Published: February 16, 2008 01:59 am            

EXTRA MILER: Youth is served: Cassie Nale and Nina Board

“Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.”

— Anne Frank

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All children have the capability of extreme kindness and love. As adults, we choose to either nurture or destroy this capability.

Are you programming your children with positive or negative behavior in your home? When used properly, this power of influence can change our world and erode hate from the lives of our youngest citizens.

This month, we recognize Cassie Nale and Nina Board, two young Southern Indiana Extra Milers who demonstrate that we should never underestimate the capacity children have to make a positive difference ... no matter their age.

Nina Board is just 5 years old and she has already influenced more people than she can imagine ... starting with her parents, Kristen and Tommy Board. Kristen explained, “Last Christmas, Nina showed a huge interest in Jesus. She simply couldn’t get enough information to satisfy her interest. At the time, we didn’t attend church regularly. Nina started asking if she could attend church more often and was concerned if we didn’t go each week.”

Nina described how she feels about church, “I want to know about Jesus and I really like children’s church.” Because of Nina’s strong personal desire to be part of a church community, her family, including younger sister Isabella, now attend regularly.

When I asked this wide-eyed little girl what she enjoyed doing best, she responded without hesitation, “I like to do puzzles and I like to share.” Sharing her faith appears to be just the beginning for this tiny dancer and Extra Miler Nina Board.

Our next Extra Miler, Cassie Nale also has embraced her religion in a mature manner far beyond her years. Cassie is a 10- year-old who attends Christian Academy as a third-grader. Her mother, Debbie Nale-Wassom, noted how sensitive Cassie is to people who are sick or in pain.

“She has heart and passion for other people and she fully grasps the concept of prayer,” Debbie explained.

When Cassie was just 6, she began praying fervently for individuals who she had been told were ill. She prayed for her teacher and an aunt being treated for cancer, she prayed for a classmate who had a brain tumor and she prayed for a young man with brain cancer, Brandon Miller. Cassie then decided to literally run the extra mile and began distance racing to raise money for charitable causes.

Her first race was dedicated to Brandon Miller, who surprised Cassie by showing up at the race with a bouquet of flowers. It was the first time they met. Cassie is running today in a 3-mile race to raise money for a cure for breast cancer.

When asked why she feels so strong about praying and helping others, Cassie responded sincerely, “It is something God guides me to do ... and it just feels like the right thing to do.”

Both Extra Milers are beautiful, soft-spoken little girls with big hearts and a desire to help others through their faith. Never underestimate the power of goodness within our children.

Thank you, Nina and Cassie, for being our youngest Southern Indiana Extra Milers.

Kindness Tip of the Month

It is never too late to involve your child in volunteer or charitable activities. Listen to your children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews. Ask them how they would like to help others — and make good use of their interest.

When my son, Jeff, was just 7-years-old, he talked about his concern for animals without good homes. The next day, we were headed to the Humane Association to ask how we could help.

Jeff began collecting cans in the neighborhood, recycling large bags of aluminum and donating the money to the Humane Association. Two years of recycling and a few hundred dollars demonstrated the power of one small child to help the animals he deeply loved.

The quickest way to change our world is to begin with our youngest citizens. Today and everyday, ensure your words and acts are what you wish to see reflected in their eyes.



Carol A. Dawson is a resident of Jeffersonville and owner of EEO GUIDANCE, Inc. If you have seen or been a part of an act of kindness or know an Extra Miler, let her know about it. To submit a story or act of kindness, contact Carol via e-mail: Extra.Milers@newsandtribune.com or mail: The Extra Milers, The Evening News, 221 Spring St., Jeffersonville, IN, 47130-3340.

        

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