The face is very important.. and a past.. and a purpose.

S. Susan Deborah said...

Dear Grayquill:

One thing about blogs is that minute aspects of the bigger picture get enlarged and thus make us feel humbled and grateful. I am glad that you chose to write about Molly.

I wonder what was the thought that was running within her as the tragedy struck.

God bless you for your thoughts and the post.

Have a joyous week ahead.

Susan

Rose said...

The tragedy in Haiti is almost beyond description and the ripple effects are reaching very far. I cannot imagine a greater legacy to leave than the one Molly Hightower is leaving behind. Such a lovely young woman giving her life to those who are less fortunate. Her family has much to be proud of in the way she was serving others. No words can ever ease the pain of loosing a child. My heart goes out to them and all of those who lost loved ones in Haiti. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all. Thank you for posting the story about this remarkable young woman.
Blessings,
Rose

Grayquill said...

Asif: You have expressed some powerful emotions. I am not sure I totally understand your feelings but I will say this. I have had many people of faith disappoint me. Some I believe were doing their best and I believe their best was not very good. Then I think others were downright evil, using God for their own selfish purposes.
In the end I came to where I found that if I looked to Jesus who was the completeness of love and goodness, I did better. Even at one point I went months where I would not pray to God. But in Jesus I could never find any fault. It took me a long time before some good friends and Jesus helped me to trust God (I know the bible teaches Jesus and God are one but emotions are not always rational) Maybe someday I will write more of that story.
One scripture that kept rang in my ears then was – Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. – Of course Jesus said those words.
Thank you for sharing –

Sylvia: I think I need some computer lessons from you. You picked a great place for it, right at the top.

Hillary: Sad beyond words – thanks!

Susan Deborah: Humble and grateful – may both remain.

Rose: May we not forget the Hightower family in our prayers as God brings them to our minds.

Asif said...

Yes Grayquill you are absolutely right...
Jesus or Mohammad or any other holy person for that matter were the symbols of goodness and they all served towards achieving the goodness and they all tried to establish love, harmony and good things over evil things. Their main concern was to remove evil from the hearts of the people and world.
But you know what… most of us failed to understand their motif behind the religion or god and are actually fighting with each other on the basis of small small differences of those religions. If religion means showing others that their ways are not as good as ours or if religion means just fighting for the sake of some god whom we never saw or if religion means just talking endlessly about the god and ignoring the pain of the people living around us then I would prefer being called as an Atheist.[I don’t know about your place but at least here in India a religion is like that only and people are shedding their blood for such small religious differences only]
You actually showed through your post today that there are still some people around in this world who believe in helping others without thinking about religious differences. And I love you for the way you think for others and for the way you are actually trying to help others for the sake of humanity. And for me that is true religion.
Yes this post of yours touched me a lot today and brought out my emotions.

By the way I think you missed one of my older post…I would love to hear your views and additions....
Please go through it once…

http://purplefancier.blogspot.com/2010/01/how.html

Arkansas Patti said...

What a truly beautiful person she was, it just shines through. While she has gone to be with God, her example remains with us and inspries us all to do better.
We do need faces to attach to such a horrific tragedy for it is almost impossible to comprehend with out.
Thank you Grayquill for introducing us to such a special person.

Blunt Edges said...

thanks 4 posting this grayquill!

Ashley said...

A truly beautiful person, now lost to the world for ever...I hope her story inspires many...
Thanks for the post Grayquill...

Grayquill said...

Asif: Thank you for your comment – I will be happy to comment on your past post. I read the post last night. The subject is very heavy but I will do my best to write out my comment today.
Your passion is wonderful and yet I hear your struggle. Don't lose heart.
Anger, frustration whatever you want to call it can be a great motivator to right a wrong. When we in our limited human abilities are unable to repair an injustice or in this case relieve all the suffering there is a temptation to do nothing. I believe God intends for us to work together; much is possible then.
I will be waiting to hear how you focus that great passion that is swelling inside you. I am expecting much good from you. Keep me posted!

Arkansas Patti: Thank you for your nice comment… :)

Blunt Edges: Thank you for reading to the end and of course…
I appreciate you!

Ashley: You are welcome! Thanks for your comment!

Pat said...

I've often wondered what the face of God looks like. It looks just like Molly's. It also looks like many, many others who give so sacrificially. It looks like those beautiful children.
As Molly's parents gave the ultimate sacrifice in the loss of their precious child, God gave the same in His son. He gave it, it wasn't taken. I say I want to be "Christ like"...do I live what I proclaim? Not nearly enough.
Thank you for this post which sparks a fire within me. We need to live by example..not just words.

