Spring is more than a change in weather. It is a season of renewal, growth, and fresh beginnings. As flowers bloom and days grow longer, families have a powerful opportunity to reset together.
The Spring Kindness Challenge is a 30-day family faith challenge designed to help your household live with purpose, strengthen spiritual habits, and make a positive impact in your community. Through simple daily acts of kindness, prayer, and intentional family time, you can turn this season into something meaningful.
Because kindness is not random. It is cultivated.
In today’s fast-paced world, families are often busy but disconnected. However, intentional acts of kindness can rebuild connection while reinforcing faith-based values.
A structured family kindness challenge:
Encourages children to practice compassion
Strengthens spiritual growth at home
Builds positive habits rooted in faith
Reinforces the importance of community
Moreover, spring naturally symbolizes renewal. Just as gardens must be planted intentionally, so must character.
Each day focuses on one small, practical act. The goal is not perfection. The goal is consistency.
Here are weekly themes to guide your family:
Start where you live.
Write encouraging notes to each family member
Pray together before meals
Do a chore without being asked
Share one thing you appreciate about someone in your household
When kindness begins at home, it spreads naturally outward.
Next, extend your impact beyond your front door.
Donate gently used clothing
Leave a thank-you note for a teacher or mail carrier
Support a local Black-owned business
Volunteer as a family for one hour
Community transformation starts with small, consistent actions.
In the digital age, kindness must also live online.
Share an uplifting message on social media
Watch a faith-based family movie together on Impact Network
Replace negative media with encouraging content
Send a text message of encouragement to a friend
What we watch shapes what we believe. Therefore, choosing positive, faith-based programming helps reinforce family values.
Finally, deepen your spiritual foundation.
Plant flowers and discuss spiritual growth
Read a Bible passage together about love and service
Pray for another family
Create a family mission statement for the rest of the year
Spring reminds us that growth requires intention. Faith grows the same way.
The arrival of spring is the perfect time to reevaluate and repurpose your habits. It’s a time of possibility, a time to take stock of the habits that might be holding you back from being who you want to be — and to form new habits that help you become a better version of yourself. If you want to pay your health and well-being a little extra attention this spring, but don’t know where to start, here are a few tips to get you started.
Spring and summer are great times to incorporate more fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables into the diet. Warmer weather produce, like mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, and berries, are all packed with micronutrients the body needs and thrives on.
When it’s warmer outside, your body can lose more moisture through sweating, even if you don’t feel yourself getting sweaty. Dehydration can pose serious health risks if severe — and even if you’re just mildly dehydrated, it can cause fatigue, low energy, and headaches. To help prevent dehydration, it’s important to take proactive steps to drink enough water throughout the day, such as by keeping a water bottle handy at all times.
Getting enough physical activity every day is really important. It can be as simple as taking a walk down the block or spending some time gardening. Any activity that gets your bones and muscles moving can help. Exposure to sunlight also helps the skin produce vitamin D, which is good for bone health and other functions in the body.
The United States is home to some of the most beautiful places and attractions in the world. Springtime can be the perfect time to travel because it’s not too hot and it’s not too cold! Here are some of the best places to visit in the USA in the springtime.
This adorable Midwestern gem replicates its namesake by keeping the tulip tradition alive each spring with its Tulip Festival. The festival happens every May and has been around since 1929 when the town was mostly comprised of Dutch immigrants. The town has a 250-year-old Dutch windmill that is a must-see if you visit. Being only 30 minutes away from Grand Rapids, you can make Holland a stop on your spring road trip, or make it your primary destination.
Did you know that Macon is the cherry blossom capital of the world? No, it’s not Japan or Washington, D.C.! With 350,000 cherry trees blossoming each year at the end of March, Macon truly is the perfect place to see these beauties in bloom. The second or third week of March is the peak time to visit, as the International Cherry Blossom Festival happens. It’s known as the “pinkest party of the year!” Macon is full of history and is also surrounded by beautiful state parks for visitors who are looking to get outdoors.
All of those heavy winter rains and snows led to a flower-filled spring in Seattle. From cherry blossoms in March to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in April, Seattle has a splendor of spring colors to enjoy. Pike Place market is full of fresh tulips during the spring months which makes it an even more exciting stop while visiting. Spring is also the start of the orca-watching season and the end of gray and humpback whale season. There are plenty of whale-watching tours available this time of year. Just a couple hours away from Seattle is Port Angeles which is known for the lavender fields in case you want to venture out and take in more of the area’s beautiful spring colors.
