While scrolling through Facebook recently I came across a post from a twenty-year-old young lady, a former student of mine from the Classical Conversations program where I teach tenth graders once a week. Although I didn’t know the young man she wrote about, I could tell he was a dear friend of hers who had passed away in an accident. Later when his phone was returned to his parents, they discovered an alarm on it that asked, “Who did you help today?”
It seemed that this hidden prompt, a daily for-his-eyes-only reminder to evaluate how he was living and serving others didn’t come as a surprise to those who knew him. It made an impact on many, and my former student shared a photo of its impact on her — those words tattooed on the inside of her wrist.
Though I didn’t know him, his story impacted me as well.
I have three alarms set on my watch, inspired by Stephanie Bryant’s devotional in the first (in)courage book, Craving Connection. In it, she encourages readers to set prayer alarms throughout the day. The idea really spoke to me, and since then, my watch quietly nudges me at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 8 p.m. each day.
Sometimes I stop what I’m doing and pray. If I’m really busy I may get no further than a simple Thank You, Lord. My favorite is when I’m in the middle of devotional time and the alarm syncs with what I’m already doing; it prompts me to dig beneath the words on the page and connect deeper. Lately, I’ve been challenging myself to pray big prayers because I worship a big God.
But now after reading such a small piece of this young man’s personal story, the question on his phone alarm left an impression on me, someone he never met. I’ve renamed my 8 p.m. alarm. It’s no longer labeled Prayer, but rather, Who did you help today?
I chose the evening prompt so that I can reflect on most of my day. Sometimes it’s easy and I know exactly how to answer the question: I ran an important errand for my husband while he was at work, I made an essential oil recommendation that helped a friend, I juggled schedules so that one of my kids could do something special they’d hoped to do that day.
But, honestly, some days it’s hard. Who did I help? Did I do anything for anyone else? The question nags at me until I can answer it.
I don’t plan to rename my watch alarm again. The prompt to reflect on how I serve is good for me. It reminds me to look beyond myself, to feel another person’s needs and then act on them. I jokingly say that my watch is not the boss of me when it prods me to stand or to move or to take a brisk 50 minute walk at the end of the day, but if this electronic device around my wrist can prompt a heart change, I’m all for it.
After all, when we serve others we serve God.
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25:40 (KJV)
I hope the story of this young man’s phone alarm spreads among his friends and family and they honor his memory by challenging themselves the same way he did. The gentle prompt on my wrist will continue to influence me and challenge me until it becomes easier and easier to answer the question: Who did you help today?
How might you answer that question today?
Leave a Comment
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Dawn,
Wow! What a convicting and inspiring true story!! What if we ALL stopped to ask ourselves that question each day? In my morning journal, I ask myself what I’m thankful for that day. What a great end to the day if I asked myself, “Who did I help today?” No dilly dallying …. I’m going to add that right now. What a great outlook in this “It’s all about me” world we live in. Thank you so much for this thought and action provoking prompt! What a wonderful young man….
Blessings,
Bev xx
Christine says
What a wake up call!
Thank you for sharing this story!
Dawn Camp says
You’re welcome, Christine!
Dawn Camp says
Bev, this is wonderful! I hoped this story would impact other people too. Yesterday I took supper to a friend with a new baby and thought, “I’ll know how to answer the question tonight!”
Michele Morin says
What a great question to end the day!
I always learn so much, Dawn, from the lessons God impresses on your heart.
Dawn Camp says
Oh, Michele, this comment means a lot. Thank you for it.
Esther says
Wow, what a tender and inspiring story of a true servant heart! I pray his parents know how much their son made an impact! Thank you for sharing, Dawn!
Dawn Camp says
Thank you, Esther. I don’t even know his name, but I just sent a link to this post to the young lady whose Facebook status inspired it.
Paula Childrey says
His name is Liam Haywood. He was my son’s best friend since kindergarten.
Jas says
Dawn,
What an inspiring act to put a reminder to prompt him to help others and a time to reflect upon the day. God asks us to walk in love and be a blessing to others which…is actually hard to do each and every day. Whether we get caught up in the busyness of school runs, lunches, homework assignments, work, traffic, schedules or just have a bad day which brings on a bad attitude which turns our focus inward. A goal and a reminder to help someone else, to be kind gets us to what is really the importance of life, showing love to others. God asks us to do it, it helps another person and it makes us feel good to help someone else and to show Gods love. I am definitely going to add this to my day, every day. A goal to go out of my way to help someone, it could be my child, husband or a complete stranger and a time of reflection at the end of the day ….did I actually help someone!
