Why We Should All Love More
Love more …
Serve more …
Care more …
Stella George Stern Perry wrote in her 1953 Founders’ Day letter, “It was to be, we planned, not just another membership but a fellowship, for serviceable love.” As members of Alpha Omicron Pi, how can we show love to our sisters and serve with a spirit of love? Supporting one another, philanthropic giving, volunteering our time, and showing kindness when someone is dealing with life are just a few of the things we can do. Simply put, we can love more.
With love in our hearts, it is important that we are kind and support each other during those fun, yet stressful, collegiate years and as we move away, start families, and build careers. Our sisters should never feel hesitant to call upon us if they need a friend. We continue to show love by being there for each other through our happiest and our hardest life events. We serve by becoming officers in our chapters, participating in community service, joining an alumnae chapter, and/or volunteering for a cause. We celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month every April by showing appreciation to those who give so much to the Fraternity through love and service. When we put our hearts into helping others, our time with our sisters and our service is much more meaningful. This is loving more.
No matter our age or our season in life, we are all often experiencing things no one else may see. The importance of showing kindness to everyone and giving people grace can have impacts we can never begin to understand. Think of a time when you were struggling and someone showed you kindness. How did that affect you? When I was serving as Chapter Advisor, I found out my dad had stage 4 cancer, and he had asked us not to tell anyone that he was sick. I was devastated by the news, but I couldn’t let the chapter know what I was going through. One night after a meeting, a sister approached me and asked if I was okay. I told her I was fine and thanked her for asking, but deep down the impact was powerful. It was such a simple gesture, but the fact that she was kind enough to ask meant more than she could ever know. Let us show each other kindness, care enough to ask, and love more.
What do we all wish for in life? To feel loved. How can we help others to feel loved? With a spirit of love and service in our hearts how can we show compassion; volunteer and simply be kind. Henry Drummond says, “You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.” Be the sister who makes a difference in the lives of others. Love more.
You may contact the Rituals, Traditions, and Jewelry Committee (RT&J) about anything Ritual-related at RTandJ@alphaomicronpi.org.