If you are a fan of Hiking, this is the destination for you! Springtime at Havasu Falls is warm, but nothing compared to the summer Arizona heat, making it the best time to go. The weather is perfect for attempting the 10-mile Havasupai hike, which would likely be unbearably hot in the summer. Much of the hike goes through the slot canyon and ends at the falls, where you can camp for the night and go for a swim if it’s warm enough. The waterfall is especially full during this time of year and you can find plenty of wildflowers in bloom in and around the trails.
There are voices that do not merely speak. They echo. Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson was one of those voices. Born in 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, he emerged from the segregated South into the center of the American conscience. His rise was not accidental. It was driven by conviction. Although he stood in the long shadow of giants, he refused to shrink beneath it. As a young minister and civil rights activist, he worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the height of the movement. Yet history did not confine him to a supporting role. Instead, he stepped forward and became a headline in his own right.
“Our flag is red, white and blue, but our nation is a rainbow, red, yellow, brown, black and white, and we’re all precious in God’s sight.”― Rev.
At the core of Jackson’s leadership was a deep belief in the moral force of language. Words, he knew, could wound. However, they could also build bridges. Therefore, when he founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he launched more than an organization. He advanced an idea. “Rainbow” signaled coalition. Coalition signaled power. And power opened doors to access.
In 1984 and again in 1988, Jackson ran for President of the United States. Through those campaigns, he widened what many believed was politically possible for Black Americans. The effort was never solely about ballots. Rather, it was about visibility. By stepping onto the national stage, he reshaped the imagination of a country. Leadership, he insisted, could look different.
That shift still matters.
“Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change.”― Rev.
Unlike many public figures, Jackson refused to separate ministry from activism. Faith informed his politics. Justice shaped his preaching. On Sunday, he proclaimed righteousness. On Monday, he negotiated for it. After which that integration drew both criticism and admiration. He was challenged. He was complex. Still, he remained present.
And presence carries power.
“Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving.”― Rev.
Within the arc of American history, figures like Jackson are more than political actors. They are cultural architects. By pressing against the boundaries of their moment, they expand them. By speaking uncomfortable truths in public spaces, they refuse to whisper when the times demand clarity.
For the Impact community, his life offers a clear reminder. Faith that avoids society is incomplete. Media that avoids justice is timid. Leadership that avoids risk becomes ornamental.
Throughout decades of advocacy, Jackson held fast to a central conviction: America could be more inclusive. Coalitions, he believed, could transcend color lines. The ballot and the Bible, in his view, belonged at the same table. Consequently, his work spanned economic equity, voting rights, and even international diplomacy. Historians will debate his strategies. Scholars will analyze his speeches. Critics will measure his effectiveness. That is analysis.
Memorials, however, are about meaning. Therefore meaning of his life is simple. He refused the limits handed to him. His voice thundered in sanctuaries and convention halls alike. The very cadence of his words carried hope with rhetoric that carried demand. Above all, he understood that dignity must be insisted upon. Now the baton rests with another generation. May we speak with courage and build with conviction. All to remember that justice is not a mood. It is a mission. Rest well, Reverend Jackson. The echo lives on here at Impact.
Spring is more than a change in weather. It is a season of renewal, growth, and fresh beginnings. As flowers bloom and days grow longer, families have a powerful opportunity to reset together.
The Spring Kindness Challenge is a 30-day family faith challenge designed to help your household live with purpose, strengthen spiritual habits, and make a positive impact in your community. Through simple daily acts of kindness, prayer, and intentional family time, you can turn this season into something meaningful.
Because kindness is not random. It is cultivated.
In today’s fast-paced world, families are often busy but disconnected. However, intentional acts of kindness can rebuild connection while reinforcing faith-based values.
A structured family kindness challenge:
Encourages children to practice compassion
Strengthens spiritual growth at home
Builds positive habits rooted in faith
Reinforces the importance of community
Moreover, spring naturally symbolizes renewal. Just as gardens must be planted intentionally, so must character.
Each day focuses on one small, practical act. The goal is not perfection. The goal is consistency.
Here are weekly themes to guide your family:
Start where you live.
Write encouraging notes to each family member
Pray together before meals
Do a chore without being asked
Share one thing you appreciate about someone in your household
When kindness begins at home, it spreads naturally outward.
Next, extend your impact beyond your front door.
Donate gently used clothing
Leave a thank-you note for a teacher or mail carrier
Support a local Black-owned business
Volunteer as a family for one hour
Community transformation starts with small, consistent actions.
In the digital age, kindness must also live online.
Share an uplifting message on social media
Watch a faith-based family movie together on Impact Network
Replace negative media with encouraging content
Send a text message of encouragement to a friend
What we watch shapes what we believe. Therefore, choosing positive, faith-based programming helps reinforce family values.
Finally, deepen your spiritual foundation.
Plant flowers and discuss spiritual growth
Read a Bible passage together about love and service
Pray for another family
Create a family mission statement for the rest of the year
Spring reminds us that growth requires intention. Faith grows the same way.
The arrival of spring is the perfect time to reevaluate and repurpose your habits. It’s a time of possibility, a time to take stock of the habits that might be holding you back from being who you want to be — and to form new habits that help you become a better version of yourself. If you want to pay your health and well-being a little extra attention this spring, but don’t know where to start, here are a few tips to get you started.
Spring and summer are great times to incorporate more fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables into the diet. Warmer weather produce, like mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, and berries, are all packed with micronutrients the body needs and thrives on.
When it’s warmer outside, your body can lose more moisture through sweating, even if you don’t feel yourself getting sweaty. Dehydration can pose serious health risks if severe — and even if you’re just mildly dehydrated, it can cause fatigue, low energy, and headaches. To help prevent dehydration, it’s important to take proactive steps to drink enough water throughout the day, such as by keeping a water bottle handy at all times.
Getting enough physical activity every day is really important. It can be as simple as taking a walk down the block or spending some time gardening. Any activity that gets your bones and muscles moving can help. Exposure to sunlight also helps the skin produce vitamin D, which is good for bone health and other functions in the body.
The United States is home to some of the most beautiful places and attractions in the world. Springtime can be the perfect time to travel because it’s not too hot and it’s not too cold! Here are some of the best places to visit in the USA in the springtime.
This adorable Midwestern gem replicates its namesake by keeping the tulip tradition alive each spring with its Tulip Festival. The festival happens every May and has been around since 1929 when the town was mostly comprised of Dutch immigrants. The town has a 250-year-old Dutch windmill that is a must-see if you visit. Being only 30 minutes away from Grand Rapids, you can make Holland a stop on your spring road trip, or make it your primary destination.
Did you know that Macon is the cherry blossom capital of the world? No, it’s not Japan or Washington, D.C.! With 350,000 cherry trees blossoming each year at the end of March, Macon truly is the perfect place to see these beauties in bloom. The second or third week of March is the peak time to visit, as the International Cherry Blossom Festival happens. It’s known as the “pinkest party of the year!” Macon is full of history and is also surrounded by beautiful state parks for visitors who are looking to get outdoors.
All of those heavy winter rains and snows led to a flower-filled spring in Seattle. From cherry blossoms in March to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in April, Seattle has a splendor of spring colors to enjoy. Pike Place market is full of fresh tulips during the spring months which makes it an even more exciting stop while visiting. Spring is also the start of the orca-watching season and the end of gray and humpback whale season. There are plenty of whale-watching tours available this time of year. Just a couple hours away from Seattle is Port Angeles which is known for the lavender fields in case you want to venture out and take in more of the area’s beautiful spring colors.
If you are a fan of Hiking, this is the destination for you! Springtime at Havasu Falls is warm, but nothing compared to the summer Arizona heat, making it the best time to go. The weather is perfect for attempting the 10-mile Havasupai hike, which would likely be unbearably hot in the summer. Much of the hike goes through the slot canyon and ends at the falls, where you can camp for the night and go for a swim if it’s warm enough. The waterfall is especially full during this time of year and you can find plenty of wildflowers in bloom in and around the trails.
There are voices that do not merely speak. They echo. Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson was one of those voices. Born in 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, he emerged from the segregated South into the center of the American conscience. His rise was not accidental. It was driven by conviction. Although he stood in the long shadow of giants, he refused to shrink beneath it. As a young minister and civil rights activist, he worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the height of the movement. Yet history did not confine him to a supporting role. Instead, he stepped forward and became a headline in his own right.
“Our flag is red, white and blue, but our nation is a rainbow, red, yellow, brown, black and white, and we’re all precious in God’s sight.”― Rev.
At the core of Jackson’s leadership was a deep belief in the moral force of language. Words, he knew, could wound. However, they could also build bridges. Therefore, when he founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he launched more than an organization. He advanced an idea. “Rainbow” signaled coalition. Coalition signaled power. And power opened doors to access.
In 1984 and again in 1988, Jackson ran for President of the United States. Through those campaigns, he widened what many believed was politically possible for Black Americans. The effort was never solely about ballots. Rather, it was about visibility. By stepping onto the national stage, he reshaped the imagination of a country. Leadership, he insisted, could look different.
That shift still matters.
“Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change.”― Rev.
Unlike many public figures, Jackson refused to separate ministry from activism. Faith informed his politics. Justice shaped his preaching. On Sunday, he proclaimed righteousness. On Monday, he negotiated for it. After which that integration drew both criticism and admiration. He was challenged. He was complex. Still, he remained present.
And presence carries power.
“Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving.”― Rev.
Within the arc of American history, figures like Jackson are more than political actors. They are cultural architects. By pressing against the boundaries of their moment, they expand them. By speaking uncomfortable truths in public spaces, they refuse to whisper when the times demand clarity.
For the Impact community, his life offers a clear reminder. Faith that avoids society is incomplete. Media that avoids justice is timid. Leadership that avoids risk becomes ornamental.
Throughout decades of advocacy, Jackson held fast to a central conviction: America could be more inclusive. Coalitions, he believed, could transcend color lines. The ballot and the Bible, in his view, belonged at the same table. Consequently, his work spanned economic equity, voting rights, and even international diplomacy. Historians will debate his strategies. Scholars will analyze his speeches. Critics will measure his effectiveness. That is analysis.
Memorials, however, are about meaning. Therefore meaning of his life is simple. He refused the limits handed to him. His voice thundered in sanctuaries and convention halls alike. The very cadence of his words carried hope with rhetoric that carried demand. Above all, he understood that dignity must be insisted upon. Now the baton rests with another generation. May we speak with courage and build with conviction. All to remember that justice is not a mood. It is a mission. Rest well, Reverend Jackson. The echo lives on here at Impact.
Spring is more than a change in weather. It is a season of renewal, growth, and fresh beginnings. As flowers bloom and days grow longer, families have a powerful opportunity to reset together.
The Spring Kindness Challenge is a 30-day family faith challenge designed to help your household live with purpose, strengthen spiritual habits, and make a positive impact in your community. Through simple daily acts of kindness, prayer, and intentional family time, you can turn this season into something meaningful.
Because kindness is not random. It is cultivated.
In today’s fast-paced world, families are often busy but disconnected. However, intentional acts of kindness can rebuild connection while reinforcing faith-based values.
A structured family kindness challenge:
Encourages children to practice compassion
Strengthens spiritual growth at home
Builds positive habits rooted in faith
Reinforces the importance of community
Moreover, spring naturally symbolizes renewal. Just as gardens must be planted intentionally, so must character.
Each day focuses on one small, practical act. The goal is not perfection. The goal is consistency.
Here are weekly themes to guide your family:
Start where you live.
Write encouraging notes to each family member
Pray together before meals
Do a chore without being asked
Share one thing you appreciate about someone in your household
When kindness begins at home, it spreads naturally outward.
Next, extend your impact beyond your front door.
Donate gently used clothing
Leave a thank-you note for a teacher or mail carrier
Support a local Black-owned business
Volunteer as a family for one hour
Community transformation starts with small, consistent actions.
In the digital age, kindness must also live online.
Share an uplifting message on social media
Watch a faith-based family movie together on Impact Network
Replace negative media with encouraging content
Send a text message of encouragement to a friend
What we watch shapes what we believe. Therefore, choosing positive, faith-based programming helps reinforce family values.
Finally, deepen your spiritual foundation.
Plant flowers and discuss spiritual growth
Read a Bible passage together about love and service
Pray for another family
Create a family mission statement for the rest of the year
Spring reminds us that growth requires intention. Faith grows the same way.
The arrival of spring is the perfect time to reevaluate and repurpose your habits. It’s a time of possibility, a time to take stock of the habits that might be holding you back from being who you want to be — and to form new habits that help you become a better version of yourself. If you want to pay your health and well-being a little extra attention this spring, but don’t know where to start, here are a few tips to get you started.
