Courage

Another core value of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is Courage. It is an important value because, to me, it is about always standing behind your mission, purpose and beliefs.

I remember watching the movie “12 Angry Men” with Henry Fonda. It is an old movie but it has a great message. It tells the story of one juror who had the courage to stand up against all of the other jurors who wanted to convict a man. The reasons they wanted to convict varied and their reasons appeared self-serving. Some of the jurors were missing work, some were late for an appointment and some thought the room was too hot because of no air conditioning. Others had perceived biases that tainted their objectivity. For example, the young man on trial was Hispanic and one juror had had a bad experience with a Hispanic person in the past and was, therefore, prejudice. Henry Fonda’s character not only showed the courage to stand alone with his vote of not guilty, but he was able to point out the weaknesses in the arguments of the other jurors. He stood by his convictions, beliefs and principles and had the courage to go against the majority. In the end, justice was served and the man was found not guilty, in large part due to Fonda’s character’s courage.

We all face difficulties in our lives and what sets people with courage apart from others is fortitude. Often courage requires risk because the outcome could be harmful. God gives us all many gifts and he allows us to use those gifts when ever possible.

So what does courage mean? Courage is doing the right thing when the wrong thing seems to produce better results. Courage is looking past yourself and dedicating your energy to the betterment of mankind. Courage is the ability to set aside all your disappointments and still be able to open your heart and mind to others and give them your all. Courage is the ability to say I was wrong and I am sorry. Courage is doing something difficult, and even dangerous, selflessly. Courage is grace under pressure and humility out of honor. Courage is knowing what not to fear.

Lastly, courage is standing for your principles and beliefs regardless of the obstacles and barriers that are put before you. Courage is an important core value and something that lies within every single one of us.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

Respect

One of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina’s core values is respect. I would like to share with you what respect means to me as one who works in Foundation Ministry.

Respect is a culture here at the Foundation. It is something that every single person expresses to every other person in this office. It starts here each day with our staff and board members. It is a mutual respect and understanding about fulfilling the mission of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and addressing generational poverty. It is reflected in our relationship with nonprofit and faith-based organizations. We want them to know that each of them has value of purpose and that each one, regardless of the size of the organization, location or funding amount awarded, will be treated fairly and equally. We also respect each individual regardless of race, religion, age, gender, etc.

We respect each grantee after they are funded and work diligently to build confidence and trust. We are also respectful of the beneficiaries of the services provided by our grantees. These are the individuals that are living in poor neighborhoods or communities that are dealing with a wide array of issues on a daily basis. Our intent is to always keep the children and families in our thoughts and prayers daily and to never lose sight of the goal. We also realize that many of these individuals feel hopeless or compromised and deserve the respect of each of us individually and of the Foundation organizationally.

We are in the business of helping others less fortunate and the first step in helping is giving others the respect they deserve. The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is far from perfect and we learn new things every day. God has blessed us with an opportunity to make a difference and we do not take that responsibility lightly.

The core value of respect is one of the most important values we have because it exemplifies who we are and how we operate. Through respect we engage, teach, listen, learn, support and adapt. Respect matters and it matters not just once in awhile; it matters always and it matters in every single situation. We fulfill our mission as a Foundation in a multitude of ways and at the forefront of that work is our unwavering respect for every single person we meet. It sounds simple, but it may be the most important thing we can do for others.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Thinking About Mother

I think Mother’s Day is one of the best days of the year. For me, it is a time to celebrate my own mother’s contributions to my life and reflect on the wonderful memories of the past. My mom is elderly and in poor health, but she lives nearby and we can visit on a regular basis. I see her almost every day and she is still my biggest fan and my biggest critic. With mom, there is no sugar coating. If you have circles under your eyes, you are going to hear about it. If you have on a snazzy tie, you will get a compliment. If you have gained a little weight, she will bring it to your attention. I love that about mom. It is pure honesty.

The other day, mom said to me, “You still love me a lot don’t you?” I replied, “I can’t believe you asked me that question mom, of course I love you with all my heart.” She grinned and said, “Just checking.” Then, I asked her, “Do you still love me?” and she said, “Oh my goodness, more than tongue can tell.” I had never heard that expression before but it really made me feel good.

I have wonderful memories of mom in our hometown in West Virginia. She always wore an apron in the kitchen and was always cooking something for us. She was a faithful member of the local Baptist Church. She taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and served on several boards and committees. My mom has lived her faith in her daily life as well as anyone. She had a job in the local bank that positioned her in the middle of the lobby. She greeted every single person who came into the bank with a smile and a warm welcome. I still have people come up to me today and tell me how much mom influenced their lives. She supported them through a divorce or gave them advice during a pregnancy or was just there to listen when people needed to talk. That is a great quality-listening, and mom has always been a great listener. She nursed my wounds both inside and out and I went off into the world a much better person because of her.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we celebrate a bond like no other. Our moms birthed us and cared for us, raised us and sent us out into the world. I am blessed to still have my mother as part of my life. There is no one else like her and there never will be. I wish a Happy Mother’s Day to every mother out there. You deserve this special day.

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina