From the desk of Bob Smith...
I've often heard it said, “The best thing you can ever give anyone is the gift of yourself.” People through the ages have set themselves apart from the rest of the crowd because of their true and willing thoughts for others. The unbelievable generosity of those who have contributed physically and monetarily to Remar Orphanage in Nicaragua is a case in point. Advantage Toyota has chosen Remar and Lamb's Gate Market as one of their support partners. In times of emergency, men, women and even children forget about themselves and take on the task of getting a job done.

My old pal and regular dentist for many years Dr. Leo Fleckinstein was honored recently in the Huntington paper, receiving the Herald Dispatch Community Service Award. I liked one of his quotes upon learning he had received the special recognition. He said, “If you do anything like this and you want the recognition of it, you're not doing it in good faith. I did it because I like dentistry.” The good doctor received the award for his endless hours of volunteer work with Ebenezer Medical Outreach.

Our country and our local community have long been known for these kinds of good deeds. It's what makes the Tri-State area such a good place to live, work and play. For those of you who have not caught onto the goodness of giving yourself, it's never too late. The cautionary tale is this and it comes from the book of Proverbs 27:2: “Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth---a stranger, not your own lips.” Back in my youth, such a long time ago, I remember ‘Hot Dogging’ during a softball game after catching a long fly ball. I immediately slammed head first into the outfield fence and received numerous cuts and bruises. The moral of the story is this. Doing good deeds and accomplishing great feats is admirable, but sometimes eating humble pie is the dish of the day if the proper attitude is absent. I'm sure you're well aware that character is who you are when no one else is watching.