Spring and summer are great times to incorporate more fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables into the diet. Warmer weather produce, like mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, and berries, are all packed with micronutrients the body needs and thrives on.
When it’s warmer outside, your body can lose more moisture through sweating, even if you don’t feel yourself getting sweaty. Dehydration can pose serious health risks if severe — and even if you’re just mildly dehydrated, it can cause fatigue, low energy, and headaches. To help prevent dehydration, it’s important to take proactive steps to drink enough water throughout the day, such as by keeping a water bottle handy at all times.
Getting enough physical activity every day is really important. It can be as simple as taking a walk down the block or spending some time gardening. Any activity that gets your bones and muscles moving can help. Exposure to sunlight also helps the skin produce vitamin D, which is good for bone health and other functions in the body.
The United States is home to some of the most beautiful places and attractions in the world. Springtime can be the perfect time to travel because it’s not too hot and it’s not too cold! Here are some of the best places to visit in the USA in the springtime.
This adorable Midwestern gem replicates its namesake by keeping the tulip tradition alive each spring with its Tulip Festival. The festival happens every May and has been around since 1929 when the town was mostly comprised of Dutch immigrants. The town has a 250-year-old Dutch windmill that is a must-see if you visit. Being only 30 minutes away from Grand Rapids, you can make Holland a stop on your spring road trip, or make it your primary destination.
Did you know that Macon is the cherry blossom capital of the world? No, it’s not Japan or Washington, D.C.! With 350,000 cherry trees blossoming each year at the end of March, Macon truly is the perfect place to see these beauties in bloom. The second or third week of March is the peak time to visit, as the International Cherry Blossom Festival happens. It’s known as the “pinkest party of the year!” Macon is full of history and is also surrounded by beautiful state parks for visitors who are looking to get outdoors.
All of those heavy winter rains and snows led to a flower-filled spring in Seattle. From cherry blossoms in March to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in April, Seattle has a splendor of spring colors to enjoy. Pike Place market is full of fresh tulips during the spring months which makes it an even more exciting stop while visiting. Spring is also the start of the orca-watching season and the end of gray and humpback whale season. There are plenty of whale-watching tours available this time of year. Just a couple hours away from Seattle is Port Angeles which is known for the lavender fields in case you want to venture out and take in more of the area’s beautiful spring colors.
If you are a fan of Hiking, this is the destination for you! Springtime at Havasu Falls is warm, but nothing compared to the summer Arizona heat, making it the best time to go. The weather is perfect for attempting the 10-mile Havasupai hike, which would likely be unbearably hot in the summer. Much of the hike goes through the slot canyon and ends at the falls, where you can camp for the night and go for a swim if it’s warm enough. The waterfall is especially full during this time of year and you can find plenty of wildflowers in bloom in and around the trails.
There are voices that do not merely speak. They echo. Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson was one of those voices. Born in 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, he emerged from the segregated South into the center of the American conscience. His rise was not accidental. It was driven by conviction. Although he stood in the long shadow of giants, he refused to shrink beneath it. As a young minister and civil rights activist, he worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the height of the movement. Yet history did not confine him to a supporting role. Instead, he stepped forward and became a headline in his own right.
“Our flag is red, white and blue, but our nation is a rainbow, red, yellow, brown, black and white, and we’re all precious in God’s sight.”― Rev.
At the core of Jackson’s leadership was a deep belief in the moral force of language. Words, he knew, could wound. However, they could also build bridges. Therefore, when he founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he launched more than an organization. He advanced an idea. “Rainbow” signaled coalition. Coalition signaled power. And power opened doors to access.
In 1984 and again in 1988, Jackson ran for President of the United States. Through those campaigns, he widened what many believed was politically possible for Black Americans. The effort was never solely about ballots. Rather, it was about visibility. By stepping onto the national stage, he reshaped the imagination of a country. Leadership, he insisted, could look different.
That shift still matters.
“Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change.”― Rev.
Unlike many public figures, Jackson refused to separate ministry from activism. Faith informed his politics. Justice shaped his preaching. On Sunday, he proclaimed righteousness. On Monday, he negotiated for it. After which that integration drew both criticism and admiration. He was challenged. He was complex. Still, he remained present.
And presence carries power.
“Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving.”― Rev.