What a great example and a great post! Thanks for sharing Dawn! This may just be a game changer for me!
Jas xx
Dawn Camp says
Jas, this makes me very, very happy. I hope you incorporate this into your day and it becomes a game changer!
Anastasia says
Thanks for sharing this devotional! I feel challenged and inspired. Who will I help today?
Dawn Camp says
Anastasia, I hope you have an easy answer at the end of your day. 🙂
Lynn D. Morrissey says
Thanks so much, dear Dawn!!! First, I’m so very sorry about your young friend’s friend. How terribly difficult this must be for his family and for her. Death, itself, is a stark reminder of life’s brevity and the need to take God seriously and to make the most of all our fleeting days on this planet. What a comfort to them now, that he did this–that he lived a purposeful life for the short time he had–that he wasted nothing. Thank you for your reminder to pray. We need lots of prayer for others and for ourselves. And your idea of ongoing, intentional and timely reminders both to pray and to serve are wonderful! I’ve never thought of setting an alarm–kind of like the phrase “setting a watch” (no pun intended!!), so we are purposeful and don’t forget. How often do I forget even simple things that God requires, even though they should be so blatantly obvious. For whom did I pray today? Whom did I help today? Thanks to this poignant and pointed post of yours, those will be my watchwords today (pun intended this time!), and may I make them so for the rest of my days. Dawn, I can’t thank you enough for this post. What a blessing you are. What a blessing your insights are!
Love
Lynn
Dawn Camp says
Lynn, thank you so much for your words here. I think you nailed it: living purposefully and not wasting our days. May you bless others through your new watchwords (yes, pun intended)!
Lindsey says
Wow! What a great story and what an amazing legacy for him to leave.
I think I’m going to add a few alarms to my phone today! Thanks for the inspiration.
Dawn Camp says
Lindsey, this just makes me happy. Let’s use our tech in a positive way. 🙂
Aixa says
Thanks for sharing this inspiring story, Dawn. I really like the idea of setting up a reminder that prompts me to go beyond myself and into reaching out to others. It is also amazing how this young man’s example of kindness keeps impacting lives. May we all leave a legacy of kindness everywhere we go.
Dawn Camp says
What an awesome thought for any of us, to leave a legacy of kindness. Aixa, I really hope this post gets shared with his family (I don’t even know his name) and they see the impact his life will make on others.
Melissa says
It has reached his family!! Thank you so much!
Penny says
Dawn
This was deeply touching to read, thank-you for sharing the blessing this young man was with us.
Have a blessed day all,
Penny
Dawn Camp says
Penny, you are so welcome. I hope his prompt influences your life too.
Zoe says
Thank you very much for sharing this post.
It is just too easy to get caught into focusing on me and myself all the time, as if I am the center of the world…
What a focus shifting and life changing reminder…
Dawn Camp says
Yes, Zoe, thinking beyond ourselves is surprising hard sometimes. I hope this young man’s words help you shift your focus too.
Thea says
Wow that is sooo neat and inspiring! As I was reading your post another question came to mind. How did God use me today? Some time I get discouraged whether God is using my life or not. But if I can look back on the day at the little things God is doing and using me in. It encourages. If I can pray for it in the morning to start the day and end with thanking God. Well I guess I am preaching to myself. I think I will put that into practice. Thank you for your inspiring post. 🙂
Dawn Camp says
Yes, Thea, it’s a blessing to see how God uses us. Continue to start and end your day with thanks and serve Him by serving those He puts in your path. 🙂
Madison Haywood says
Hi dawn my sister in law send me a link to this page and I read the words you had to say and they were beautiful I just wanted to let you know the young man you’re talking about is my younger brother Liam Haywood who was 19 and passed away on May 20th 2018 at 6pm in a motorcycle accident and he passed instantly. He was the most amazing human being to ever walk this earth. He was so selfless and kind and caring for everyone around him. ❤️ RIP baby brother I love you so much Liam
Dawn Camp says
Madison, I am so very sorry for your loss. It sounds like your brother was an amazing person and I hope his legacy of kindness lives on in others. I’m honored to have a small part in sharing it and the impact it’s made on me. I hope the comments here from those who are effected by his example bring you some comfort today.