Grayquill said...

Pat: Hear Hear... me too.
Great comment. Thanks!

Tammie Lee said...

So sad and so inspiring.
She is so right, we must live our lives with all we have in each moment. How wonderful that she took action and did not just dream. I feel quite sad. Thank you for sharing this.

Jo said...

Omigoodness, what a beautiful girl ... inside and out. And what a loss to the world. I can't even begin to imagine what her parents must be feeling. But they must be proud too. Their daughter died helping people less fortunate than herself.

Debra said...

GQ, thanks so much for this post. I think I have visited this precious young ladies blog in the past.The earthquake victums are so heavy on my heart tonight. I have read some very disappointing statements by a prominate Christian leader recently concerning the earthquake in Haiti. Hope your reader "Asif" missed it.

I will be making a point to visit this blog soon. God bless...

Arkansas Patti said...

GQ
I linked to your wonderful post today. Thank you for such a beautiful yet painful post.

Grayquill said...

Tammie Lee: Thank you for stopping by and your heartfelt comment.

Jo: So true – Thanks for stopping by

Debra: I heard about those comments also – almost unbelievable. Good to see you again. You are appreciated.

Arkansas: Thank you

Anita Jeyan said...

This one invokes a lot of feelings in me. Peace be to Molly's family. And thanks to Grayquill for bringing her good work to light.

Grayquill said...

Anita: Molly's life for sure stirred strong feelings. Thanks for stopping by! Congrats on your up coming anniversary.

Tall Guy said...

May her soul rest in peace.

Its people like her, who try to make a difference makes the world a better place to live in.

Pink Mango Tree said...

For many, life is not so beautiful!
Was a touching post!

Grayquill said...

Survivor: Well said - thanks for stopping by.

$$: Yes, A sad truth...Thank you for your comment.

Daryl said...

Read/heard about her on the news .. a great loss ...
Congrats on POTW mention from Hilary

Saz said...

thank you for writing this, or else l wouldve missed hearing about this special person. tragic, sad and poignant...

saz

abb said...

Lovely tribute...I'm so sorry it's necessary.

ethelmaepotter! said...

Oh, thank you so much for sharing with us the life of this incredible young woman. The name of her blog is so understatedly poignant. She should go down in history among others who gave their lives doing good for the world.
I know her parents are grieving, for we shouldn't ever have to bury our children. But I hope, in time, they can look back without heartache and remember with pride the daughter who gave herself to help children less fortune than she.

Dianne said...

every story counts, every person matters
you have done good for Molly
thank you

her face shines with what I am sure was her amazing spirit
by writing about her you have let that spirit move around to touch more people

Peace

Holly Kay said...

I'm so glad you posted this. I loved reading about Molly and her own words as well. Very sad, but so inspiring. One of her posts says she had a ticket home on June 8...How very lucky we are each and every time our loved ones make it home safely.

tattytiara said...

A life well lived indeed.

Grayquill said...

Daryl: Thank you and thanks for stopping by

Fat, frumpy and fifty: Thanks you for your comment. I hope to see again.

TSannie: Thank you – Yes very sad.

Dianne: Yes, she does shine – Molly has a great smile also. Thank you!
I appreciate you!

Holly Kay: I am glad you went to her blog – her spirit sings there. This posting has brought my thoughts several times around to gratitude. Take care!
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. You are appreciated.

Tattytiara: Great comment!

Lynda G. said...

Hi Grayquill, what a tragedy and such a loss of a beautiful life. Her story and her precious life puts so much into perspective. Thank you very much for passing this along. I spent a lot of time going through her wonderful blog. Please take care.

Michele Mallory-Davidson said...

I think Pat summed it up for me, "I've often wondered what the face of God looks like. It looks just like Molly's." I pray for her family and friends, their feeling loss must be beyond any words I could ever write, I feel her loss and had never had the honor of meeting her. Thank you so much for telling her story and hope that her loved one's can find some comfort in the fact that she changed the world for the better and was a shining example of love at it's best.
~Michele

Grayquill said...

Lynda: I am pleased you were able to spend some time with Molly on her blog. Thank you for your comment.

Michele: Thanks for the nice comment.

Amrita said...

Mollys ' got a crown for her service in heaven and a "well done good and faithful servant ' from Jesus. She has left deep footprints in the sand.