Within the arc of American history, figures like Jackson are more than political actors. They are cultural architects. By pressing against the boundaries of their moment, they expand them. By speaking uncomfortable truths in public spaces, they refuse to whisper when the times demand clarity.
For the Impact community, his life offers a clear reminder. Faith that avoids society is incomplete. Media that avoids justice is timid. Leadership that avoids risk becomes ornamental.
Throughout decades of advocacy, Jackson held fast to a central conviction: America could be more inclusive. Coalitions, he believed, could transcend color lines. The ballot and the Bible, in his view, belonged at the same table. Consequently, his work spanned economic equity, voting rights, and even international diplomacy. Historians will debate his strategies. Scholars will analyze his speeches. Critics will measure his effectiveness. That is analysis.
Memorials, however, are about meaning. Therefore meaning of his life is simple. He refused the limits handed to him. His voice thundered in sanctuaries and convention halls alike. The very cadence of his words carried hope with rhetoric that carried demand. Above all, he understood that dignity must be insisted upon. Now the baton rests with another generation. May we speak with courage and build with conviction. All to remember that justice is not a mood. It is a mission. Rest well, Reverend Jackson. The echo lives on here at Impact.
Spring is more than a change in weather. It is a season of renewal, growth, and fresh beginnings. As flowers bloom and days grow longer, families have a powerful opportunity to reset together.
The Spring Kindness Challenge is a 30-day family faith challenge designed to help your household live with purpose, strengthen spiritual habits, and make a positive impact in your community. Through simple daily acts of kindness, prayer, and intentional family time, you can turn this season into something meaningful.
Because kindness is not random. It is cultivated.
In today’s fast-paced world, families are often busy but disconnected. However, intentional acts of kindness can rebuild connection while reinforcing faith-based values.
A structured family kindness challenge:
Encourages children to practice compassion
Strengthens spiritual growth at home
Builds positive habits rooted in faith
Reinforces the importance of community
Moreover, spring naturally symbolizes renewal. Just as gardens must be planted intentionally, so must character.
Each day focuses on one small, practical act. The goal is not perfection. The goal is consistency.
Here are weekly themes to guide your family:
Start where you live.
Write encouraging notes to each family member
Pray together before meals
Do a chore without being asked
Share one thing you appreciate about someone in your household
When kindness begins at home, it spreads naturally outward.
Next, extend your impact beyond your front door.
Donate gently used clothing
Leave a thank-you note for a teacher or mail carrier
Support a local Black-owned business
Volunteer as a family for one hour
Community transformation starts with small, consistent actions.
In the digital age, kindness must also live online.
Share an uplifting message on social media
Watch a faith-based family movie together on Impact Network
Replace negative media with encouraging content
Send a text message of encouragement to a friend
What we watch shapes what we believe. Therefore, choosing positive, faith-based programming helps reinforce family values.
Finally, deepen your spiritual foundation.
Plant flowers and discuss spiritual growth
Read a Bible passage together about love and service
Pray for another family
Create a family mission statement for the rest of the year
Spring reminds us that growth requires intention. Faith grows the same way.
The arrival of spring is the perfect time to reevaluate and repurpose your habits. It’s a time of possibility, a time to take stock of the habits that might be holding you back from being who you want to be — and to form new habits that help you become a better version of yourself. If you want to pay your health and well-being a little extra attention this spring, but don’t know where to start, here are a few tips to get you started.
Spring and summer are great times to incorporate more fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables into the diet. Warmer weather produce, like mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, and berries, are all packed with micronutrients the body needs and thrives on.
When it’s warmer outside, your body can lose more moisture through sweating, even if you don’t feel yourself getting sweaty. Dehydration can pose serious health risks if severe — and even if you’re just mildly dehydrated, it can cause fatigue, low energy, and headaches. To help prevent dehydration, it’s important to take proactive steps to drink enough water throughout the day, such as by keeping a water bottle handy at all times.
Getting enough physical activity every day is really important. It can be as simple as taking a walk down the block or spending some time gardening. Any activity that gets your bones and muscles moving can help. Exposure to sunlight also helps the skin produce vitamin D, which is good for bone health and other functions in the body.
The United States is home to some of the most beautiful places and attractions in the world. Springtime can be the perfect time to travel because it’s not too hot and it’s not too cold! Here are some of the best places to visit in the USA in the springtime.