Melissa Kasali says
Dawn, this story is about my brother in law, Liam Haywood. I’m so glad his story has impacted you and thank you so much for sharing. His parents have received stories upon stories of how Liam impacted people’s lives. From a drug addict who became clean after talks with Liam, a chance meeting with a soldier suffering from PTSD contemplating suicide who changed his mind after many talks with Liam, so many of his students he taught karate to who looked up to him so much. These are things we never really knew about Liam. He did this all without the need of recognition or praise. We had no idea about the alarm he had set either. We all have a daily alarm set now as well. Thank you again for sharing and we are so happy that although his life was cut shorter than we wanted or expected, we are happy to know his legacy lives on. #whodidyouhelptoday #Liamslegacy #watchformotorcycles
Dawn Camp says
Melissa, I can’t imagine what a blessing it’s been to Liam’s family to hear all of these stories of lives he’d touched. I’m glad I now know his name. What an incredible legacy for someone still so young. He changed and will continue to change lives.
Christopher says
Thank you for writing about my son Liam Haywood. He passed on May 20th and as you say, it came as a shock to us all when his phone alarm went off. We knew Liam was caring, working with kids and adults, but didn’t know that a 19 year old could carry so much kindness.
At his service there were approximately 500 people. So many that the auditorium was full, the hallways were full and people were forced to wait outside the building to say good bye.
An anonymous donar bought a star to bear Liam’s name and a tree is being planted in the local park. But most rewarding of all is to learn of people spreading Liam’s alarm.
“Who did you help today”?
Dawn Camp says
Christopher, what a blessing your son was to those whose lives he touched and will continue to touch. I searched for his obituary—now that I know his name I wanted to see his face too; so much kindness there. He shared a birthday with my youngest daughter. I have been a contributor here at (in)courage for nearly 9 years and hope to never take it for granted that once a month I have the privilege to write for such a large audience, but I don’t think I’ve ever been so grateful for it as today, for the opportunity to share your son’s legacy of kindness.
Beth Williams says
Dawn,,
So sorry for the loss of your friend’s friend. I pray God will bless his family & others. They can rest in the knowledge that his life was not wasted. He spent it thinking of others. We are commanded to be the hands & feet of Jesus. We ask Him who will take care of this or that & He says that’s why I made you. Each day we should be conscious of helping others even in simple small ways. It is just automatic for me to help people. Today I made bread for two friends going through health issues. Often times it is me just doing my job at work or cooking a meal for my hubby. This past week I made food for my in-laws dealing with Stage III bladder cancer. Just come naturally for me. I want to do what I can when I can as often as I can for as many as I can.
This reminds me of the poem “The Dash.” I read of a man who stood to speak at a funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning…to the end. He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth. For it matters not, how much we own, the cars..the house…the cash. What matters is how we lived and loved and how we spend our dash. So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged. To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before. If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile…remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?
I want to be remembered for my dash & how I spent it caring for others.
Blessings 🙂
Dawn Camp says
Beth, it certainly sounds as if this young man didn’t waste his dash. Thank you for your words here.
Renee Swope says
What an incredible way to live, and a beautiful legacy to leave – although I’m so sad Liam wasn’t here longer because his life surely make a difference based on his family and friends’ stories. So grateful you shared this today Dawn; it’s a ripple of kindness and grace that will touch countless lives for eternity.
Dawn Camp says
May Liam’s ripple of kindness and grace continues to spread!
Susie Wittwer says
This is such a powerful story. It immediately made an impression on me, as well. Wowl
I’m so thankful that you shared this with all of us and I’ll be sharing this story, as well.
Blessings!
Dawn Camp says
Thank you, Susie—please share his story!
Annette says
Wow! It made me think how I’m selfish to not ask myself this everyday. Great reminder!
Dawn Camp says
Annette, don’t feel selfish. I think we instinctively look out for #1. This just reminds us to look out for all the other numbers too. 🙂
Becky Keife says
Dawn, I just set a new alarm!
Who did I help today? Five simple words that could make an incredible impact if we/I put them into action each day.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful reminder. What a powerful legacy of a remarkable young man.
Dawn Camp says
Becky, I would love to hear later how your alarm impacted you! I find myself thinking throughout the day about how I’ll be able to answer it at 8 p.m. 🙂
Jackson Hogue says
Miss Dawn
This is such an amazing testimony of this man’s life. I am in tears after Reading this because I know that I fail to help others on many days. As the young man inspired you to make an alarm, this article has inspired me in the same way. God is using this man’s life in a mighty way. Thank you for the precious words Miss Camp! God is truly using you.
Dawn Camp says
Jackson, I hope his story continues to spread and many people set these alarms for themselves. It’s a great reminder for us all.