This adorable Midwestern gem replicates its namesake by keeping the tulip tradition alive each spring with its Tulip Festival. The festival happens every May and has been around since 1929 when the town was mostly comprised of Dutch immigrants. The town has a 250-year-old Dutch windmill that is a must-see if you visit. Being only 30 minutes away from Grand Rapids, you can make Holland a stop on your spring road trip, or make it your primary destination.
Did you know that Macon is the cherry blossom capital of the world? No, it’s not Japan or Washington, D.C.! With 350,000 cherry trees blossoming each year at the end of March, Macon truly is the perfect place to see these beauties in bloom. The second or third week of March is the peak time to visit, as the International Cherry Blossom Festival happens. It’s known as the “pinkest party of the year!” Macon is full of history and is also surrounded by beautiful state parks for visitors who are looking to get outdoors.
All of those heavy winter rains and snows led to a flower-filled spring in Seattle. From cherry blossoms in March to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in April, Seattle has a splendor of spring colors to enjoy. Pike Place market is full of fresh tulips during the spring months which makes it an even more exciting stop while visiting. Spring is also the start of the orca-watching season and the end of gray and humpback whale season. There are plenty of whale-watching tours available this time of year. Just a couple hours away from Seattle is Port Angeles which is known for the lavender fields in case you want to venture out and take in more of the area’s beautiful spring colors.
If you are a fan of Hiking, this is the destination for you! Springtime at Havasu Falls is warm, but nothing compared to the summer Arizona heat, making it the best time to go. The weather is perfect for attempting the 10-mile Havasupai hike, which would likely be unbearably hot in the summer. Much of the hike goes through the slot canyon and ends at the falls, where you can camp for the night and go for a swim if it’s warm enough. The waterfall is especially full during this time of year and you can find plenty of wildflowers in bloom in and around the trails.
There are voices that do not merely speak. They echo. Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson was one of those voices. Born in 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, he emerged from the segregated South into the center of the American conscience. His rise was not accidental. It was driven by conviction. Although he stood in the long shadow of giants, he refused to shrink beneath it. As a young minister and civil rights activist, he worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the height of the movement. Yet history did not confine him to a supporting role. Instead, he stepped forward and became a headline in his own right.
“Our flag is red, white and blue, but our nation is a rainbow, red, yellow, brown, black and white, and we’re all precious in God’s sight.”― Rev.
At the core of Jackson’s leadership was a deep belief in the moral force of language. Words, he knew, could wound. However, they could also build bridges. Therefore, when he founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he launched more than an organization. He advanced an idea. “Rainbow” signaled coalition. Coalition signaled power. And power opened doors to access.
In 1984 and again in 1988, Jackson ran for President of the United States. Through those campaigns, he widened what many believed was politically possible for Black Americans. The effort was never solely about ballots. Rather, it was about visibility. By stepping onto the national stage, he reshaped the imagination of a country. Leadership, he insisted, could look different.
That shift still matters.
“Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change.”― Rev.
Unlike many public figures, Jackson refused to separate ministry from activism. Faith informed his politics. Justice shaped his preaching. On Sunday, he proclaimed righteousness. On Monday, he negotiated for it. After which that integration drew both criticism and admiration. He was challenged. He was complex. Still, he remained present.
And presence carries power.
“Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving.”― Rev.
Within the arc of American history, figures like Jackson are more than political actors. They are cultural architects. By pressing against the boundaries of their moment, they expand them. By speaking uncomfortable truths in public spaces, they refuse to whisper when the times demand clarity.
For the Impact community, his life offers a clear reminder. Faith that avoids society is incomplete. Media that avoids justice is timid. Leadership that avoids risk becomes ornamental.
Throughout decades of advocacy, Jackson held fast to a central conviction: America could be more inclusive. Coalitions, he believed, could transcend color lines. The ballot and the Bible, in his view, belonged at the same table. Consequently, his work spanned economic equity, voting rights, and even international diplomacy. Historians will debate his strategies. Scholars will analyze his speeches. Critics will measure his effectiveness. That is analysis.
Memorials, however, are about meaning. Therefore meaning of his life is simple. He refused the limits handed to him. His voice thundered in sanctuaries and convention halls alike. The very cadence of his words carried hope with rhetoric that carried demand. Above all, he understood that dignity must be insisted upon. Now the baton rests with another generation. May we speak with courage and build with conviction. All to remember that justice is not a mood. It is a mission. Rest well, Reverend Jackson. The echo lives on here at Impact.